Local

Catholic Medical Association members celebrate at the Mass in Thanksgiving for the Gift of Human Life

Elizabeth A. Elliott | Catholic Herald Staff Writer

Bishop Michael F. Burbidge speaks with the medical professionals following the Mass in Thanksgiving for the Gift of Human Life at St. Raymond of Peñafort Church in Springfield Oct. 20. ELIZABETH A. ELLIOTT | CATHOLIC HERALD

CROP_LR_Mass-for-Respect-Life-1.jpg

Bishop Michael F. Burbidge celebrated the Mass in Thanksgiving
for the Gift of Human Life at St. Raymond of Peñafort Church in Springfield
Oct. 20. Mass was concelebrated by Father Thomas P. Ferguson, vicar general and
pastor of Good Shepherd Church in Alexandria, and Father John C. De Celles,
pastor of St. Raymond. 

Members of the Northern Virginia Guild of the Catholic Medical
Association wore their white coats. 

“We gather today as a parish, as individuals, families and the
diocese to renew our commitment to God’s grace to celebrate life from the
moment of conception until natural death,” said Bishop Burbidge. “I am so very
grateful for the members of our Catholic Medical Association who are here today.
They are instruments of the Lord’s healing love and they carry out the work and
their ministry ever consistent with the teaching of our church and the gospel
of life. Thank you for your witness, and we also thank our Knights of Columbus
whose members in so many ways promote the sacredness of life at each and every
stage.”

Amy McInerny, respect life director in the diocesan Office of
Marriage, Family and Respect Life, said she was grateful to Bishop Burbidge
“for marking Respect Life Month with this beautiful Mass and the special spotlight
on the life-affirming work of the Catholic Medical Association. 

“We need all medical professionals to come together for the
fraternal support that the Catholic Medical Association offers,” she said. “This
is an exciting time for the (organization) in our diocese because they are
really growing right now.” 

Theresa Matula, a nurse at iNOVA Fairfax Hospital, believes her
career is a calling. “Faith makes me strong, helps me to be a Catholic and a
health care professional to reach others and be their voice and comfort for
them,” she said. 

Dr. Matthew Haden, founder of MODERN Mobile Medicine, a house
call medical service based in Alexandria, said it means a lot to have the
support of the bishop, parishioners and fellow Catholic medical associates. 

“We are facing a crisis in the United States health care and a
lot of pressure,” he said. “We are feeling more and more isolated to practice
in line with our values and with our faith, so I always appreciate the
visibility of support and collegiality of that together.” 

For Haden, wearing the white coat at Mass is a reminder of his
calling. 

“There is something special spiritually and a renewal that
happens when you wear your white coat at Mass. It is different than wearing it
at your job,” he said. “It takes me back those days when I was deciding what to
do with my life.” 

Dr. Lorna Cvetkovich, an OB/GYN at Tepeyac OB/GYN in Fairfax,
said the Mass was “in defense of life and it’s a grounding principle for
Catholics and certainly is a grounding principle for the Catholic Medical
Association. It is what has kept us together over the decades,” she said. “We
want to try and strengthen our local guild and do that in context with all the
other pro-life activities that are going on.” 

Buy photos from the Mass at catholicherald.smugmug.com.

Related Articles