May 18, 2020
Bishop Barres thanks health care workers in White Mass homily
Today on this 6th Sunday of Easter, we celebrate our “White Mass,” a Mass traditionally focused on giving God thanks and praying for all our doctors, nurses and medical personnel throughout Long Island and around the world. Named for the white coats and uniforms worn by many health care professionals, White Masses are special opportunities to ask God’s blessings for all those serving in the health care field and to offer prayers for the safety and well-being of all health care workers and the people they serve.
This White Mass, of course, has a special context this year. All Long Island health care workers join in solidarity with health care workers in the State of New York, the entire country and the entire world to pray for our united efforts to defeat the COVID-19 Pandemic.
In a special way, we give thanks for our six Catholic Health Services hospitals and three nursing homes on Long Island – St. Joseph Hospital, St. Francis Hospital, St. Charles Hospital, St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center, Mercy Medical Center, Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center, and Good Samaritan Nursing Home, Our Lady of Consolation Nursing and Rehabilitative Care Center, and Saint Catherine of Siena Nursing and Rehabilitation Care Center, and every dimension of their inspirational service on Long Island. We also recognize our many Catholic Charities health care related professionals who serve their clients and residents so faithfully.
In these COVID-19 times, you are an eloquent expression of the Mission of Mercy of the Catholic Church and our belief in the sanctity of human life from conception until natural death. Read complete Long Island Catholic Article