by Cori Hilsgen
news@thenewsleaders.com
The tradition of honoring health professionals at a White Mass continues again this year when a Catholic Mass honoring medical professionals and workers will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 20, at the Sacred Heart Chapel at St. Benedict’s Monastery in St. Joseph.
This is the fifth year the Mass, which is for health-care workers of all faiths, has been held. Family and friends are also invited to attend the event.
Bishop Donald Kettler will preside over the Mass during which there will be a special blessing for health-care professionals.
Representatives from the St. Benedict’s monastery, College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University nursing, Little Falls Franciscan Order, Faith Community Nurses and the Onamia Crosier Health Ministry, Shrine to St. Odilia, will carry gifts up at the Mass and music will be led by the St. Benedict’s Monastery Schola.
Annette Jesh, parish health-ministries program coordinator for CentraCare St. Cloud Hospital, said each year the collection is taken for a cause to promote health. This year the collection will go to the Central Minnesota Faith Community Nurse group to support the Foundations of Faith Community Nursing class in St. Cloud. Since 2018, 21 new faith community nurses have been trained to serve in this ministry in churches of all faiths in the Central Minnesota area of the Diocese of Saint Cloud and CentraCare.
The White Mass is a way to honor and acknowledge the unique contributions made by health-care professionals and their commitment to their profession. The name of the Mass originated from the white coats usually worn by those in the medical field.
There will be a light reception after the Mass in the Sacred Heart gathering space.
The event is sponsored by the Diocese of St. Cloud, St. Cloud Hospital, St. Benedict’s Monastery and St. Benedict’s Senior Community of CentraCare Health in partnership with the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University.
For additional information visit the stcdio.org/healthcare-mass2019 website.
Health-care professionals are honored during a Mass last year at the Sacred Heart Chapel. This year’s Mass honoring medical professionals and workers will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 20 at the Sacred Heart Chapel at St. Benedict’s Monastery in St. Joseph.