White Mass honors local healthcare professionals
By Melanie Sisinni11/20/2025
The annual White Mass for healthcare professionals was celebrated on Saturday, Nov. 15 at St. Joseph Bread of Life Church in Erie. The liturgy, named for the white coats traditionally worn by medical professionals honored doctors, nurses, caregivers and all who serve in the healing professions. It offered the community an opportunity to pray for strength, wisdom and compassion for those dedicated to the physical and spiritual care of others.
Father Stephen Schreiber celebrated the Mass with Deacon Dr. Frank Pregler, who also works as a family physician. Deacon Dr. Pregler also gave the homily, reflecting on the vocation of healing.
Deacon Dr. Pregler reminded attendees, “As physicians and healthcare workers, our profession, our job, our occupation is not just to make AHN, LECOM or UPMC happy. It is to serve the patient. It is to serve a calling from God, because Jesus is the divine physician and God works through us.”
During the liturgy caregivers renewed vocational promises to “do no harm” as they looked to the example of St. Giuseppe Moscati, the celebrated physician known for uniting medical expertise with deep faith.
The event was organized with significant contribution from Dr. Jeff McGovern and the St. Giuseppe Moscati Guild, whose efforts helped bring together physicians, nurses, students and families for a morning of prayer and fellowship. A reception with light refreshments followed the Mass and offered members of the health care community the chance to connect with peers and clergy.
At the conclusion of the liturgy Dr. McGovern thanked the congregation for their attendance and reminded them of the sacred nature of their work.
“What you do in prayer, or deed, or prayer and deed means so much because you do it in Jesus' name,” said Dr. McGovern.
For more information about future events or involvement in the guild, contact Dr. McGovern at 814-746-5884.
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