CMA Guilds Around the Country Celebrate White Mass
November 16, 2025
The annual White Mass, where health care professionals gathering to worship together, and often to renew their Hippocratic oath, took place around the county in the month of October, when the patron of medicine, St. Luke, is celebrated. What follow are highlights of some of the guild celebrations but is not a comprehensive list.
For the Diocese of Corpus Christi, it was the first time the White Mass was celebrated since 2012. With the founding of the Catholic Physicians Guild of Corpus Christi, Guild President Sean Hutzler, M.D., FACEP, FAAEM,, said it was a priority to revive the tradition. Bishop Michael Mulvey presided the Oct. 16 Mass along with Guild Chaplain Fr. Richard Libby, a bioethicist, and several local hospital chaplains. Dr. Hutzler and Guild Vice President Dr. Dan Doucet were readers. Leadership was thrilled with the turn out and were able to recruit additional members to the Guild. More information and photos about the Mass can be found here.
The Catholic Physicians Guild of San Antonio also held their annual White Mass following a retreat featuring CMA National Chaplain Fr. Christopher Kubat. Fr. Kubat discussed the “Divine Infusions: Sacraments for the Sick” during the Healthcare Professionals & Ministers to the Sick Day of Reflection on the Feast Day of St. Luke, Patron of Physicians. There were approximately 50 attendees that participated in both the retreat and Mass on Oct. 18, 2025. More information and photos can be found here.
Meanwhile in Minnesota, the St. Raphael’s Guild in Duluth celebrated their White Mass on October 25, 2025, with Bishop Daniel Felton presiding. He blessed the stethoscopes and the medical professionals in attendance. A dinner presentation followed the Mass. Dr. Tod Worner, a practicing internal medicine physician in the Twin Cities and the Editor-in-Chief of the print and online versions of Word on Fire Institute’s journal“Evangelization & Culture,” was the keynote speaker. The focus of his presentation was “Hope Along the Arduous Path”.
The Baltimore Guild joined with fellow healthcare professionals across the Archdiocese of Baltimore for the annual celebration of the White Mass on Sunday, October 26, 2025, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption in Baltimore, Maryland. Archbishop William Lori was the principal celebrant, assisted by Guild chaplain Fr. DeAscanis, Basilica rector Fr. Fitzgerald, and area clergy in healthcare. Archbishop Lori welcomed the physicians, medical students, lay and religious healthcare professionals, and hospital leaders and encouraged their faithful Catholic witness to human dignity across the Continuum of Life, whether in health, sickness, or caring for the dying. The Guild luncheon following the White Mass was hosted at nearby Mercy Medical Center. The invited speaker, Mr. George Weigel, noted theologian and biographer of St. John Paul II, spoke on “Defending the Human: The Catholic Challenge Today.”
The Aquinas Guild of Montana held their White Mass in Great Falls, MT, at St Ann’s Cathedral of Great Falls. Bishop Fleming celebrated Mass on Oct 29th with guild members and medical students followed by a reception. A highlight was the first time that guild members and students recited the Catholic Physician Annual Promises during the Mass.
The Tampa Bay Guild of St. Philomena of the Catholic Medical Association held their annual White Mass for healthcare professionals in the Diocese of Saint Petersburg on Saturday, November 8, 2025, in Our Lady Queen of Angels Chapel at Christ the King Catholic Church in Tampa. Bishop Gregory Parkes concelebrated the White Mass with Guild Chaplain Father Paul Pecchie, pastor of St. Anthony the Abbot Parish in Brooksville, and Father Ralph D’Elia, priest secretary to the bishop and director of the Office of Episcopal Ceremonies. Two deacons also participated in the Mass – Deacon Frank Averill, M.D, J.D. and Deacon Paul Haber. Guild President Dr. John R. (Rob) Hamill, Jr., hosted a dinner event following the White Mass. Over 90 participants attended including spouses and medical students. The dinner’s speaker was Dr. Julio Gonzalez, M.D., J.D., a former Florida State Representative. His talk, entitled “The Role of Catholic Physicians in Restoring Right Order: What You Can Do,” was inspirational and very motivating as he encouraged attendees to boldly speak out the truth on healthcare matters and regarding the Catholic faith.
Miami Guild of the CMA had their White Mass on Oct. 19,2025 and was well attended by medical professionals who renewed the Hippocratic Oath, a staple of the Miami Guild’s White Mass. The special Mass also resulted in new members for the Guild.
Philadelphia’s St. John Neumann Guild of the CMA held their annual White Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, where nearly 70 people were in attendance. Auxiliary Bishop Keith Chylinski was the principal celebrant of the Holy Mass, which was accompanied by the magnificent Cathedral Choir. Following Mass, a brunch speaker event featured speaker Matt Bowman of Alliance Defending Freedom. For more information and pictures can be found here.
