VATICAN CITY, 5 FEB 2010 (VIS) - This morning in the Holy See Press Office, a conference was held to present the initiatives being organised to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Pontifical Council for Healthcare Workers, and the eighteenth World Day of the Sick. The events will take place from 9 to 11 February.
Participating in today's press conference were Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski, Bishop Jose L. Redrado O.H. and Msgr. Jean-Marie Musivi Mpendawatu, respectively president, secretary and under secretary of the Pontifical Council for Healthcare Workers; Bishop Jacques Perrier of Tarbes et Lourdes, France, and Salvatore Pagliuca, vice president of UNITALSI (Italian National Union for Transport of the Sick to Lourdes and International Shrines).
Archbishop Zimowski explained how the celebrations will be linked by the common theme of "the Church at the loving service of those who suffer", the title of Benedict XVI's Message for the World Day of the Sick 2010.
An international symposium will be held in the Vatican on 9 and 10 February, attended by more than 500 people from 35 countries including healthcare workers, chaplains, doctors and nurses, representatives from volunteer associations and organisations, and a number of sick people. At 10.30 a.m. on 11 February, Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, Benedict XVI will preside at the celebration of the Eucharist in the Vatican Basilica.
Archbishop Zimowski explained how the Pontifical Council for Healthcare Workers, the first president of which was Cardinal Fiorenzo Angelini, co-ordinates more that 117,000 Catholic health centres around the world. It also involves itself in the formation of pastoral healthcare workers. In this context, and in the light of the current Year of Priests, he made particular mention of chaplains "who interact with the sick and with everyone who works in this sector, professionals and volunteers". Finally, he also mentioned the annual international conference, organised by the pontifical council every November, which this year will reach its twenty-fifth edition.
.../ANNIVERSARY HEALTHCARE COUNCIL/... VIS 20100205 (330)
No comments:
Post a Comment