During the World Day of the Sick, Bishop Robert Deeley imparted the sacrament of the anointing of the sick on 17 individuals at a Feb. 13 Mass, held at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Lewiston. Submitted photo

LEWISTON —Bishop Robert Deeley commemorated the World Day of the Sick on Feb. 13, with a celebration of Mass at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.

The World Day of the Sick was established 30 years ago by Pope Saint John Paul II to offer prayers for those who are ill and to recognize the importance of caring for them, according to a news release from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland.

“It is a day of prayer for the sick, but it is also a day to raise our consciousness of the needs of those who are sick,” Deeley said. “The World Day of the Sick was instituted on February 11 to remind us all that those who are sick and suffering are in need of our prayer and our care. It is also seen by the Church as an opportunity to encourage us, as the people of God, to advocate in our civil society, calling on all people and governments to be increasingly attentive to the needs of the sick and to those who care for them.”

During the Mass at the basilica, the bishop imparted the sacrament of the anointing of the sick on 17 individuals.

The sacrament of the anointing of the sick may be received by those facing serious illness or chronic conditions, including the infirmities that can come with age. The sacrament is also available to those suffering from mental illness and those who will undergo surgery.

Isolation and illness are things that many have experienced during the pandemic, something Pope Francis reflected on his World Day of the Sick message. The pope emphasized that caring for the sick is something we are all called to do, a belief Deeley echoed during the Mass at the basilica.

Masses commemorating the World Day of the Sick were also held over the weekend in Belfast, Houlton and South Portland.