White Mass, medical ethics conference inspire people serving in healthcare

The annual White Mass for healthcare professionals and a medical ethics conference were held last month at Creighton University in Omaha, drawing more than 100 people to each event.

Archbishop George J. Lucas celebrated the Oct. 19 White Mass at St. John Church on the university campus.

Concelebrating were Father Matthew Gutowski, chaplain of Omaha’s Father Edward J. Flanagan Guild of the Catholic Medical Association (CMA); Father Daniel Rayer of the Diocese of Lincoln, a hospital chaplain and chaplain of Lincoln’s St. Joseph Mascato Guild of the CMA; Jesuit Father James Clifton, associate dean of mission and identity at Creighton Medical School; Jesuit Father Kevin FitzGerald, chair of the Department of Medical Humanities at Creighton; and Father Michel N’Do, chaplain of Franciscan Healthcare in West Point.

The Father Edward J. Flanagan Guild organized the Mass.

The Converging Roads Conference that followed – a collaboration of the guild, Creighton University, the Archdiocese of Omaha and the St. John Paul II Foundation – was open to medical professionals and students, including those from the medical schools of Creighton and the University of Nebraska.

“The combination of the White Mass and the ethics conference … was a great opportunity for the attendees to share the joy of practicing our faith, while caring for the whole patient as part of our spiritual journey,” said Dr. Paul Esposito, an orthopedic surgeon and Nebraska state director of the Catholic Medical Association.

“The event also demonstrated the importance of integrating our Catholic beliefs and spirituality into the education of the future practitioners,” he said.

Nationally known speakers highlighted the conference.

Dr. Ashley K.R. Fernandez, clinical professor of pediatrics at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and associate director of the Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, spoke about human dignity and the mission of Catholic healthcare.

Dr. Kristin Collier, director of the University of Michigan Medical School Program on Health, Spirituality and Religion, addressed the vocation of the healthcare worker; and Anthony Isacco, a psychologist and professor of graduate psychology at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, talked about spiritual and religious considerations of the mental health crisis.

“Their witness and testimony greatly affected all in attendance, especially the students in the audience,” Esposito said.

Members of the Omaha guild also spoke at the conference. Deacon Stephen Doran of Omaha, a practicing neurosurgeon, spoke about his clinical experience and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on his medical patients and the people to whom he’s offered spiritual care.

Dr. Kristina Pakiz, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Vivify Women’s Health & Fertility in Omaha, talked about medical and surgical interventions for fertility. She testified to the beauty of new life and the value of authentic Catholic medical care and described medical treatments that help give married couples the opportunity to become parents.

Also at the conference, Father Gutowski was awarded a St. John Paul II medallion from the Institute for Priestly Formation in Omaha. The award honored Father Gutowski’s 20 years of serving as a chaplain for the Omaha CMA guild as well as his prior service as chaplain for the national association. Father Gutowski also serves pastor of a family of nine rural parishes that includes St. Michael in Albion and St. Anthony in Cedar Rapids.

Dr. Kristina Pakiz of Omaha speaks at the ethics conference. COURTESY PHOTO

Father Matthew Gutowski, center, is shown with the medallion he received. To his left is Dr. Paul Esposito, Nebraska state director of the CMA. At right is Dr. Michael “Kelly” McCarthy, president of Omaha’s CMA guild. COURTESY PHOTO

Medical students at the conference gather for a photo. COURTESY PHOTO

Conference speakers and members of the conference planning committee gather for a photo. Pictured in the front row, from left, are Dr. Kristin Collier’ Jesuit Father James Clifton; Deacon Stephen Doran, MD; Dr. Michael “Kelly” McCarthy, of Omaha, president of the Omaha CMA guild and conference organizer; Jesuit Father Kevin FitzGerald; and Thomas Lenz, a doctor of pharmacy and chair of the Bachelor of Arts in Healthy Lifestyle Management at Creighton. Back row, from left: Creighton Medical School’s CMA guild president Ali Mauritsen; Arland Nichols, president of the St. John Paul II Foundation; Dr. Ashley Fernandes; and Anthony Isacco. COURTESY PHOTO