On July 26, the Department of Life, Dignity and Justice (LDJ), facilitated by its Director, Sister Chilee Okoko, DMMM, hosted its annual Healthcare Professionals’/Spiritual Care Providers Retreat and Day of Prayer at St. Anthony Church in San Bernardino.
This year’s theme was “Sharing Love and Inspiring Hope to the Sick,” reflecting the 2025 Jubilee Year, Pilgrims of Hope.
Activities of the day included a discussion led by Dr. Susan Protacio, MD, that reflected on the emotional and mental challenges associated with caring for the sick, a patient testimonial by Yolanda Madrid, group sharing of blessings and challenges from work and ministry and closing input from participants. Participants shared in opening and closing prayers and prayed the Rosary together during the retreat.
“Participating in this retreat was very moving for me,” said Madrid, the LDJ Department’s Administrative Assistant. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022 and is now in remission. “Sharing my story in such a small and intimate setting created a safe space, and I could feel God’s presence in the way participants began to open their hearts as well. I didn’t even invite people to share, but hands went up and a beautiful conversation began.”
The retreat began with an activity where participants reflected on patient and caregiver profiles, which opened a conversation about looking beyond the diagnosis to see the whole person.
“My hope was to remind those who serve in healthcare that their work is more than a job—it’s a vocation, their presence, their compassion, and their willingness to truly see people can be deeply healing,” Madrid said.
Madrid shared her personal journey both as a caregiver and a patient, where she spoke about the “hidden stories” that patients and caregivers carry: the struggles and emotions that aren’t always visible to healthcare workers or even family members.
“Faith can be a quiet but powerful companion for a patient,” Madrid reflected. “For me, faith gave me strength when I felt invisible, tired, or scared. It reminded me that God was with me even in the hospital rooms, the waiting areas, and the car rides home after treatment. Faith can help patients carry their suffering with hope, and it can also transform ordinary moments into encounters with God’s love, especially when someone shows compassion or simply notices them.”
The LDJ department hosts this retreat annually and invites everyone to attend, especially patients and those who serve in the healthcare industry to participate in this inspiring and hope giving activity.
“I left feeling grateful and deeply accompanied, knowing that my experiences, both the hard moments and the moments of grace, could help others reconnect with the heart of their vocation,” Madrid said.