Need a bit of help in how to be tactful

[ElizaE]

Hi,
My hubby and I started a Catholic organization at our medical school.

This year will be our second annual White Mass. This is a Mass intended to be on or around the Feast of St Luke, the patron saint of physicians and surgeons.

I asked the Bishop to officiate the White Mass for us. I waited and waited for his response. Finally I received a phone call from Dr. I who said that the physician guild will revive itself this year and that they scheduled a White Mass with the bishop already on Oct 24. I was bit taken aback because I have asked the Bishop about the White Mass quite a long time ago without a response, but I am assuming that he thought the two groups were one and the same.

I offered to take care of the details of the Mass, because we already sponsored the Mass last year. Dr. I agreed. He said that the guild will have a fundraiser dinner after the Mass at a restaurant and the students were invited to attend for free.

Wanting to include the physicians, I asked Dr. I to pick someone to do a reading and I asked him to do the Physican Promise. I suggested that in the future, the guild and the students could pick a physician to lead the others in the Promise (I thought that this would be a wonderful tradition where we recognize a good Catholic physician). Before I found out about the guild’s revival, I wanted Dr. M to lead the Physician promise (he is the only NFP-only physician in the area and a wonderful example to us students).

Dr. I sent a letter back saying that he does not want a competition among the physicans for an award to do the Physcian’s Promise. I believe that he misunderstood my intention. I just wanted to recognize a physician who is an example of a good Catholic physican. He said that he would find someone to do the reading but no mention about the Physcian’s Promise. This Promise is a requirement for this White Mass to be “official”.

Do I ask again if he would like to do the Promise? Do I ask Dr. M? The Mass is in 6 weeks and I need to ask Dr. M soon so that he can clear his schedule. How do I remain tactful? Do you think Dr. I wants to do the Promise? I am so confused.

I should mention that everytime I talk to him, he seems a bit uninterested. I am assuming that he is busy and is anxious to get off the phone. Last time I sent a fax so he could answer me at a time that is convenient for him.

Thanks for you help

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

Dr. I doesn’t want you students to have your organization, so he’s going to “fold” it into his and eventually quash it. That’s what it looks like to me. I’d be really careful around Dr. I until you have graduated, unless you plan to go someplace else.

 

[ElizaE]

May I ask what gives you that impression? I really do not want to read too much into all of this.

I must say that I am a bit weary. Dr. I told me that he asked the Bishop to do the Mass at the restaurant where the fundraising dinner would be held (very embarrasing!!!) The bishop said absoulutely not and promptly booked the Church near the restaurant (another embarrasing situation that the Bishop had to take care of this detail). This disappointed me a tad (although I know one church is not better than another) but last year the Mass was at the Cathedral (very beautiful). I had no choice in the matter this year.

He then told me something else that worried me. He said that the guild was in establishment quite a while ago but after Roe v Wade, the stopped existing (huh). Exactly when we needed them most. I cannot blame Dr. I for that, he was a very young man at the time.

The student group is sponsored by our school and the guild has absolutely no power over our group.

I have the distinct feeling that the fundraiser dinner is more important to Dr. I than the Mass. For me it is definetely vice versa. The Mass is extremely important to us.

 

[thistle]

What is a White Mass??

 

[ElizaE]

It is a Mass for physicians and health care professionals. Lawyers have a Red Mass, I believe.

 

[jc-servant]

It is a Mass for physicians and health care professionals. Lawyers have a Red Mass, I believe.

Lawyers do indeed have a red mass although the only place that I have heard one publicly announced since I was first licensed was in Missouri. They have one before the legislative year begins for the entire state legislature at the cathedral which is across the street from the capitol bldg. Even the non-Catholics attend. I thought it was an awesome way to start the year. They will occasionally announce one in another part of the state also.

 

[John_Lilburne]

He said that he would find someone to do the reading but no mention about the Physcian’s Promise. This Promise is a requirement for this White Mass to be “official”.

Do I ask again if he would like to do the Promise? …

Why do you think the Physician’s Promise is necessary? I am fairly sure you will not find it in an offical liturgical book, such as the Roman Missal. So I do not see the justification for adding it to a Catholic Mass.

Of course there can still be the Feast of St. Luke, a homily and Prayers of the Faithful to give it a White Mass orientation. So perhaps the silence is an indication of an intention not to have it.

 

[prv]

Hi,
My hubby and I started a Catholic organization at our medical school.

This year will be our second annual White Mass. This is a Mass intended to be on or around the Feast of St Luke, the patron saint of physicians and surgeons.

I asked the Bishop to officiate the White Mass for us. I waited and waited for his response. Finally I received a phone call from Dr. I who said that the physician guild will revive itself this year and that they scheduled a White Mass with the bishop already on Oct 24. I was bit taken aback because I have asked the Bishop about the White Mass quite a long time ago without a response, but I am assuming that he thought the two groups were one and the same.

I offered to take care of the details of the Mass, because we already sponsored the Mass last year. Dr. I agreed. He said that the guild will have a fundraiser dinner after the Mass at a restaurant and the students were invited to attend for free.

Wanting to include the physicians, I asked Dr. I to pick someone to do a reading and I asked him to do the Physican Promise. I suggested that in the future, the guild and the students could pick a physician to lead the others in the Promise (I thought that this would be a wonderful tradition where we recognize a good Catholic physician). Before I found out about the guild’s revival, I wanted Dr. M to lead the Physician promise (he is the only NFP-only physician in the area and a wonderful example to us students).

Dr. I sent a letter back saying that he does not want a competition among the physicans for an award to do the Physcian’s Promise. I believe that he misunderstood my intention. I just wanted to recognize a physician who is an example of a good Catholic physican. He said that he would find someone to do the reading but no mention about the Physcian’s Promise. This Promise is a requirement for this White Mass to be “official”.

Do I ask again if he would like to do the Promise? Do I ask Dr. M? The Mass is in 6 weeks and I need to ask Dr. M soon so that he can clear his schedule. How do I remain tactful? Do you think Dr. I wants to do the Promise? I am so confused.

I should mention that everytime I talk to him, he seems a bit uninterested. I am assuming that he is busy and is anxious to get off the phone. Last time I sent a fax so he could answer me at a time that is convenient for him.

Thanks for you help

As a prospective medical applicant, I myself am very interested in Catholic medical organizations (CMA, CMSA,etc). I know this doesn’t solve the controversy at hand, but…

 

[ElizaE]

As a prospective medical applicant, I myself am very interested in Catholic medical organizations (CMA, CMSA,etc). I know this doesn’t solve the controversy at hand, but…

You should join CMSA (through which you can find our web site in Fort Worth:thumbsup. It is free to join (www.cathmsa.com)

Perhaps the Holy Spirit will move you to start a chapter at the medical school you will be attending. It has been one of the most rewarding experience of my life.

Good luck and God bless.