February 11.  Fr Brian was well aware of the search for healing of many of his parishioners. Some went on pilgrimages to Ngome or other shrines, some went to healing services in different churches.  On this Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and the World Day of Prayer for the Sick he invited everyone to come together to celebrate Mass, virtually because of the Covid restrictions, to pray and seek inspiration  using the words of Jesus in the message for the day of Pope Francis.  “We’ve been there.  We know what it feels like.  We did feel Jesus’s loving touch when our baby was so ill. That is why we have decided to become part of the parish ministry to the sick,” Noel and  Lebo shared.

Pope Francis:   “Come to me, all you who labour and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28).  These words of Christ express his solidarity with all those who are hurt and afflicted.  They point to the mysterious path of grace that is revealed to the simple and give new strength to those who are weary and tired. On this World Day of the Sick, Jesus repeats these words to the sick, the oppressed, and the poor. For they realize that they depend entirely on God and, beneath the burden of their trials, they stand in need of his healing.   Jesus does not make demands of those who endure situations of frailty, suffering and weakness, but offers his mercy and his comforting presence. He looks upon a wounded humanity with eyes that gaze into the heart of each person. That gaze is not one of indifference; rather, it embraces people in their entirety, each person in his or her health condition, discarding no one, but rather inviting everyone to share in his life and to experience his tender love. Why does Jesus have these feelings? Because he himself became frail, endured human suffering and received comfort from his Father. Indeed, only those who personally experience suffering are then able to comfort others. Message Day of Prayer for the sick 2020.