ArchCare’s Celebration Highlights the Vital Role of Compassionate Care
NEW YORK, NY, June 5, 2024 — In a moment of reverence and reflection for those who dedicate their lives to healing others, His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, celebrated the annual White Mass at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral this morning, honoring New York’s healthcare professionals and caregivers across all roles and disciplines.
Hosted by ArchCare, the continuing care community of the Archdiocese of New York, the White Mass is a Catholic tradition dating back to the late 1800s. It derives its name from the white coats worn by doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals, and today served as a powerful tribute to the compassion, sacrifice, and quiet heroism of those who care for others in times of illness, aging, and end of life.
“If you want to see a place where everybody is one, go to one of our healthcare apostolates,” said Cardinal Dolan in his homily. “There’s a oneness there because everyone has one goal: to help people heal. We don’t just care for the body—we care for the soul, the heart, and the mind.”
Honoring a Calling, Not Just a Career
At a time when the American healthcare system faces urgent challenges, including severe workforce shortages and widespread burnout, today’s White Mass underscored not only the importance of those who serve, but the critical need to support and sustain this essential profession.
The Health Resources and Services Administration projects that the nation will face a deficit of over 78,000 registered nurses by 2025, as demand rises and the workforce ages.
“The White Mass is more than a ceremony. It’s a moment to honor those who answer the call to serve, often without recognition,” said Scott LaRue, President and Chief Executive Officer of ArchCare. “I look around this Cathedral and see the faces of real heroes: nurses, chaplains, aides, therapists, and caregivers. People who bring compassion and dignity to others in their most vulnerable moments. You are the hands and heart of Christ in this world, and today we lift you up with deep gratitude.”
A Message of Unity, Hope, and Healing
Cardinal Dolan’s message emphasized “oneness” which was a recurring theme throughout the Mass. In a divided world, he noted, the act of caregiving remains a uniquely unifying mission, grounded in shared humanity and the belief in the integrity of the whole person.
This spiritual framing of healthcare as a ministry, not merely a profession, resonated deeply inside Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, where doctors, nurses, aides, family caregivers, religious sisters, and chaplains gathered in prayer.
The ceremony included special blessings for healthcare professionals and concluded with Cardinal Dolan’s personal thanks to those “who do God’s work with their hands and hearts every day.”
Photos from the White Mass are available upon request.
Livestream replay: Annual White Mass | June 5th 2025
For interview requests or media inquiries, please contact Kelly Wessel at kwessel@archcare.org.
About ArchCare
ArchCare is the Continuing Care Community of the Archdiocese of New York, and one of the nation’s largest and most dynamic Catholic healthcare systems. ArchCare provides quality care to thousands of people of all faiths through its home and community-based and residential care programs, including their Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) nursing home alternative, adult day care, long-term skilled nursing care, short-term rehabilitation, home care, assisted living, hospice, an acute care specialty hospital and services for people with Huntington’s disease, HIV/AIDS, developmental disabilities, and other specialized care needs.
Visit archcare.org for more information.
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Media Contact:
Kelly Wessel
917-453-7916