Bishop Woost celebrates annual White Mass for Cleveland Catholic Medical Guild

“The practice of medicine is a profound thing. It’s more than just scientific knowledge and technical skill,” said Dr. James Ohliger, president of the Cleveland Catholic Blessed Fulton Sheen Medical Guild.

Dr. Ohliger addressed guild members and guests at the annual White Mass, celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost on Oct. 16 at the Center for Pastoral Leadership. The liturgy is in thanksgiving for those in health care faithfully living as Catholics.

About 60 guild members and guests attended the event, including robed Knights and Dames of Malta, who processed into Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd Chapel for the liturgy. Dr. Ohliger is a knight.

Bishop Woost noted the Mass traditionally takes place on or near the feast of St. Luke the Evangelist, who was a doctor and is the patron saint of doctors. His feast day is Oct. 18. He wondered why the Church chose the readings used for the celebration, pointing out that companionship and relationships are a common thread.

He explained that the emphasis on relationship – especially with Christ – is important. The disciples were sent out in pairs to invite others into a relationship with Jesus, which ties into a ministry of presence, accompaniment and relationship, much like the health care field.

“Along with curing the sick, these are signs of the kingdom of God being revealed, signs of the invitation to believe and enter in,” the bishop said. He also connected the thoughts to Pope Leo’s encyclical “Magnifica Humanitas,” which he describes as “a powerful teaching on the dignity of the human person, a profound reflection on how you and I are an integral part of the glorious splendor of God’s kingdom.”

Our relationships with God and others are a common theme in the encyclical, he added. The bishop also said  the pope affirms that “certain events make it clear that history … can change when individuals truly take the dignity of every person seriously.” He added, “In this context, he refers to you as doctors, nurses, parents and volunteers – he refers to you as the ‘martyrs of everyday life’ … who care for, educate, accompany and comfort without failure those in need.”

Bishop Woost said we proclaim the dignity of each person by the relationships we forge and sustain, which is what happened at the White Mass, “cherishing this gathering around the altar of the Lord, cherishing the relationships that we share with one another, with family, friends, colleagues and those whom we serve and for whom we care, cherishing the call to put our faith in action as ‘martyrs of everyday life.’” He thanked the attendees for faithfully embracing God’s call to live the Gospel message through their service and mission as Catholic health care professionals.

After Mass, attendees enjoyed dinner and a presentation by Dr. Jeffrey McGovern, an author and president of the Catholic Medical Guild of Erie, Pennsylvania.

As the evening ended, they joined the Malta knights and dames to pack fall Malta bags filled with personal hygiene items, socks, non-perishable food and other things to aid the homeless.