Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Buenos Aires (Agenzia Fides) - The Day of the Sick has just been celebrated in Argentina, where the focus this year was on influenza A and dengue. "Listen to him, love him, preach Christ, our hope," is the title of the document sent to both the sick and their families, by the Commission of Health Care Ministry of the Bishops' Conference.
"The threat of dengue fever and influenza A - reads the message signed by the President of the Pastoral Health, Msgr. Luis Stockler - have made us aware of the fact that anyone can get sick unexpectedly, and even lose their lives. But this danger is the reason to learn to be responsible and protect each other.”
The Archdiocesan Pastoral Health Center of Corrientes has asked every parish to be formed by a team to carry out the work, "with the intention of giving new impetus to work on behalf of our suffering brothers and sisters." "We hope that the Day of the Sick awakens in our communities a strong sense of solidarity, that children discover the mysterious presence of Jesus in their sick siblings, that young people, especially girls, consider that the Lord would call them to consecrate themselves in defense of life and care, that our sick relatives and the elderly can rely on the generosity of their brothers and sisters and their children, as well as on the closeness of priests and friends of our church communities."
Another reason for the Bishops' concern is the issue of trafficking of counterfeit or expired drugs that is causing serious health and economic problems at the expense of the poorest countries in the developing world. We cannot remain indifferent to the new and ever-growing needs of their time, warned the Argentinean Bishops, stressing that the Christian should help to reawaken the strong sense of solidarity within the national community and rediscover the meaning of the mystery of suffering. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 10/11/2009)
