It is a calling

Being a doctor is a calling.  For Catholic Doctors this calling is also a reflection of their faith.

While the challenges of being a doctor are known to many, they include; many years of education; often followed by large debt;  followed by long hours in a residency program; and then seeking a way to utilize their education and gifts.  The greatest challenges usually come when all that they can do is still not enough. 

For some on the outside it may seem like a great way to make a living – but for most doctors it is much more about helping people live, and live their lives to the fullest.

If you have ever listened to a surgeon gleefully recall a challenging case with a good outcome; or an OBGYN whose smiling face says that she has delivered yet another new life into the world; or an Emergency Room doctor at the end of his evening, both exhausted and exhilarated; or seen the pediatrician who seems to glow in the presence of the newborn, and who still wakes in the middle of the night because a parent is meeting her at the hospital, or the dentist who volunteers his time every chance he gets… then you have met a doctor who is called.

Mission Doctors Association believes it is important to recognize a Catholic Doctor whose faith informs their professional life.  For some it has been activities in their own community, for others it has been through their international mission work. 

2015 Catholic Doctors of the Year, Fr. Jack McCarthy, MD and Fr. Maurice Schroeder, MD

We invite everyone across the United States to consider the Catholic Doctor they know and nominate them for the 2016 National Catholic Doctor of the Year.   Help us recognize the unique qualities that are witnessed when a Catholic doctor not only applies their education and gifts, but does so in light of their Catholic faith.

Applications are being accepted now.  You will find the form on our web site.

Pentecost

For many people Pentecost is one of those ecclesial celebrations which seems odd. Okay, we know from the Acts of the Apostles that Pentecost reminds us of the Church’s beginnings with a small group, praying and in fear of Jewish officials. Yes, we also have heard Pentecost referred to as the ‘birthday of the Church’. But are either of these worth celebrating: a group cringing in fear or  a birthday?

While Pentecost can be seen as the beginning of the Church (thus, a ‘birthday’) its real importance is deeper and very relevant for us today. It points to uncertainty and fear by early followers of Jesus with an unexpected result. This gathering did not produce a strategic plan for evangelizing the Jews nor a policy statement on the importance of Christianity. In fact, what is memorable about Pentecost is not the result of any human action at all- except prayer and open hearts. During this time of fear and uncertainty, the Holy Spirit appears, giving courage to this motley crew of people from a variety of nations. It is the Holy Spirit who created something new- the Church in order to continue the mission of Jesus. 

The Pentecost story also draws from rich Old Testament imagery. The Spirit hovering over this confusion creating something new (in Genesis Chapter One we hear of wind [an image of Spirit] blowing over chaos to create). This creation is not an abstraction, a ‘creation of Church’, but a uniting of believers of different races. And, through the action of the Holy Spirit, different languages are no long a barrier to communication between peoples (a lovely parallel to the Old Testament story of the Tower of Babel).

Pentecost then reminds us of the ongoing, active presence of God among us even at times of fear and confusion. We have a God who can surprise us at times of God’s choice. Furthermore, that through the Holy Spirit we can discover in others, regardless of race, language or age, brothers and sisters Christ. While we must work for God’s glory and love of others, it is God who  can remove seemingly immoveable barriers (think of the Resurrection accounts where a stone was moved to reveal an empty tomb) or convert the heart of the deadliest foe (remember the conversion of Saul!). Now that is something to celebrate!

Mission Doctors Association makes us aware of our brothers and sisters in Christ who need medical care. Through this fine organization we can assist its mission financially as well as in prayer. Please let us do so to help make the Spirit present to others.

Today's guest blog post is contributed by Brother John Kiesler, OFM is a member of the facility of the Franciscan School of Theology in California. Brother John is a member of the Formation Facility for long-term missionaries through Mission Doctors and presents at the Annual Retreat Seminar on the theology of mission. Additionally he serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Mission Doctors Association.

