In his homily at the 30th annual Rose Mass, Jesuit Father Richard Nichols pointed out the prodigal son’s change of heart and return to his father highlighted in that day’s Gospel reading. The younger son, who asked for his inheritance early, abandoned his family and foolishly spent all his wealth until he was living on the same food fed to the pigs, and eventually he realized the error of his decision. According to the well-known Gospel parable, the prodigal son came to his senses – translated literally from the Greek, the son experienced a “coming to himself,” Father Nichols said. “That captures something crucial about what conversion is,” he added. “The grace of conversion is finding your true character, embracing the person you were meant to be.”
Encouraging people to seek that same spiritual growth, the priest – who also serves as chaplain at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital – said “the mystery of faith calls us to conversion and reconciliation,” Father Nichols said. “It summons us to come to ourselves.”
The Rose Mass, held each year on the fourth Sunday of Lent, Laetare Sunday, is named for the rose-colored vestments worn by priests on the day marking the halfway point of the Lenten season. For the last 30 years in The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, the John Carroll Society sponsors a Rose Mass to honor and pray for all the medical, dental, nursing, and allied health care workers and health institutions in the archdiocese.
This year’s Rose Mass was held March 27 at the Church of the Little Flower in Bethesda, Maryland and streamed live online. Cardinal Wilton Gregory served as the principal celebrant. The concelebrants included Washington Auxiliary Bishops Mario Dorsonville and Roy Campbell Jr.; Msgr. Peter Vaghi, Little Flower’s pastor and the chaplain of the John Carroll Society; and 10 other priests, including chaplains of health care institutions.
Father Nichols concluded his homily reminding participants to partake in the Eucharist knowing they are not ever alone at the sacrament and that they should seek God’s mercy and forgiveness. For like the father in the parable, God the Father will “run out to us,” “embrace us,” and “lead us to the feast… because someone was lost and has been found,” the priest said.
Following the Mass, members and friends of the John Carroll Society gathered for a luncheon to honor the recipients of this year’s pro bono health care awards for the first time in two years due to pandemic-related restrictions on in-person gatherings.
“I recall last year we had the Mass but no luncheon,” said Cardinal Gregory, noting the hope that “(we are) beginning to exit the pandemic.” The cardinal acknowledged his blessing of getting to know “the great, generous spirit that animates this local Church” – including the people who give of themselves as volunteers especially in the health care field. “Thank you – the spirit of joy is so obvious in this local Church,” Cardinal Gregory added.
Afterward, Msgr. Vaghi told the Catholic Standard that the event marked the 30th anniversary “of celebrating our great heroes – celebrating and praying for the doctors and everyone in health care for their tireless effort to protect us during the pandemic.”
This year’s honorees included: Dr. Thomas Loughney, recipient of the 2022 James Cardinal Hickey Lifetime Service Award; Father Thomas Kalita, recipient of the 2022 Msgr. Harry A. Echle Award for Outstanding Service in Health Care Ministry; and Dr. Catherine Broome, Dr. Jie He, and Dr. Ricardo Perez, recipients of the 2022 Pro Bono Health Care Awards honoring volunteers of the Catholic Charities Health Care Network. Founded 38 years ago under the guidance of Cardinal James Hickey, then the archbishop of Washington, the network maintains a roster of health care professionals and area hospitals that provide specialty evaluation and treatment to patients referred by community-based, non-profit primary care clinics.
Dr. Thomas Loughney, director of endoscopy at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, has provided care to hundreds of low-income and uninsured patients since joining Catholic Charities Health Care Network in 2006. A past president of the John Carroll Society, Dr. Loughney works to raise awareness of the health care network and recruits other colleagues to join him in offering pro bono care. A former lieutenant colonel in the Army, Loughney entered private practice before returning to Georgetown, where he earned his medical degree. In the award presentation, Dr. Eileen Moore, the chair of the Rose Mass committee, said Dr. Loughney was selected for the lifetime achievement award because “he is approachable, considerate, and treats his patients with respect and genuine concern.” Dr. Loughney’s “compassionate, reliable, and dedicated care has helped many patients to regain their normal lives,” she said.
