Jubilee Year of St. Francis | | |
Brothers and Sisters,
Pope Leo XIII proclaimed a Jubilee Year of St. Francis that began on January 10, 2026 and ends on January 10, 2027, which will commemorate the 800th anniversary of his death on October 3, 2026. This jubilee year immediately follows the Jubilee of Hope that occurred in 2025, with a focus on turning the theme of hope that we reflected on last year into works of actions. And what better example do we have of a Catholic disciple of action than St. Francis of Assisi.
One of the initial blessings to the Church of this year devoted to St. Francis was a special exposition of the bones of St. Francis in Assisi. For only about 30 days, St. Francis’ remains were brought from the crypt in the Basilica in Assisi to the main Church for public display. Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to participate in the veneration of St. Francis and it was a humbling experience. To see the mortal remains of a man of faith whose impact is still felt throughout the world was a powerful experience.
One of the characteristics of St. Francis that remains relevant today was his conviction. A wonderful book that I highly recommend during this Year of St. Francis is “My God and My All: The Life of Saint Francis of Assisi” by Elizabeth Goudge. Goudge’s writing brings to life the essence of St. Francis within the context of the historical stories involving him and his fellow brothers. His conviction to the Catholic faith, to his way of life, and dedication to service to the poor, set him apart not just as a man, but as a disciple of Christ.
This conviction is an example that all, including those in the health care profession, can reflect on during this year. In a time when our Catholic faith is being challenged, when we are confronted with immoral situations at work where we have to make a decision whether or not to participate in the acts, and when we are being persecuted for our faith for failing to act in
accordance with the modern culture, we can look to St. Francis for strength in our conviction to live and act in accordance with the teachings of our Lord.
After all, as we all recently reflected on at the start of our Lenten journey, from dust we were created, and to dust we shall return. Yet, we have faith that our souls will find eternal reward in heaven. Let us pray for the
intercession of St. Francis this year, that we may grow in conviction in our faith and resolve to act boldly as Christian disciples.
God bless,
Joshua McCaig, JD, MBA, MS
VP and Executive Director, CHCLA
| | Fixing the Health Care Crisis with Christ-Centered Solutions: Fireside Chats | | At the 2025 Symposium for the Advancement of Catholic Health Care, CHCLA Senior Research Fellow Andrew Kubick enjoyed fireside chats with three esteemed attendees. The first of the these chats is with Robert E. Moffit, Senior Research Fellow at The Heritage Foundation. | | Reclaim Healthcare Summit | |
The Bella Health and Wellness Reclaim Healthcare Summit will take place April 29–May 1, 2026, in Beaver Creek, CO. It is designed for healthcare leaders, practitioners, and anyone called to care for others. Our heart behind this gathering is to create space for renewal, calling people back to their “why,” while offering meaningful connection, CME opportunities, and encouragement in Christ-centered medicine.
Registration ends April 8, so click the link below to reserve your spot!
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We invite you to join us in strengthening the mission of faithful Catholic healthcare.
The CHCLA relies on the generosity of our supporters to bring a new, strong voice for Catholic health care to both the Church and our country. Through your generosity, the CHCLA has quickly risen to be a respected and sought-after organization for its leadership and expertise in the health care arena.
Please continue to keep the CHCLA and the important work it has planned for 2024 in your prayers and, if you are so moved, please consider making a donation to the CHCLA to help us further advance our mission and keep Catholic health care strong, faithful, and a witness to Christ's healing ministry to those in need, suffering, and without hope. The CHCLA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit.
| | | | Catholic Healthcare Education from MyCatholicDoctor | | |
The Daniel Fast for Spiritual Growth and Health
Lent is a time for fasting among the faithful in the Church, as we remember how Jesus fasted in the desert before beginning his public ministry. Fasting has deep roots in Jewish and Christian tradition, meant to foster repentance, self-denial, spiritual growth, and preparation for particular feasts. Fasting practices have changed over the centuries, from consuming only water for a specific period of time, to reducing the number of meals in a day, or restricting certain foods.
True Transformation
By mid-February, many people have abandoned their New Year’s resolutions, just in time for Lent to begin. For Catholics, there is sometimes a renewal of that resolution in the form of a Lenten observance. We decide to give up sweets or chocolate, stop the doom-scrolling on social media, or commit to exercise. Unfortunately, when that Lenten observance resembles a New Year’s resolution, we can miss the benefit of spiritual growth and preparation that is at the core of the Lenten season.
Self Care on the Cheap
Small habits that care for your body, brain, and soul We’ve all heard that self-care is important for mental and physical health. But it’s easy to dismiss it as something that costs too much money — or too much time. The truth? Small, consistent practices regulate your nervous system, lower stress hormones, and improve mood.
| | Catholic Health Care News | |
The National Catholic Bioethics Center | |
Bioethics Public Policy Report
Essays on Ethics by Dr. Joseph Meaney
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The Christ Medicus Foundation and the Catholic Health Care Leadership Alliance issued their 2nd annual policy agenda to uphold the life, human dignity, health and wellbeing of all Americans in our nation’s health care system. Learn more here.
The Christ-centered care provided by Christ Medicus was covered in an article by National Catholic Register.
Michael Vacca of Christ Medicus, a lawyer, bioethicist and spiritual director, penned this commentary.
Check out their website for more updates.
| |  | Bar Notes from the Catholic Bar Association | Joshua McCaig, the founding president of the Catholic Bar Association, met Pope Leo XIV at the Jubilee of Justice event, following Pope Leo's address to the attendees in St. Peter's Square. Read more here. | | |
Membership is open to everyone from individual health care professionals to large health systems and offers a number of benefits: |
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Being a part of an active community of likeminded individuals who share a common goal of advancing Catholic Health Care.
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Being a recognized leader in advancing Catholic Health Care through the initiatives of the CHCLA.
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Being a part of a larger voice for Catholic Health Care, a voice that represents all Catholic health care providers, through advocacy at the highest levels of federal, state and local government.
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Having an active role and voice in the strategy of Catholic Health Care in the United States and abroad, and the trajectory of the CHCLA.
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Having access to a broad network of professionals in various areas related to health care, including medicine, law, business, academia, insurance, advocacy, and experts on specific health care topics.
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Having access to educational material, papers, reports and academic insights on Catholic Health Care and the health care delivery system, through courses, podcasts, publications and both live and remote events.
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Having access to advocacy organizations and receiving updates on advocacy initiatives, pending and anticipated lawsuits, and the impact of legislation and legal cases on Catholic Health Care.
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