Healing Ministry Week observed all over India

New Delhi – The Protestant and the Catholic groups in India jointly celebrated The Healing Ministry Week, observed from February 7 to 13. The groups, including the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India’s Commission for Healthcare, Catholic Health Association of India (CHAI) and the Protestant Church’s Christian Medical Association of India (CMAI), have appealed for nationwide ecumenical celebration and have stressed on Christian aspects of caring for the sick.

February 11 is observed as the World Day of the Sick. Catholic Church would observe February 13 as the Health Sunday.

The Commission for Healthcare along with CHAI and CMAI have jointly selected the theme, “Sharing the abundance of life,” for this year’s Healing Ministry Week.

To support nationwide observance of the week, they issued detailed booklet containing scripture references, reflections and prayers that would help in meaningful celebration of the week.

In many parts of India, the churches and parish celebrated the week by organizing Eucharistic celebrations, community celebration of the Blessings and Anointing of the Sick, liturgical celebrations and ecumenical bible service. In some cases, inter–religious prayer service for the sick, health awareness seminar, medical camps, cultural and charitable events marked the celebrations.

In healthcare institutions, arrangements were made for everyone in the hospital so that those who wanted could take part in the celebrations, however, with care being taken that people of other faiths were not offended. Several hospitals and health clinics also organized awareness programs and meaningful celebrations for the staff engaged in healthcare.