Holiness and Service

Today, on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, the Church observes the World Day of Prayer for the Sick, a day dedicated to lifting up those who suffer and those who care for them. The Jubilee of Hope makes this year's celebration particularly special.

In this spirit of hope and renewal, members of the Calgary Catholic Medical Association (CCMA) gathered on February 1, 2025 for their annual breakfast at Heritage Park Railway Café. With Bishop William McGrattan as the keynote speaker, the morning was a rich opportunity for reflection on the theme of holiness, service, and the integration of faith in the medical profession. As Bishop McGrattan highlighted, this jubilee year is indeed an opportunity for healthcare professionals to focus on the perennial challenge to integrate faith in one's life and work of service.

Becoming Beacons of Hope

​Bishop McGrattan's talk, "Mission of Hope," was a real call to action – an invitation to those in medical field to become beacons of hope. He wasn't just talking about expertise, but about living our faith openly. He reminded us what Pope Francis said in Gaudete et Exsultate (Rejoice and Be Glad) – that holiness isn't some far-off, impossible dream for a chosen few, but something we're all called to.

“Holiness is the most attractive face of the Church,” he shared, quoting Gaudete et Exsultate. “To be holy does not require being a bishop, a priest, or a religious. We are frequently tempted to think that holiness is only for those who can withdraw from ordinary affairs to spend much time in prayer. That is not the case. We are called to be holy by living our life with love and by bearing witness in everything we do, wherever we find ourselves.” (GE No. 14)
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He added, "For healthcare professionals, your daily work is more than a job—it is a vocation, a path to holiness. The long hours, the difficult decisions, the emotional weight of your work—these can all be opportunities to bring Christ’s love into the lives of the sick and suffering. But this kind of witness does not happen by accident. It requires intentionality, prayer, and a commitment to growing in faith."

A Physician’s Story of Hope

​Dr. Monique Withers, chair of CCMA, shared a personal testimony that resonated deeply with this call to holiness. With over 40 years as a family physician, she has witnessed countless moments of grace in her practice, but one encounter really stood out.

“A patient came in and told me that she had decided to stay with me despite of her family’s objection,” Dr. Withers then recalled. “I asked her what this objection was. The answer was: ‘Dr. Withers, you are Catholic!’” The patient then added, ‘I told my family that you do not condemn, you forgive.’

For Dr. Withers, this was a confirmation that through prayer and the sacraments, she was on the right path—offering not just medical care but also a presence of Christ’s mercy and compassion. It was a moment of hope, a reminder that faith, lived authentically, has the power to heal beyond physical ailments. 

Bishop McGrattan highlighted that this Jubilee Year is an extraordinary time of grace. Pope Francis, in his Bull of Indiction Spes Non Confundit (Hope Does Not Disappoint - Rom 5:5), calls the faithful to a renewed commitment to the Christian life. Read also: Pope Francis' message for the 33rd World Day of the Sick
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“Every jubilee year is an invitation to be more intentional in our living of the Christian life. To renew our life and to focus on the many ways that we receive the gift of God’s grace. It is a year to experience the call to conversion, to strengthen the living of the faith, and deepen our relationship with God,” Bishop said. 

For Catholic healthcare workers, this means resisting the temptation to separate their faith from their profession. The Second Vatican Council warned against this tendency: “One of the most serious errors of our time is to see that religion and faith are not just acts of worship or simply fulfilling moral obligations and that one cannot simply engage in human affairs and think that such activities are divorced or separated from one’s religious life and faith” (Gaudium et Spes No. 43).
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Rather, faith must permeate every aspect of life—including work. Pope Francis cautioned against an “excess of activity” that lacks adequate spiritual grounding, warning that “without this spiritual permeation our activity can be tiring, burdensome, dissatisfying, and become an unbearable fatigue.” (Evangelii Gaudium No. 82)

​A Recipe for Spiritual Resilience
​How can healthcare professionals cultivate this integration of faith and work? Each one of us is called to do the personal work to grow in Holiness. The bishop emphasized that the willingness to grow in this way is an act of love towards God. The ‘recipe‘ he proposed can be found in The Six Daily Habits book by Fr. John O’Brien, SJ, who lives at the Martyr’s Shrine in Midland , Ontario. 

1. Morning Offering – Begin each day by entrusting yourself to God and His blessing.
2. Prayer with Scripture – Each day spend 10-15 min to read and reflect on the Word of God. This could be the Gospel passage for the Mass that day.
3. Spiritual Reading – Choose a spiritual book or podcast and spend 5-10 min of reading or listening to themes that will inspire you in your spiritual life and relationship with Christ and His Body the Church.
4. Good Turn or Deed – Choose to perform in an intentional way one act a day that is out of the ordinary practice of charity.
5. Something Beautiful – Engage in activities that provide inspiration and renewal each day. They could be hobbies, outdoor activities, music, art, etc.
6. Examen Prayer – Take time, usually at the end of the day, to look back and see the blessings that one received, the opportunities that one failed to act in charity and then the resolve and the asking of God’s grace to respond in a more generous way in the coming day.

Dr. Monique exlaimed, "It was very helpful for us to have the Bishop role model for us some of the daily habits he uses to carry out His own personal Mission as our Bishop. He spoke to us from his heart, which is a powerful way to teach an important message."

As we mark this World Day of Prayer for the Sick and journey through the Jubilee Year of Hope, let us take to heart the words of Pope Francis: “Let the grace of your baptism bear fruit in the path of holiness. Let everything be open to God; turn to him in every situation. Do not be dismayed, for you can do this in the power of the Holy Spirit.” (GE No. 15)
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For those in the medical field who seek a community of faith and support, the Calgary Catholic Medical Association extends an open invitation: Join us in living out this mission of hope. 

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Photos courtesy of Calgary Catholic Medical Association. For more information about Calgary Catholic Medical Association, visit: ​catholicmedyyc.wordpress.com