WASHINGTON, DC (November 4, 2014) — The following statement is being released by the Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA):

Two thousand people joined CHA's 100 Days of Prayer (chausa.org/100) on the first day the web site was online. The prayer campaign, which began Nov. 3, marks 100 days until World Day of the Sick on Feb. 11, 2015.

Through the 100 Days of Prayer, associates across Catholic health care — and anyone who wants to pray for someone who is sick, injured or disabled — can sign up and post the first names of persons as well as other intentions to keep in the community's prayers for 100 days. The web site, chausa.org/100, also features prayer resources, World Day of the Sick materials and opportunities to invite others to participate.

"Through the 100 Days of Prayer, we invite the faithful across America and beyond to join us in asking for God's blessing on the sick," said Sister Carol Keehan, DC, president and chief executive officer of the Catholic Health Association. "We are delighted to see so many people participating already, and look forward to welcoming many more."

The 100 Days of Prayer campaign is part of CHA's centennial celebration, marking its 1915 founding as the voluntary membership association of Catholic health care organizations in the United States. World Day of the Sick is an observation introduced by Pope John Paul II as a way for believers to join in prayer for those suffering from illness or injury.

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The Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA), founded in 1915, supports the Catholic health ministry's commitment to improve the health status of communities and create quality and compassionate health care that works for everyone. The Catholic health ministry is the nation's largest group of not-for-profit health systems and facilities that, along with their sponsoring organizations, employ more than 750,000 women and men who deliver services combining advanced technology with the Catholic caring tradition.