Dear Parishioners and Friends,
World Day of the Sick – “The Compassion of the Samaritan”
On the 11th of February of each year, the Church celebrates the World Day of the Sick, inviting us to pray for the sick, to support those who care for them, and to reflect more deeply on the meaning of suffering and compassion. In his message for this year, Pope Leo reflected on the Gospel parable of the Good Samaritan, encouraging us to rediscover “the beauty of charity and the social dimension of compassion.”
In a world marked by haste, distraction, and indifference, the Pope challenges us not to “pass by” those who suffer. Like the Samaritan, we are called to stop, to draw near, to listen, and to offer care. True compassion, he reminds us, is never abstract or sentimental; it is concrete, personal, and generous. It gives time, attention, and presence. In this way, we become neighbours not because we are physically close, but by choice. It is the choice to love and care.
Pope Leo emphasises that care for the sick is not merely an individual act of kindness, but an authentic mission of the whole Church. Families, healthcare workers, pastoral carers, parish volunteers, and all who accompany the sick share in this sacred ministry. Through their service, Christ the Good Samaritan continues to reach out to wounded humanity, bringing comfort, dignity, and hope.
This day is celebrated on the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, a powerful reminder of Mary’s tender closeness to all who suffer. At Lourdes, countless pilgrims place before her their pain, fears, and longing for healing. Mary, under the title of Health of the Sick, stands beside them as a gentle mother, leading them to her Son, the source of all healing and peace. Her presence assures us that suffering is noticed, and prayer is heard.
On this World Day of the Sick, let us entrust to Mary all who are ill, elderly, frail, or burdened by anxiety and loneliness. May we grow in compassion, becoming a parish community that stops, sees, and cares, thus bringing hope and healing to a wounded world.
God bless you.
Fr Silvio