News and Events: Called to Love

This Saturday is our Called to Love vocation retreat. We are all looking forward to meeting the young women who are coming.  And the women are excited to have an opportunity to grow in their faith and to learn more about God's will in their lives.  We have several different Religious Communities that will be joining us.  Please pray for good weather so all our retreatants are able to make the trip to come.


This past Saturday was the World Day of the Sick.  Unless you are involved in the medical field at a Catholic facility or someone who is Sick, you might not know that the Catholic Church has a World Day of the Sick.  This special day was instituted by Saint Pope John Paul II in 1992.  It is celebrated each year on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes (February 11th).

 The World Day of the Sick is meant to be a time of prayer.  It is also a time for anyone who is suffering to offer that suffering for the good of the Church and of the world. Saint Pope John Paul II reminded the sick that their suffereings, "accepted and borne with unshakeable faith" and then joined to the suffering of Christ have extraordinary value.   It is also a reminder for caregivers to see the face of Christ in the sick person.

Saint Pope John Paul II stated in his address that the World day of the sick should serve to reach the consciences of the people "...to make them aware of the valuable contribution which human, and Christian, service to those suffering makes to better understanding among people, and consequently, to build real peace. "   And as we all know, Saint Pope John Paul live these words throughout his own life.  He experienced all sorts of suffering in his life, not just physical illness.  He suffered the pain of losing his loved one at an early age.  He suffered from governement persecution.  If anyone in the modern era can teach us the value and the beauty of sacrificial suffering it is Saint Pope John Paul II.  Perhaps it would be a good idea to read a book about his life and keep in mind that he taught us about about suffering by suffering.