By the Office of Communications
The World Day of the Sick has once again come! Established in 1992 by late Pope John Paul II, this day is an annual observance in the Catholic Church, whereby, despite they might be already doing so in various ways, the Catholic members are encouraged to think deeply about the sick and at least, do something charitable to them. For this day, Pope Francis announced the theme of this year to be “Healing Love: Witnessing to Compassion and Service.”
In the diocese of Mangochi, this observance was not just let go. Parishes had different ways of observing it. For example, St. Magdalene of Canosa (Koche) Catholic parish has a community hospital just nearby. After having Mass on this day being Sunday, people went to cheer patients at this hospital. This Mass was presided over by Fr. Ernest Yola, the chaplain of hospitals in the diocese of Mangochi.
Sr. Cecilia Namuthuwa, an administrator of this hospital welcomed all people to this observance and allowed them to freely interact with patients (as in the hospital), as they gave whatever they brought like soap, sugar and some food items to the patients. On behalf of all Christians, Mr. Chinumbi thanked the administrator of this hospital for welcoming them. He also congratulated her for maintaining the Catholic values at this hospitals and also for encouraging others to respect them.
Before the chaplain for Catholic hospitals made his speech, Fr. Paul Rappozo as a parish priest of this parish reminded all his parishioners that it is a responsibility of every Christian to take care of all people who are sick. Finally, Fr. Ernest Yola agreed with the parish priest to say that as Christians cheer the sick, they also preach the gospel of love to them in the first place and to others. “Jesus was compassion to all the sick and was healing them. We Christians can bring some kind of healing to the sick if we don’t just leave them alone to suffer. Let us all be ready the serve them,” said Fr. Yola.