Press Release Friday February 9th
World Day of the Sick 2018
Experts in the field of Dementia and Alzheimer’s will take part in a conference in Dublin this weekend to mark World Day of the Sick 2018.
The World Day of the Sick is an initiative which was started by Saint John Paul II in 1992. It is a time to pause and be prayerful in solidarity with those who are sick and with those who care for the sick.
In his message for World Day of the Sick, Pope Francis says, “The Church’s maternal vocation to the needy and to the sick has found concrete expression throughout the two thousand years of her history in an impressive series of initiatives on behalf of the sick. This history of dedication must not be forgotten. It continues to the present day throughout the world.”
Two events to mark the day take place in Dublin. Tomorrow (Saturday 10th, 9.30am) a conference takes place in St. Agnes’s Parish Centre in Crumlin on the theme of “Dementia Friendly Parish Communities”. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin will open the conference which has as its keynote speaker, Dr. Ciarán Donegan. Professor Donegan is a senior Geriatrician at Beaumont Hospital. He has special interest in the management and care of frail older people and their management in an acute hospital setting. Also taking part will be Jean Scanlan, Dementia Adviser with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, and Paul Maloney, a clinical specialist in Occupational Therapy. Participants will also hear of dementia friendly services that are available in Crumlin Parish.
A prayer service at the end of the conference will be based on the on the Icon of the World Meeting of Families (WMOF2018), which will be in Saint Agnes’ Parish Church throughout the weekend.
The highpoint of the weekend will be Mass of Healing and Anointing of the Sick. This takes place in St. Agnes’s at 3pm on Sunday (11th). Hundreds of sick people and their families and carers will travel from around the Archdiocese to participate, with several volunteers helping out with the necessary facilities and arrangements to accommodate those in need of special assistance. ENDS
