World Day of the Sick
In 1992, Pope John Paul II, just one year after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, instituted the World Day of the Sick. Beginning on February 11, 1993, it is celebrated every year on or near the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes as a special time of prayer and sharing, of offering one’s suffering. The feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes was chosen because of the healing intercessions of Our Lady and is especially poignant to our Order due to our own devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes and our pilgrimages to Lourdes.
The Western Association sponsors several World Day of the Sick Masses each year. Every year hundreds and hundreds of people receive the Sacraments of the Eucharist and Anointing of the Sick at Masses organized by our members in Colorado Springs, Denver, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Monterey, Oakland, Orange County, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, and Tucson.