Hundreds of healthcare workers and caregivers gathered Wednesday morning at St. Patrick’s Cathedral to participate in the annual White Mass, so named for the traditional white uniforms of healthcare workers, to honor ArchCare and local healthcare professionals and caregivers in the Archdiocese of New York.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, wearing a white chasuble for the occasion, celebrated the Mass, with concelebrants including Monsignor Joseph LaMorte, Vicar General of the archdiocese.

ArchCare is the continuing care community of the Archdiocese of New York, created to foster and provide faith-based holistic care to frail and vulnerable people unable to care fully for themselves.

In his homily, Cardinal Dolan referred to healthcare work and caregiving as a kind of evangelization. “Just by your charity, your joy, your humility, you evangelize. You let people know that God is with them and that actually God has sent you in an angelic profession, to give His care and His love to them, so they’re not alone. That’s evangelization.”

The Mass is scheduled to coincide with the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, when Mary, pregnant with the Baby Jesus, visited her elder cousin Elizabeth, who was also pregnant. Celebrated annually on May 31, the feast also marks the final day of a month traditionally devoted to the veneration of Mary.

In remarks after the Mass, ArchCare President and CEO Scott LaRue said the annual event was intended not only to express gratitude to existing healthcare workers, but to attract new ones. The need for new healthcare professionals “is pretty significant. Every day, 10,000 people turn 65. This is an opportunity for people who are looking for a career path, for advancement,” he said, adding that the ranks of healthcare workers are still be replenished following the Covid-19 pandemic.