Healing Masses relocate in diocese

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
October 14, 2004

The locations for the Masses of healing and evangelization have changed from Sioux City to other places in the diocese.

Father David Hemann, pastor at Sacred Heart Church in Ida Grove, and Father John McGuirk, pastor at St. Joseph Church in Wall Lake, are the main diocesan priests to celebrate the healing Masses for people of the Diocese of Sioux City.

The healing Masses for the most part will be held in either Ida Grove or Wall Lake with four Masses at each location throughout the year. The priests are going to allow time to have a few healing Masses at other locations in the diocese as well.

For several years, the Mass of healing and evangelization has been held primarily at the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City.

Margie Lancaster, a parishioner at Blessed Sacrament in Sioux City, was the coordinator of the Masses while they were being held in Sioux City. She lined up the priest to say the Masses the third Monday of every month at Cathedral. She also set up the Mass, had everything ready for the Mass and sang in the healing Mass choir.

"It has been very fruitful over the years. We have been so grateful for all of the gatherings and wonderful prayer time," said Father Hemann. "It's like a piece of fruit - you know when it is ripe, and it's time to come off the tree. You also know when it is time to plant a tree some place else. We are not discontinuing the healing Mass, we are redistributing it in the diocese."

According to Father Hemann, the Catholic Church is universal meaning there are many different expressions of prayer and ways to pray. By providing the Mass of healing, it allows people who appreciate charismatic prayer to experience this form of prayer.

"They are open to prophetic words that might come. Sometimes when you pray over someone, the Lord wants to speak to them in a very personal way. Being prayed over is a very legitimate and wonderful way of prayer," said Father Hemann.

Father Hemann explained that during every liturgy, the good news of Jesus is presented to people in the person of Jesus Christ.

"We say, 'Lord I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.' Every time we go to Mass there is some level of healing that is coming to us," said Father Hemann. "If we go to Mass and really open our hearts to the Lord, it is going to be fruitful. Every Mass is a healing Mass, yet this is a type of healing Mass that is open to more charismatic expression. After the liturgy is when we pray over people in teams."

Pope John Paul II has supported charismatic prayer communities throughout the world and has invited people through them to help him breath fresh air and life into the church, noted Father Hemann.

"This is one way of trying to implement his wish by opening the charismatic gifts and way of praying to the people of the diocese," said Father Hemann. "There are many devotions and ways of praying. That is what is so good about the Catholic Church, we aren't just stuck in one way of doing it, but the Catholic Church reaches out in many and varied ways to pray with people and to put them in contact with the living God."

Lancaster commented that the change of parishes is a good thing. She is still part of the Masses by being on a prayer team at Father McGuirk's parish in Wall Lake.

"I love being able to pray with people again and help in that capacity," said Lancaster. "When I was coordinator, I was so busy with the Masses that I really didn't get to pray with people and do that kind of ministry."

Father Hemann and Father McGuirk will continue to inform people of the times and places of the Masses of healing and evangelization.

"I am very grateful to the prayer teams, the charismatic leadership in the diocese, the priests, the bishops, musicians, to everyone who for so many years has provided such good care for so many people," said Father Hemann. "There have been very profound and wonderful deep physical, mental, emotional and spiritual healings at this liturgy."