Even the Apostles didn’t get it

(And this is what puzzled them) "A little while and you will no longer see me, and again a little while later and you will see me.” (From John 16:16) The Apostles clearly did not know what Jesus meant. Even when the Ascension happened, “As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven. And in Acts 1: 1…we read that the Apostles were “looking intently at the sky as he was going up” suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky?” After all Jesus had invited them to go about as he did to be “witnesses to the world.”

Or another time when Philip asked Jesus to “show us the Father and that will be enough for us” (John 14:6…). At this Jesus must have been exasperated with these men: “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me/” These references are just a few examples of Jesus trying to teach his Apostles.

Well, if even the Apostles, who had the benefit of Jesus’ physical presence and instruction, did not believe or understand his words, how can we? Or how do we fare in our own journey of faith? Well, it is really the coming of the Holy Spirit that will make all the difference.

The mysteries of our faith are illumined by the bright light that is Christ. We ought not to be hard on the Apostles. We have the benefit of Jesus divine life within us in the Eucharist and the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, who speaks out on our behalf. The Ascension of Jesus into heaven provides the glow of joy and wonder across our human endeavors. (Excerpt from C. Stuhlmueller) So as we contemplate the Ascension, let us boldly undertake the mission of being Christ’s witnesses to his promises “Behold, I am with you until the end of the world.”

Sister Christine Bowman, O.S.F.
Is a Franciscan Sister of the Sacred Heart since 1969: I’m a former nurse with a missionary heart. I responded to an invitation to join the Board of Directors of the Mission Doctors Association in 2013. Currently minister at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown LA. As Director of Cathedral Relations.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

World Malaria Day

It seems odd to feel optimism when the subject of malaria arises, but it is necessary this year on World Malaria Day.  Year after year you could write that one child dies each minute in the world from malaria, a preventable and treatable disease, but this year is different.  The death rates and infection rates for malaria are falling because of increased worldwide efforts at control of this deadly disease, efforts which include mosquito abatement, protection of residences and mosquito netting for beds, improved diagnostic tests for malaria, and improved treatment options.   There were still a staggering 214 million cases of malaria in the world last year with 438,000 of those people not surviving their illness, but progress is being made.  Hopefully the ambitious 15 year World Health Organization goals including reducing malaria cases and deaths by at least 90% can be attained and maintained.

Those who serve in mission countries have a second reason to feel optimistic.  In addition to the blessing of seeing the improved health and life expectancy of those they serve, they know that these efforts also decrease their personal risk of acquiring malaria.  It is one of those times where those who reside in mission lands and those who come to serve share common risks and common personal concerns.  Hopefully malaria in mission lands will one day be like rotary phones; something you tell your children once existed as they stare back at you in disbelief.

Today's guest blog post is contributed by Dr. Tim Cavanagh. Dr. Cavanagh is a veteran Mission Doctor.  Tim and his wife Sheila served for three years in rural Zimbabwe and continue to serve on short-term missions in Africa and Latin America.  Additionally he serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Mission Doctors Association.

World Health Day

This is what we are about, and have been about since 1959.

Striving to improve the health of men, women, and children in rural communities around the world.  Mission doctors provide direct patient care for people of all faiths. They provide training for health care workers to improve sustainability.  Doing so in response to their own Catholic faith. 

Today mission doctors are serving in areas impacted by malaria, TB, HIV, often exacerbated by extreme poverty. Areas with less than one doctor for every 10,000 (by contrast the US averages one for 400)

Please visit our web site to sign a prayer card for one of our doctors serving in Africa or Latin America, and learn how your can become involved.

Divine Mercy Sunday is a recent addition to the Roman liturgy as it was added by St. John Paul II in 2000 after his canonization of Sister Faustina Kowalska, a Polish sister whose visions of Christ as Divine Mercy led to this special devotion.

The mercy of Christ is for everyone- a theme which is central to this Year of Mercy- which we cannot be reminded about too much. It is not an abstraction Christ is merciful not just to humanity but to each of us individually (God loves me!).

Mercy is not just a Christian topic but a quality much admired and wanted by everyone.  Sometimes it is helpful to review what others say as a starting point for reflection.

What have others said about mercy?

