AMERICA - Missionary Union of the Sick, a service and a goal since 1928: suffering for the Missions

Buenos Aires (Agenzia Fides) – For many years, the Sunday of Pentecost, was celebrated in several countries as the "Day of the Sick Mission," organized by the Pontifical Mission Societies. In 1985, the Spanish Church established the Day of the Sick, and Pope John Paul II in 1992, extended the celebration of this say to the whole Universal Church on February 11, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.
The Missionary Union of the Sick, EMU (Union de Enfermos Misioneros), was created in 1928, when Marguerite Godet, who wanted to be a missionary but was immobilized by illness, offered herself as a "sick missionary" in the Seminary of the Paris Foreign Missions Society, thus giving rise to the Missionary Union of the Sick. Today, the Union is organized and promoted by the Pontifical Mission Societies, which unites all the chronically ill or elderly who want to offer their sufferings and their lives for the missions. The initiatives and animation are managed at national or local levels.
Among the principles that govern the Union, is the fact that a Sick Patient-Missionary shares responsibility for the mission work of the Church, offers his suffering with patience and joy and his solitude for the redemption of all men. He is a Christian who prays for the spread of the Gospel in the world, offering his suffering for the sanctification of missionaries, for vocations to the priesthood and religious life and for missionary vocations.
For this Day of the Sick 2010, EMU invites all to reflect on the Pope's message, and urges all communities to reflect in particular on a commitment: "Disease can become a school of hope." In America there are many activities promoted by the EMU, always linked to the pastoral care of the local church, available on the web. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 10/02/2010)