White lab coats gleamed in bright sunshine as members of the medical community prepared to enter St. Joseph the Worker, Orefield for the annual Diocese of Allentown White Mass. Celebrated this year on Oct. 13, the White Mass gathers health care professionals to ask God’s blessing on their work. It is named after the color most frequently worn by those in the healing profession of medicine.
“It may seem like we up here in the sanctuary didn’t get the memo,” joked celebrant Bishop Alfred Schlert, indicating his green chasuble. “But today is a Sunday in the Ordinary Time of the Church year, so the prescribed color is green.
“White is for our medical professionals, and we're so grateful to have them here.”
About 250 attended the White Mass, which was sponsored by the Allentown Guild of the Catholic Medical Association (CMA), a national, physician-led community whose members strive to uphold the principles of the Catholic faith in the science and practice of medicine.
Concelebrating the Mass were Father Eugene Ritz, Vicar for Clergy; Father Giuseppe Esposito, R.N., Pastor of St. Joseph the Worker, Frackville and St. Charles Borromeo, Ashland; and Monsignor Joseph Smith, Pastor Emeritus, St. Catharine of Siena, Reading and St. Joseph the Worker, Orefield.
Deacon Bill Williams, M.D. proclaimed the Gospel, and Bishop Schlert delivered a homily echoing the sentiment of the Mass’s entrance chant, “Be Not Afraid.”
“When your conscience tells you that a particular medical procedure or action is morally wrong, you must have the courage to follow it, even if it means standing alone in the midst of your colleagues,” said the Bishop.
“You may face criticism, professional repercussions, or isolation, but remember that God calls you to stand for truth, even when it is difficult.”
Bishop Schlert asserted that the work of a Catholic healthcare professional amounts to more than just a profession. Such work is,” he said, “a vocation, a calling from God to serve others in a profound way. Your healing hands are [Christ’s] hands at work in the world.”
The Bishop went on to offer reflections on the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by members of the medical community; for example, the pressure to perform treatments and procedures that devalue life.
“God will guide you and provide the strength you need to make difficult decisions,” he assured the congregation.
The White Mass was followed by a lunch reception at the Glasbern Inn, Fogelsville. Deacon Bruno Schettini, M.D., President of the Allentown Guild of the Catholic Medical Association, welcomed guests to the event, described as “a time of fellowship and support among Catholic healthcare professionals.”
Deacon William Williams, M.D., of Sacred Heart Parish in Havertown, gave a presentation titled “The Decay of Trust in Medical Information: A Catholic Response.”
Deacon Williams, who serves as President and CEO of BriaCell Therapeutics Corp. and is a former faculty member of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, spoke on the limits of scientific inquiry and the ways the medical community can best apply scientific information to its decision-making process.
During a period designated for the appreciation of honored guests, Deacon Williams received the Monsignor James J. Mulligan Award for “clearly articulating the truth of Catholic teachings on Natural Moral Law and the Gospel of Life.”
In recognition of his spiritual leadership, Bishop Schlert was presented with a selection of books, a lapel pin, and a membership renewal in CMA.
The 2025 White Mass will take place Saturday, Oct. 18 at St. Thomas More, Allentown. A post-Mass reception in the Family Center will feature a presentation by Deacon John Travaline, M.D., professor of Thoracic Medicine and Surgery at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University.
By Celeste Behe
