St. Mary Central School in Martins Ferry celebrates a White Mass at St. Mary Catholic Church to acknowledge health care professionals with a blessing from The Rev. Dan Heusel, pastor of St. John Evangelical Church and St. Mary Shadyside. Shown from front left are: Christine Smathers, retired registered nurse; Kathy Besece, retired licensed practical nurse; and Heusel. Second row: Shirley Honecker, nursing assistant; Amy Bolt, nurse; Joyce Martini, retired RN and director of nursing; and Sara Cooley, school nurse. (Photo Provided)

St. Mary Central School celebrated its White Mass at St. Mary Catholic Church, acknowledging health care professionals on Tuesday morning.

St. Mary celebrated those from the community who have served as nurses, doctors, medical technicians, hospital personnel, home health care providers, pharmacists, respiratory therapists and others in related fields.

St. Mary Central School welcomed all members of every medical professional field to attend the White Mass, which is symbolic of the white lab coats traditionally worn by medical professionals.

During the Mass, St. Mary Church recalled St. Luke, a physician who prayed for all of those in the medical profession and gospel writer, to celebrate those who served in the community. As the Mass is usually scheduled around the feast day of St. Luke, St. Mary Central School Principal Theresa Young said, “It is a time to acknowledge and bless personnel for their dedication.”

The Rev. Dan Heusel, pastor of St. John Evangelical Church and St. Mary in Shadyside, gave a blessing to the medical personnel in attendance that included a prayer seeking for them to be guided by the Lord and rewarded for their service.

Young said this Mass is important because medical professionals do so much for the community.

“There are so many times that people don’t get that extra praise or recognition that they deserve,” she said. “And I think that this is just the time for our kids to see how important it is to recognize and pray for those people that do this kind of work.”

Young said she hopes this Mass helps medical professionals who attended know that even in a thankless job where they don’t always get the thanks they need, they understand they’re appreciated and that people are praying for them.

She said Heusel said in the Mass when patients are in pain, it’s hard to be happy.

“Even when people may not be the nicest or the best patients …” she said. “And even though sometimes it feels like a thankless job that they’re recognized and appreciated.”