The seventh annual National Catholic Health Care Week will take place from Sunday, February 1 to Saturday, February 7, 2026. This week recognizes the important work of Catholic health care organizations in our province and across Canada.
The Week is held during the days leading into the World Day of the Sick on February 11, drawing our attention to the ministry of healing at the heart of Catholic health care. We invite you to participate in the Week by sharing the message of Catholic health care within your parish community.
“We are called to be signs of hope for those of our brothers and sisters who experience hardships of any kind. Care given to them is a hymn to human dignity, a song of hope that calls for the choral participation of society as a whole.
— Pope Francis, Spes Non Confundit, Jubilee of the Year 2025
Theme
Inspired by Catholic social teaching, this year’s theme Open Hearts, Healing, Hope reflects the profound belief that healing is communal. It calls us to recognize the dignity of each person, to listen deeply to the needs of our communities, and to foster participation, inclusion, and hope—principles rooted in our Catholic tradition and lived every day through the care we provide. In a world marked by division and uncertainty, Open Hearts, Healing, Hope celebrates the strength that comes from walking together and building relationships grounded in respect, compassion, and justice.
Please pray for our Catholic health ministry during National Catholic Health Care Week, and use the following resources put together by the Catholic Health Alliance of Canada to raise awareness among leaders and in your communities. These resources invite all of us to reflect on how our presence and practice can nurture belonging, inclusion, and whole-person healing.
Catholic Health Alliance of Canada created a set of five reflections and prayers for you to use each weekday during National Catholic Health Care Week, as a resource for discussion or learning.
These reflections explore the daily themes of Human Dignity, Compassion, Community, Participation, and Hope, offering prayers, insights, and questions to inspire conversation and contemplation. They help us explore how Catholic social thought animates our ministry and how our work contributes to building a community of care where all can flourish.
Catholic health draws on a rich heritage of Catholic social thought, which offers a way of thinking, being and seeing the world. The principles of Catholic social teaching provide a vision for a just society in which the dignity of all people is recognized, and all have the opportunity to belong and thrive.
This resource is an introduction to Catholic social thought and can be used in parish groups/personal reflection to explore how these principles shape our identity and guide our ministry. It presents four foundational themes—Human Dignity, Solidarity, Community and the Common Good, and Participation—in inviting language that explores our Catholic tradition.
The Courageous Gift of Catholic Health Care, along with the fact sheet outlining the footprint of Catholic health in Canada, is a valuable resource that can be shared during this special week. Download the infographic below.
The Week is held during the days leading into the World Day of the Sick on February 11, drawing our attention to the ministry of healing at the heart of Catholic health care. We invite you to participate in the Week by sharing the message of Catholic health care within your schools. Here you will find lesson plans and resources related to Catholic Health.
As part of this year’s National Catholic Health Care Week, we encourage parishes to participate by sharing the message of Catholic health care in your parishes and communities through prayers of support. The document contains specific Prayers of the Faithful that can be used during Mass.
A MINISTRY. A MISSION. A MOVEMENT.
At the heart of Catholic health care is a deep respect for the intrinsic value and dignity of every human being and an unwavering commitment to serving all people, from all backgrounds and faiths – especially society’s most vulnerable.
We ask that you also use your communication and engagement platforms to reveal the courageous gift of Catholic health care through stories, facts, and resources. A social media guide with ready-to-use posts is attached below. We encourage you to follow and share social media posts from Catholic health providers in your province or district.
Download the toolkit