Rev. James D. Conley, D.D., S.T.L. | Diocese of Lincoln website

The Nebraska Catholic Nurses and the Lincoln Catholic Medical Association hosted a retreat for healthcare providers on April 27 in Lincoln. The retreat, titled “Physician Heal Thyself,” took place at St. Patrick Church and was open to all healthcare providers, including physicians, dentists, nurses, physical therapists, psychiatrists, optometrists, and medical students.

The event encompassed Mass, breakfast, a talk, and Eucharistic adoration. Prayer teams were present to join attendees in prayer and confessions were available. Father Matthew Rolling, academic dean and teacher at St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Seward, served as the speaker.

Father Rolling referenced paragraph 1503 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church during his address: “Christ’s compassion toward the sick and his many healings of every kind of infirmity are a resplendent sign that ‘God has visited his people’ (Lk 7:16; cf. Mt 4:24) and that the Kingdom of God is close at hand. Jesus has the power not only to heal but also to forgive sins; (Cf. Mk 2:5-12) he has come to heal the whole man, soul and body; he is the physician the sick have need of. (Cf. Mk 2:17).”

In his morning recollection, Father Rolling said, “We considered what it looks like for God to heal not just our bodies but more importantly, to heal our souls. In practice, it requires us to slow our lives down, pay attention to those emotional and spiritual aches and pains, and bring them to the Divine Physician.”

The Catholic Medical Association (CMA), which helps members grow in faith while maintaining ethical integrity in healthcare according to Church teachings, supports independent guilds throughout the country providing fellowship, education, and service to local churches communities and peers in health care. Nebraska hosts two CMA guilds, located in Omaha and Lincoln, with Dr. Arthur Grinstead presiding as the Lincoln Guild president.

The Nebraska Catholic Nurses group, a member of the Catholic Medical Association, was established last year. More events for healthcare workers and students are planned for this fall.

A group from Nebraska will embark on a “supportive care” pilgrimage to Lourdes in France from Oct. 6-13. The trip is designed for those seeking healing through prayer but require accompaniment by a health care professional. Those in healthcare who can assist pilgrims are encouraged to consider attending.

The application deadline is June 21, and more information is available at lourdesvolunteers.org. The Lincoln Guild CMA will host the “White Mass” for all healthcare workers and students at the St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center in Lincoln on Oct. 18.

Finally, the Omaha and Lincoln guilds of the CMA will host an ethics conference – with continuing education credits available – on Oct. 19 at Creighton University in Omaha.