St. Catherine of Siena Church Celebrates Healthcare Workers

On April 30th, the traditional feast day of its namesake, the Dominican parish of St. Catherine of Siena in Manhattan honored three individuals with the St. Catherine of Siena award, for their activity in health care work and ministry. The St. Catherine of Siena award is given typically given to an ecclesial leader, or a local doctor or chaplain for his work in healthcare ministry. The award was given to His Eminence, Donald Cardinald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, Sr. Elaine of the Congregation of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Br. Ignatius Perkins, O.P., upon the establishment of the St. Catherine of Siena chair in Catholic health care ethics at the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception (PFIC) in Washington DC. Dr. John F. Brehany, Ph.D., STL, of the Catholic Medical Association, stated that the “Dominicans really want to provide more and better education than ever to their own friars, so that they can bring Catholic wisdom to bear on people who teach about and those who provide and support Catholic health care.” Rev. Jordan J. Kelly, pastor of St. Catherine’s church, explained that  “regardless of one’s political affiliation, we can readily observe that matters relating to medical care and life issues will impact each one of us now and in the future.” Most Rev. Steven Boguslawski, O.P., president of the PFIC in Washington, explained that  “the friar must provide the immediate pastoral care that brings sacramental and personal solace – the cura animarum [care of souls] –  while simultaneously guiding patients and caregivers about moral and ethical obligation arising from the faith during their treatment.”