White Coat Mass reminds medical professionals of duty and tradition
FORT WORTH — It's a Catholic tradition longstanding, the White Coat Mass, occurring each year on or near the Oct. 18 Feast Day of St. Luke, the patron of physicians, surgeons, and all health care workers.
“It's an opportunity to gather and pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance and protection over all of those who are engaged in the health care profession,” Bishop Michael Olson said during the Oct. 14 White Coat Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral.
Doctors, many wearing the white coats associated with their profession, along with nurses, therapists, and other health care workers attended the Mass followed by a parish hall reception.
Following the Mass, Bishop Olson summarized health care professions as a vocation for all practitioners, but especially among Catholic health care workers.
“I think what makes it a vocation and different for Catholics is that it's truly marked by the mystery of the cross,” Bishop Olson said. “That is the [health care worker's] role in accompanying somebody in suffering and doing their part to help alleviate that suffering. That is much like what we see in Jesus' way of the cross.”
Bishop Olson spoke also of the importance of the camaraderie provided by the White Coat Mass and the value of tradition.
“Tradition helps remind us that we are not alone in this moment in history or even alone throughout history,” Bishop Olson said. “It reminds us that we depend on those who came before us and have a duty to those who will come after.”
Dr. Sally Kurz, a family doctor and president of the Catholic Medical Association's Fort Worth Guild, called the White Coat Mass a valuable reminder of the true calling and purpose of health care.
“Because we get very busy with patient care, administrative work, caring for our own families and ourselves that it's sometimes easy to forget to slow down to nurture that spiritual and prayerful life and come together with others who understand the struggles of the profession,” Kurz said.
Dr. Derek Nieber, a cardiothoracic surgeon, said he too sees medicine as a vocation.
“There are a lot of easier, less stressful ways to make a living,” Nieber said. “But our work is on an individual basis, and it's tremendously rewarding to have the successes and positive impacts on patients' lives.”
Dr. Ann Kurian, a breast surgical oncologist, said she leans on her Catholic faith given the challenging and at times overwhelming nature of her job.
“It reminds me of the human level,” Kurian said. “Because the paperwork, charting, and day-to-day of health care make it easy sometimes to lose touch with the true reason we're here — helping people. We deal a lot with people whose world is shattered. The White Coat Mass and other events like this remind me of my role of trying to help people get through terrible situations, and the need to lean on God as a guide to help me do that without getting sidetracked by the extra distractions of the job.”