Medical professionals have recently come together for the annual ‘White’ Mass organised by the Australian Catholic Medical Association WA branch.
The Mass on 17 May at Infant Jesus Church, Morley Parish was celebrated by
AMA-WA spiritual director Fr Adalbert Imperial OCD, who was a doctor before becoming a priest, and con-celebrated by Melkite Priest Fr Elias Kilzi, with the assistance of two Melkite sub-deacons.
More than 50 Catholic Medical Professionals were present for the occasion – including doctors, nurses and allied health professionals, including representatives of Catholic medical organisations, staff from the University of Notre Dame School of Medicine including the National Dean of Medicine Prof Rebecca Anglin, and organisations which align with Catholic medical ethics such as Billings Life.
The 100-year-old tradition for Catholics in the medical field is based on the much older “Red Mass” for lawyers and politicians at the beginning of the political year.
The Mass also included a traditional blessing of the hands for the medical professionals, conducted by Fr Kilzi.
The liturgy was beautifully supported by a choir that was organised by medical students.
This was the second annual White Mass in Perth, with the first one hosted at the St John of God Hospital’s Subiaco Chapel – the second White Mass ever celebrated in Australia.
Plans are being laid that next year’s White Mass will be bigger and better.
ACMA-WA holds a number of events through the year which are at the service of Perth’s Catholic medical community, which is estimated in the thousands- the next event is the “Christ the Healer” retreat being held jointly with the Raphael Network of Catholic Psychologists.
ACMA-WA hold quarterly meetings and can be reached via Facebook, Whatsapp or the ACMA national website.