By David Kilby | Correspondent

Residents of Morris Hall, St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center and Villa Vianney, the diocesan facility for retired priests, Lawrenceville, were delighted and “blessed” to have Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., celebrate Mass for the diocesan observance of the Diocese for the World Day of the Sick Feb. 11.

Click here to see photo gallery on this story
To read Bishop O'Connell's message on World Day of the Sick, click here.

In 1992, Blessed John Paul II chose the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes to be a day for all Christians to remember the sick throughout the world. Since then, the World Day of the Sick has been a time for churches to reach out to the infirm in their local communities – especially those in hospitals, nursing homes and rehab centers.

 In his homily Bishop O’ Connell explained how hospitals are “sacred places” because of “the sick and suffering who come here in hope of healing and recovery as well as those who come here on their final journey to God.”

He said they’re sacred “also because of those who work here: the doctors and nurses and staff who extend the very hand of Christ to those who share his Cross of pain and who do so without counting the cost.”

He shared how Blessed Pope John Paul II offered the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes as a “day for every Christian to turn his or her gaze to those suffering from physical, emotional, psychological, and, yes, spiritual ailments.

“This celebration invites Christians to reflect on and respond to human suffering not as an evil but as a means to an end,” he said adding that the day invites those who are suffering to feel the hope that Christ is still with them.

It is therefore most appropriate, the Bishop shared, that the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes also be World Day of the Sick, because it was at Lourdes, France 154 years ago where the young girl who would become St. Bernadette was told by Our Lady to dig up the ground, to find a stream of miraculous curing waters. That water continues to be the source of miracles of healing, the Bishop said.

The Bishop also reflected on the Gospel reading of the day, saying, of all the stories of healing the Church could have chosen, the reading tells the story of the Wedding of Cana, where “Our Blessed Mother asks us to ‘do whatever (Christ) tells you.’ If we do that we will not be disappointed.’”

At the end of the Mass, Bishop O’Connell said Morris Hall is “such a great gift to the Diocese,” and told of how he has read many letters speaking of the “loving care” that residents receive there.

Father Richard Sweeny, a retired priest who was pastor of Nativity Parish, Fair Haven, and is now a resident in Villa Vianney, said Mass with the Bishop was “great!”

“It’s nice to be remembered,” he shared.

“A lot of (the residents) have really strong faith,” said Michelle Sypniewski, administrative assistant of Morris Hall. “To have a visit from the Bishop means a lot to them.”

Renee Buzzi came from Lawrence Rehabilitation Center to attend Mass with the Bishop and said it was “absolutely wonderful!”

“That’s why I’m here,” she said. “I’m very lucky that I’ve lived to be 96. I’m very lucky that I got to meet the Bishop. It makes me feel good. It makes me thank God for my blessings.”

Joe O’Connor, a resident of Morris Hall, said it was a beautiful Mass that was celebrated by the Bishop and by the priests of the Diocese.

 “When you look at the news there are sick people all over,” he said. “All we can do is pray, and keep them in our thoughts and help them whenever we can.”

Betty Leedom, also from Morris Hall, said she loved that the Bishop came to celebrate Mass for her and the residents.

“We should all pray for the hundreds of thousands of people that are sick, recognizing that there are people that are worse off than you are, and that we should pray for them,” she said.

Many of the concelebrants were residents of Villa Vianney. The priests who attended or concelebrated were Father Leonard Lang, Msgr. Casimir Ladzinski, Father Gerald McCarron, Msgr. Hugh Ronan, Msgr. John Dermond, retired Bishop John Smith, and Father John Wake, chaplain of Morris Hall.

Terry Ginther, executive director of the diocesan Office of Pastoral Life and Mission, said the diocesan Department of Pastoral Care works with various hospital chaplains throughout the Diocese, as they have different observances, such as prayer services, Masses, and anointings, for World Day of the Sick. 

She said each year the Bishop chooses a place to go and be with the sick on that day.