Consultors are appointed for the CBCI Commission for Healthcare

Bishop Bernard Moras, the Chairman of the CBCI Commission for Health appointed the following persons as the consultors of the Commission. Rev. Dr. Thomas Kalam, Director of St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, Bangalore, Rev. Fr. Sebastian Ouseparambil, Director of Catholic Health Association of India, Dr. Vimala Mary, President of the Indian Federation of Medical Guilds (IFMG), Dr. Gracious Thomas, Coordinator of the CBCI-IGNOU Chair for Health and Social Welfare, Sr. Dr. Hermina, President of the Sister Doctors’ Forum of India (SDFI) and Mrs. Jeanette Menezes, President of the Catholic Nurses Guild of India (CNGI). The term of appointment is for three years.

Fighting AIDS with Education and Prevention:
A Study Programme on “HIV & Family Education”, the outcome of CBCI-IGNOU collaboration

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) and Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi, on February 29, 2000 and instituted a Chair for Studies in Health and Social Welfare at IGNOU. This was made possible through the initiatives of the CBCI Commission for Healthcare. The first Study Programme offered from November 2001 is on “HIV & Family Education”.

The course-contents are designed and prepared by the best in the field. Since the Course is offered through distant mode of learning, anyone could enroll oneself for this Study Programme and profit by it. The course can be done either in Hindi or in English. The Programme fee is Rs. 800/- inclusive of examination fee. The Application Form is available in any of the Regional Centers of IGNOU of log on to the Website:
www.ignou.ac.in

A Bachelor Degree in Social Work by CBCI-IGNOU Chair

A Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, an initiative by the CBCI-IGNOU Chair for Health and Social Welfare, is getting ready to be launched by IGNOU. A committee of experts came together on April 25, 2002 and July 11 & 12, 2002 to design the syllabus, and the syllabus was eventually approved by the Academic Council. A meeting for the course writers will be held on May 30 and 31, 2003. Those with academic specialization and experience, who would like to collaborate in this may contact:
gracious_thomas@hotmail.com or cbciheal@bol.net.in
Solidarity in Health care
XI Annual World Day of the Sick was held in Washington DC

Days before the war-clouds darkened the skies of Washington DC, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, witnessed a unique gathering of healthcare providers and sick people during the official International programme of the 11th World Day of the Sick which was inaugurated with a solemn Liturgy on Sunday, February 9, 2003. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Archbishop of Washington, gave a warm welcome to all those who had gathered from different nations, saying, “This gathering reminds us all that this is truly one of the great apostolates of the Church, and that it reaches to every nation of the world, and, in a special way, reaches to the poor. When we pass through things like the trauma of the last year, it is important for us to remember what extraordinary things are being done in the name of Jesus Christ by the Church. Secondly, this brings together experts from all over to discuss questions that we are not sure of the solutions. It is important that we keep discussing them, … that we keep trying to find out what is the teaching that we must follow in order to be authentic and in order to really preserve that human dignity we have been talking about here.” Bishop Wilton D. Gregory, the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the main celebrant of the Inaugural Eucharistic Celebration, in the homily said: “While we keep in mind that healing touch of Jesus, we should also realize that His healing went much deeper than physical restoration. The love of Jesus also touched people in their innermost selves to heal the wounded spirit by healing human relationships themselves, with others, with society, and with their God” Bishop Gregory said he hopes that Catholic healthcare ministry will be known for working to achieve that purpose in addition to the “quality of our medical services, the compassion of our pastoral care, and the persistence of our advocacy efforts, most especially on behalf of the poor and marginalized.”

The three-day programme was meticulously planned and executed by the Catholic Health Association of U.S., headed by Msgr. Michael Place and the Archdiocese of Washington DC and supported the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care, Vatican.

The inaugural day also marked by a special colloquium of Cardinals, Bishops and representatives from the health pastoral care departments of various Bishops’ Conferences held at the headquarters of the U.S. Bishops’ Conference. The Papal Envoy to the XI Annual World Day of the Sick and the President of the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Healthcare , Vatican, Archbishop Javier Lozano, in his keynote address, said, “Suffering and death are often viewed only as negations of life, to be fought or hidden at all costs. The Church’s job is to change this perception. The Church’s role is to unite to the suffering of mankind with the victorious Risen Christ. The pastoral of health is an ecclesial calling to harmonize death with life. If we accomplish this, then the pastoral of health has accomplished its goal. This is redemption. Therefore, for the pastoral of health we need a deep faith, effective charity, and a very solid hope in order to reveal the truth in love.”

Tommy G. Thompson, Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, spoke during the dinner the same evening, as he said, “Catholic hospitals make such a difference in communities throughout the world. You care for the health of your neighbours. You have heeded our Lord’s universal vocation to love your neighbour. As you walk amidst illness, infection and despair, your light shines in the darkness.” Thompson continued, “We (the Bush administration) want to be your partner. Together, we have the greatest opportunity to make gigantic strides to improve the quality of health of citizens worldwide.” Some of the top priorities noted by Thompson include addressing the AIDS crisis internationally and providing health education to women and children. The others who gave brief addresses were Anthony Williams, the mayor of Washington DC, and John J. Di Gioia, president of Georgetown University.

The major programme of the second day was a scientific session held at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center, during which current issues like globalization and healthcare, concerns in biotechnology and medical ethics were discussed. Bishop John C. Niemstedt, bishop of New Ulm, MN, quoting Pope John Paul II, said, “human dignity transcends biological condition, and man must always remain ‘the master, not the product, of his technology”. Others who spoke were Dr. Kevin Fitz Gerald and Dr. Edmund Pellegrino both from Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington DC, M. Therese Lysaught, from University of Dayton, OH, and Rev. Russel Smith from Diocese of Richmond, VA. In his closing remarks, Archbishop Lozano asserted that healthcare practitioners and others must rely on sound biblical principles – not on subjective ideas – when making bioethical judgments. Our principles are based on the belief that the life is a gift we receive from the Lord. And, with this gift comes both liberty and responsibility. The principles are for the construction, not the destruction, of man”. The day was concluded with a dinner hosted for the delegates by the Papal Nuncio to the U.S., Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo.

The World Day of the Sick culminated in a solemn Liturgy on the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes. Hundreds of sick people came, many in wheel chairs, to receive the sacrament of anointing and to participate in the Eucharist at the national shrine. Both the Cardinals and other 42 bishops and many priests prayed over the sick, saying, that they may “find strength to fight against evil and find hope in suffering”. Among those who received the sacrament of anointing of the sick was the Archbishop Emeritus of Washington DC, Cardinal Aloysius Hickey, who was brought to the Altar in a wheel chair. Cardinal McCarrick, the local host, in his final remarks said, the anointing was a “special moment of grace” not just for the sick but for all those present. The Papal Envoy Archbishop Javier Lozano, at the Eucharist, thanked everyone and added, “These have been a very good three days. I think we have achieved our goal. We discussed much on health care. The next step, today in the Mass, we make a reality. The solution of our pain, of sorrow and of suffering is only Risen Christ. This is our celebration. With this, we make the culmination of all our celebrations. This has been a very successful gathering. I am very pleased”. These words of the Papal Envoy beautifully summed up the feelings of fulfillment and satisfaction of each participant of XI World Day of the Sick.