· Abraham Lincoln: “I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.”

· William Shakespeare (Merchant of Venice):  “The quality of mercy is not strain'd,
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes….
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice.”

· Graham Greene (Brighton Rock): “You cannot conceive, nor can I, of the appalling strangeness of the mercy of God.”

· St. Augustine: “Every day my conscience makes confession relying on the hope of Your mercy as more to be trusted than its own innocence.”

· Jon Sobrino (famous Central American theologian):  “…it is mercy that stands at the origin of all that Jesus practices.”

· Joyce Meyer (famous TV evangelist): “Mercy is the stuff you give to people that don't deserve it.”

· St. Francis of Assisi (Letter to the Faithful): “Let those who have received the power of judging others, exercise judgment with mercy,  as they hope to obtain mercy from the Lord. For let judgment without mercy be shown to him that doth not mercy. Let us then have charity and humility and let us give alms because they wash souls from the foulness of sins.”

· Pope Francis: “In the past few days I have been reading a book by a Cardinal ... Cardinal Kasper said that feeling mercy, that this word changes everything. This is the best thing we can feel: it changes the world. A little mercy makes the world less cold and more just. We need to understand properly this mercy of God, this merciful Father who is so patient. ... Let us remember the Prophet Isaiah who says that even if our sins were scarlet, God's love would make them white as snow. This mercy is beautiful.”

Are we ready to be merciful to others? 

Do we choose to accept the overwhelming mercy from God for us? 

To help Mission Doctors Association show mercy to God’s poor through free medical care?

Today's guest blog post is contributed by Brother John Kiesler, OFM is a member of the facility of the Franciscan School of Theology in California. Brother John is a member of the Formation Facility for long-term missionaries through Mission Doctors and presents at the Annual Retreat Seminar on the theology of mission. Additionally he serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Mission Doctors Association.

“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.”

Do we believe?

If so how does this belief impact our lives?

Jesus suffered a painful and brutal death.   He died.  But that was not the end. He told his friends it would not be the end, but how could they have understood?  How could they believe?

I’ve imagined being one of the women headed to the tomb ready to prepare his body, overwhelmed with sadness, exhausted, walking in the dark even before the sun has broken through the night.

The earth quakes – the stone has been moved.  What has happened?  Did someone do this?  Certainly, given the circumstances of the past few days in the fractions of seconds I am immediately angry, confused – this is some further insult - some conspiracy.  Where is his body? What have they done? Some of the women run back to the disciples.  Some look into the tomb. I stand frozen in place in the cold morning air.  Yet there at the entrance of the tomb there is a man, (could it be an angel?) who is so calm, and he tells us not to be afraid. He tells us to go tell the others that Jesus has risen – as he said he would – and he has gone before us to Galilee. 

I’ve wondered - after I had heard he was not there – he was risen – how would I react?  Would I be joyful?  Skeptical? Uncertain? Afraid? What would I feel I should do?  Should I go tell everyone? Should I go hide?  And then I remember.  He raised his friend Lazareth from the dead – and he did say something – what was it? He would suffer – I heard that he said he would suffer and even die.  But, yes he did say that he would be raised on the third day.

Suddenly I am awash in joy. It springs up in me so that I do not feel my feet are touching the ground.  I feel that I am breathing quicker, my heart is raising.  Could it be true?  Is it true?  Of course it is true! I feel the tears start to run down my face and I turn and run to join the others.  Some believe right away – some don’t.  Everyone is trying to remember exactly what he said.  But I do remember he told us not to be afraid. 

Today – in 2016 if I believe Jesus rose from the dead what does that mean for my life.  

It means that what has been the end – what has frightened man since he could understand his mortality – is nothing to give us fear.  Jesus conquered death, therefore we will not experience death as an end –we will live beyond this life and if we truly believe this, there is really nothing to be afraid of, and if there is nothing to be afraid of we are free.  Free to live lives of joy.  Free to live lives of service to each other.  Free to love.  If I can pause and really consider the true joy of the resurrection how can I keep from singing!