World Day of Prayer for the Sick

Statue of Our Lady of Lourdes in the Grotto

The World Day of Prayer for the Sick takes place on Thursday, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. The day was inaugurated by Pope John Paul II 18 years ago, and is being marked around the world with special Masses for people who are sick, as well as medical staff and healthcare chaplains.

To read Pope Benedict's for The World Day of Prayer for the Sick see: www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/sick/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20091122_world-day-of-the-sick-2010_en.html

In London, a Mass in honour of Our Lady of Lourdes will take place in Westminster Cathedral on Saturday, 13 February at 3pm.

The Sacrament of the Sick will be administered during the Mass by Archbishop Vincent Nichols, the auxiliary bishops of Westminster and priests of the Diocese. The Mass will also be attended by doctors and hospital chaplains from around the Diocese, as well as pilgrims past and present from the Diocesan Lourdes pilgrimage.

All are welcome to attend on the 13 February. If you are bringing a wheelchair then please inform your parish priest so that he can reserve a space in the Cathedral for wheelchairs and carers.