‘White Mass’ recognizes healthcare workers

Facing a crowd with several people wearing white coats, Bishop Bruce A. Lewandowski C.Ss.R., drew chuckles during a special Oct. 20 liturgy when he posed a question: “Is there a doctor in the house?” 

Indeed there were, as approximately 200 doctors, nurses, medical professionals and others gathered for the annual White Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore. The event attracted those currently engaged in the health profession, as well as students, retired doctors, surgeons, nurses and pharmacists.

In his homily, Bishop Lewandowski noted that Jesus often found himself in the company of the sick and would heal them instantly. 

“Jesus is a healer, the divine physician,” Bishop Lewandowski said. But Jesus, the bishop added, was “powerless to cure greed, the lust for power,” for they are not ailments of the physical body, but of free will.

“There is only one cure,” Bishop Lewandowski said. “Taking up the cross and raising it fully. That is the cure for selfishness, greed, the desire for power. Only the cross and Jesus nailed to it.”

The Baltimore Guild-Catholic Medical Association, a nonprofit that strives to uphold the principles of the Catholic faith in the science and practice of medicine, hosted a luncheon after the Mass at Mercy Hospital.

In a featured address, Father Brian Nolan, pastor of St. Ignatius of Loyola in Ijamsville, spoke about Jerome Lejeune, a French pediatrician and geneticist, who discovered the genetic cause of Down syndrome. Lejeune also was a staunch supporter of life and was declared venerable by Pope Francis in 2021.

“He was not a natural pro-lifer,” Father Nolan said. “He was a very gentle soul. He was catapulted into it. He said, ‘Medicine and science were not just for healthy people. If a person’s disabilities could be the reason for refraining from taking care of them, that would lead to the conclusion that only persons in excellent health could receive excellent medical care.’”

It takes one person to speak up and say, “I’m not comfortable with this,” Father Nolan said, and Lejeune stayed true to his beliefs despite losing funding for research.

“There might be times that you say, ‘Am I called to still do this at this time and this place or are you asking me to do something else?’”  Father Nolan said. “Mother Teresa used to use the phrase ‘Give God permission.’ Be open. Ask the Lord. He is also the one who sustains us and gives us the grace.”

Devin Dishong, a second-year medical student at The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, said having faith helps him see patients “in a different light.”

“Through faith, I’m able to understand them more, sympathize with them more and love them through their faults and love them through their shortcomings when they don’t listen and don’t take their medication,” the Pittsburgh native said.

Janine Danko, president of the Baltimore Guild-Catholic Medical Association, said in her remarks at the luncheon that she enjoyed that opportunity for medical professionals to be reminded of the important work they are doing. 

“We’re all united around this mission where we are called as disciples of Christ to relieve suffering,” she said, “because there is just so much suffering in the world.”

Carol Thelen, a family nurse practitioner at Mercy Hospital, said she tries to come every year to the White Mass.

“It’s a special thing to get a blessing from the bishop,” she said.

Email Katie V. Jones at kjones@CatholicReview.org

Kevin J. Parks contributed to this story. 

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