The Jubilee of the Sick and Health Care Workers is a significant event within the Jubilee Year 2025. It is a special time to honor those who are ill, their families, and healthcare professionals for their dedication and service.
On April 27, 2025, Divine Mercy Sunday, health workers from St. Joseph’s Hospital and St. Joseph’s College of Health Sciences, together with students from various programs, celebrated the Jubilee of the Sick and Health Care Workers. The celebration began with morning prayers at the St. Joseph’s College of Health Sciences podium, followed by a grand walk to the parish church. Participants carried placards displaying different health messages.
The Eucharistic celebration, set within the Feast of Divine Mercy, was led by Fr. Focus Chikweya. In his homily, he emphasized the importance of having deep faith, faith that allows us to believe before seeing and helps us to recognize God’s mercy in our daily lives and the teachings of the Church. He further encouraged health workers to be approachable and to show empathy toward the sick. He invited them to be “born” health workers, people whose vocation comes naturally from within, rather than being simply trained.
During the celebration, parishioners received health talks on several topics, including:
In her remarks, Sr. Julita Mzemba, Chairperson of the Organizing Committee and a lecturer at St. Joseph’s College of Health Sciences, informed the congregation that the event was organized to foster stronger relationships between patients and health workers. She encouraged Christians and all gathered to be open with healthcare providers, to ask questions, and to seek clarification in order to better understand their health conditions. Speaking to fellow health workers, she stressed the importance of being active listeners, greeting patients warmly, smiling, and allowing patients to ask questions — small gestures that greatly contribute to healing. She also urged lecturers to put more effort into forming health workers who will serve the sick with love, care, compassion, and respect for cultural and religious diversity.
The day concluded with free health checks and counseling sessions, which were open to people from different denominations, including Muslims. Services offered included:
Those diagnosed with health issues were referred to the hospital for further follow-up. Individuals found with eye problems received free reading glasses. Truly, many left with joyful hearts, echoing the words of today’s Psalm: “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, for His love has no end.”
Sr. Julita Mzemba, DW – Malawi
