Malini Manjoly, SCN describes how the Sisters of Charity (Nazareth) move in new ministries in health

Called to be a new way of being and ministering, SCNs in health ministry moves into primary health care. Twenty-five Sisters were present for the meeting at Nazareth Convent, Mokama, on Oct. 12, 2014.

Philomena Kottoor, SCN, reminded the group to bring about systemic change, to work for justice in solidarity with the oppressed people and to be innovative in ministry.

Each health unit presented their annual report which showed a gradual decline in the number of patients treated at the health centers. SCNs Kitamai Catherine Sinku and Lilly Luka presented project design and documentation.

SCNs Philomen Kottoor, Sujita Muthalakuzhy, Anjana Kunnath and Amelia Moras  Health Ministry Committee members

Anjana Kunnath, SCN, presented, A New Way of Being in Health Mission. In it she stated, “Primary health care is an essential health care, based on practical, scientifically sound and socially acceptable methods, and technology, made universally accessible to individuals and families in the community through their full participation and at a cost that the community and country can afford to maintain at every stage of their development in the spirit of self reliance and self-determination. Primary health care must be quality oriented and sensitive to the needs of the community.

“For Jesus the healings were not isolated acts but part of his proclamation of the reign of God. This was his way of telling everyone the good news: God is arriving, and even the most unfortunate can experience his merciful love here and now. These amazing healings were simple but real signs of a new world: the world that God wants for everyone.

“The therapy that Jesus applied was His own person, passionate love of life, wholehearted acceptance of every sick person, power to renew a person from the bottom up, and the contagion of His faith in human beings. God’s power to awaken unrecognized energies in people created the conditions that made the recovery of health possible.”

The members looked at how Jesus approached health care. The question which the members reflected upon was, “Are we in medical ministry, health ministry, or what else?”