Call to Worship

As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.' Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment.   Matthew 10: 7

Leader
Caring for the sick is our life's work. In doing this work we take our place in the long history of the Church continuing the ministry of Jesus to heal the sick and proclaim the goodness of God.  As we move forward into new health care horizons, let us take a moment to seek the wisdom and inspiration of the past and let it inform and inspire our service.

First Reading

Reader 1
After this, the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.'"      Luke 10: 1-2, 8-9

Second Reading

Reader 2
"The memory of this long history of service to the sick is cause for rejoicing on the part of the Christian community, and especially those presently engaged in this ministry.  Yet we must look to the past above all to let it enrich us.  We should learn the lesson it teaches us about the self-sacrificing generosity of many founders of institutes in the service of the infirm, the creativity, prompted by charity, of many initiatives undertaken over the centuries, and the commitment to scientific research as a means of offering innovative and reliable treatments to the sick. This legacy of the past helps us to build a better future, for example, by shielding Catholic hospitals from the business mentality that is seeking worldwide to turn health care into a profit-making enterprise, which ends up discarding the poor. Wise organization and charity demand that the sick person be respected in his or her dignity, and constantly kept at the center of the therapeutic process.

Pope Francis, Message for World Day of the Sick 2018

[This would be an appropriate time to share a story or offer a reflection around the your founding communities.]

Moment of Silence for Reflection

Petitions

Leader
In the sending of the seventy, Jesus called everyday women and men to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God and demonstrate what that reign looks like in restoring the sick to wholeness in their communities and homes. People were the center of Jesus's ministry and just as he sent the seventy then, he sends us today.  Let us pray together for the sick, that God may strengthen them, bring healing to them and renew them with his love. To each petition, I ask you to respond, "Lord, hear our prayer."
Almighty God, look kindly on your suffering sons and daughters. Comfort them with your love and mercy. We pray to the Lord.

All
Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader
Give them peace of mind and heart, and renew your life and love within them. Free them from fear, worry and anxiety, ease their sufferings of mind, body, and spirit, and give them courage and hope. We pray to the Lord.

All
Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader
Bring healing to the weakened and injured parts of their bodies, renew their minds, heal wounded memories, strengthen their immune systems, and shrink the tumors that are within those suffering from cancer. We pray to the Lord.

All
Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader
Renew the strength and health of all who have been weakened by advancing age, sustain them with your love, and help them to be witness to your faithfulness. We pray to the Lord.

All
Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader
Strengthen all who care for the sick, guide all medical personnel to be instruments of your healing, and help chaplains to be signs of your love and presence. We pray to the Lord.

All
Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader
Lord, we know that you hear our prayers – those spoken aloud and those spoken only in the silence of our hearts. Through the witness of Mary and all our ancestors in the faith, may we learn to wait in joyful and confident hope for the day when all our prayers will be answered in the fullness of your time. e pray in the name of Christ, in the power of his spirit.  Amen.

All
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Closing Prayer

Leader
Gentle and loving God, we are grateful for the call to serve you in your healing ministry. We first ask your blessing on those who are sick, especially those across the world without access to healthcare. Bless those who care for a sick family member in their homes, comfort them all with the peace of your presence.

We know that as you call us to ministry in your name, you also grace us with the gifts we need to accomplish your work.
Strengthen us to provide care, when we cannot cure.
Inspire us to reject a mentality that diminishes people into diagnosis or procedures, help us recognize each person's wholeness.
Renew in us the compassion and tenderness you showed as you cared for others. We ask this of you, our creator, our healer and our hope, now and forever.

All
Amen.