Although unable to receive his award due to two Confirmations scheduled at his parish, Father Thomas Kalita, pastor of St. Peter’s Parish in Olney, was recognized for 30 years of visiting patients as well as promoting parish lay ministry visitation programs offering care to the sick and homebound. Deacon Vincent Wolfinger accepted Father Kalita’s award on his behalf. “This award is a real tribute to the many, many lay people who minister to those who are homebound – in the hospital, in nursing homes, and sick at home,” Deacon Wolfinger told the Catholic Standard. St. Peter’s Parish is located in the same neighborhood as MedStar Montgomery Medical Center in Olney where the priest and other volunteers are on-call. “We’ve got the beeper,” the deacon said. Additionally, the parish also facilitates visits to nine nearby assisted living residences. “It was an active ministry well before I arrived at the parish seven years ago,” Deacon Wolfinger added.
The deacon said visits to the nursing homes are just beginning again as pandemic restrictions are lifting, and he noted that the parish’s two dozen lay volunteers came back eagerly and couldn’t wait to resume visiting their neighbors. Deacon Wolfinger credited Beth Nalyvayko, coordinator of the ministry and Father Kalita’s support for the vitality of that parish program.
Dr. Catherine Broome, medical director of cellular apheresis at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, was honored for her devoted care of oncology patients in the Catholic Charities Health Care Network. “Having a cancer illness is physically, mentally, and emotionally draining,” said Dr. Moore, the award presenter. “It is also a stressful time for the family, but Dr. Broome has always given each of her patients a glimpse of hope in the way she cared for them through their cancer journey.”
A native of Shanghai, China, Dr. Jie He is an endocrinologist with a private practice based in Rockville, Maryland since 2010. He was recognized for his pro bono care with the Pan Asian Volunteer Health Clinic and with the Catholic Charities Heath Care Network.
For pediatric dentist Dr. Ricardo Perez, “it’s all about the kids.” Dr. Perez, a member of the John Carroll Society, said he “was honored and humbled by the award; I’m very much about dental health.” Dr. Perez was honored for more than 10 years of service to the network and his service to the Spanish Catholic Center since 1991. According to Dr. Moore, “his commitment to helping children improve and maintain optimal dental health has driven Perez to participate in multiple medical-dental missions both domestically and internationally.” Growing up in Colombia, the future dentist began a lifetime of volunteering by serving as a teenager with the Boy Scouts and Red Cross.
The John Carroll Society, a professional organization of more than 1,000 members, focuses on faith, education, fellowship and serving the archdiocese. Andrew Cook, the society’s current president, said the Rose Mass “recognized and celebrated our health care professionals and the wonderful work of the awardees who mastered the circumstances of the pandemic and helped the community come out stronger.”
Joan Ronnenberg, a member of the society and parishioner at Little Flower, said she attended the event to honor health care volunteers committed to working with low-income patients. Ronnenberg serves at the Mercy Health Clinic, an independent clinic serving around 2,000 patients annually and founded by parishioners of Our Lady of Mercy Parish over two decades ago.
“The Rose Mass reflects on the real need for the access to health care by the working poor,” she said, noting the extreme challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic over the past two years both in terms of the increased need for health care and in the ability of medical facilities to remain open to serve all those who needed care.
The Catholic Charities Health Care Network has also remained open, providing over 2,800 office visits, procedures and surgeries to low-income clients during Fiscal Year 2021, noted Sister Romana Uzodimma, program manager of the network for the last five years. In that fiscal year, the network – which has more than 300 volunteer specialists – provided more than $8 million worth of pro bono care to patients.
“I am thrilled that these doctors are so committed and have an option for the poor,” she said, adding that the network especially relies on specialty doctors for complete care. “Many patients returned to normal life with improved health,” Sister Romana added.
After the awards luncheon, Sister Romana, a member of the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus, said, “I am so happy and glad that we can recognize the volunteer doctors and health care professionals – I congratulate them.” She added, “You cannot keep what you have, your gifts – what God has given to you – to yourself,” she said. “Service to the poor is why Jesus came.”
