wfn.org | Catholic Church in India to Observe 10th World Day of the Sick

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

New Delhi 7 February 2002
Dr. C.P Thakur, the Union Minister for Health will be the Chief Guest at
the inauguration of the 10th World Day of the Sick to be held at
Vailankanni, in Tamilnadu between 9-11 February 2002.

The Health Commission of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India
(CBCI) is to gather more than one thousand of its Health care personnel
in India, including some experts from abroad this week-end to observe
10th World Day of the Sick, an international event that was started by
Pope John Paul II in 1993.

The Catholic Church in India runs 4967 hospitals, 62 nursing schools,
1981 rehabilitation centers and three medical colleges in India. The
other Christian Churches run about the same number of institutions and
85% of these institutions are operative in remote rural areas serving
the poorest of the poor.

Christian institutions, who have been in the forefront of rendering
unparalleled services in the fields of education and health are meeting
to evaluate and rededicate their commitment to the sick and dying,
especially among the poor in India. The highlight of the programme will
be an International Conference on health care work in India which will,
"reflect on the problem of pain and infirmity, on the dignity of the
people who suffer and to re-examine the role and task of those who work
in the field of healthcare". Along with this the Conference will also
consider the challenges facing the health care sector, especially the
fast growing commercialization of health services; a paradigm shift from
individual care of the sick to making it more community-based; to bring
aspect of spirituality and spiritual healing in the treatment process
etc.

Following its Master, the Lord Jesus, who was not only born poor and
lived poor but had the poorest on the top of his priority list and who
went about healing people everywhere, the Church remains firmly
committed to its services to the poor and the underprivileged.

Vailankanni is known as the shrine of Our Lady (Mother Mary) of Good
Health and the tales of the miraculous power of Virgin Mary associated
with this shrine go as far back as 16th Century. Millions of people from
all faiths pour at this shrine throughout the year and on 8th September
every year as many as 1 million people visit the shrine seeking Mother
Mary's blessings.