World Sick Day is observed on February 11 around the globe to encourage prayers for those suffering in sickness. The day invites attention towards people dealing with various illnesses as well as their caretakers. It seeks cognizance for those among us who are unable to look after themselves and their body struggles to recover. The theme for this year’s World Sick Day is “Be merciful as your Father is merciful”, as declared by the Vatican.

As the pandemic continues to persist in the country, this naturally obligates us to think for those infected. The Coronavirus has unleashed devastating consequences on the most vulnerable among us, depriving them of both financial and healthy wellbeing. Incessant waves of the virus saw millions of families suffer in destitute conditions longing for desperate support from the government and the civil societies. World Sick Day encourages remembrance of such individuals requiring crucial consideration to help them navigate through these testing times.

Caritas India also observed World Sick Day, to send thoughts and prayers for the ailing and the people committed to saving lives. All team members gathered to commemorate the day with blessings and prayers for the sick. Employees invoked blessings from God to bestow an abundance of good health on the people and release everyone from the misery of all kinds of illness. 

The day also coincided with the blessed birthday of Executive Director of Caritas India, Fr. (Dr.) Paul Moonjely, gladly used the opportunity to impart crucial knowledge regarding the true value of World Sick Day. Addressing the employees, Fr. Paul, emphasized the message of empathy as a definitive characteristic of World Sick Day. Deriving from the life of Jesus Christ, Fr. Paul underlined “physical and mental touch” to be the miraculous remedy against diseases inflicting humankind.

The Covid-19 pandemic produced sufferings of massive scale, ravaging lives of people irrespective of caste, creed, gender or religion. But the pandemic also witnessed innumerable stories of courage and hope that aided us in restoring our faith. Millions of health workers selflessly stood on the frontlines to save the population from the deadly virus. Managing with limited resources and support, these Samaritans prioritized the wellbeing of patients even at the risk of their own lives. Recognizing this crucial sacrifice, Fr. Paul expressed his solidarities with the people engaged in protecting the people of the country from the contagious virus. He encouraged remembrance of not only the sick but the ones who in this pandemic were martyred while safeguarding lives of others.