NATIONAL: Online World Day of the Sick forum to discuss pandemic challenges

28 Jan 2021

By Contributor

By Contributor

A prayer book with an image of Christ is seen at the chapel beside a "healing" tree in Hasnon, France, Dec. 5, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sick people in northern France occasionally leave garments in healing trees or "arbres a loques" in the hope of a cure, following a tradition that persists since pre-Roman times. (CNS photo/Pascal Rossignol, Reuters)
A prayer book with an image of Christ is seen at the chapel beside a “healing” tree in Hasnon, France, Dec. 5, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sick people in northern France occasionally leave garments in healing trees or “arbres a loques” in the hope of a cure, following a tradition that persists since pre-Roman times. (CNS photo/Pascal Rossignol, Reuters)

Catholic Health Australia (CHA) and the Australian Catholic University (ACU) have joined forced to host a major online forum to discuss how solidarity and cooperation are key to dealing with the challenges of COVID-19.

Titled “Vaccines, Viruses and Vulnerabilities: Catholic health and care of the human person”, CHA and ACU will bring together international experts and thought leaders to discuss mental health, public health, and the question of solidarity in the face of this pandemic at 9am (AWST) on 11 February, World Day of the Sick.

The free event will feature The Vatican’s Commission for COVID-19 Sr Carol Keehan, Catholic Health Association of the United States Ethics Senior Director Dr Brian M Kane, and ACU Queensland Bioethics Centre Director Dr David Kirchhoffer.

It is part of a raft of measures planned to celebrate the forthcoming World Day of the Sick. Catholic primary schools are also being encouraged to teach children the importance of the day and a ribbon developed especially for the day will be distributed to stakeholders.

In his message for the upcoming 29th World Day of the Sick on 11 February, Pope Francis urges a path of healing grounded in a trusting and interpersonal relationship between the sick and those who care for them.

The first World Day of Prayer for the Sick was initiated in 1992 by Pope John Paul II to encourage people to pray for those who suffer illness and for their caregivers.To register to access the panel discussion, visit: https://www.acu.edu.au/about-acu/events/2021/february/vaccines-viruses-and-vulnerabilities