“She touched his cloak, and her bleeding stopped at once; and she had the feeling inside herself that she was healed of her trouble … Jesus said to her, ‘My daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your trouble.’" – Mark 5:29 & 34
WHITING – Maladies from fluid on the brain, to depression, to spiritual dryness have been brought before the Lord to the “good benefit” of one family of faith.
Some parishioners and guests who participated in a liturgy called a Mass of Healing and immersed themselves in the accompanying supportive spirit at Sacred Heart parish felt renewed in body, mind and soul.
“Everybody is going to get sick for different reasons, but I think you need to be strong spiritually and everything else is secondary; I think that if you are strong spiritually, and you have that connection with God. He takes care of the rest,” said David Maldonado.
The Sacred Heart parishioner was accompanied by his wife Hilda Maldonado at the March 15 Mass of Healing and was drawn right into the “tranquility” of the liturgy. He observed the peaceful intentionality of presider Father Jay Nuthulapati, parish administrator and a Missionary of Mercy.
As a standard liturgy with the addition of a topical homily and a more meditative tone in the sacred music, the faithful recognized the graces that were already built in. Added to that was a healing service that immediately followed Mass.
“I felt peace,” David Maldonado said after Mass.
Father Nuthulapati implored the more than 50 faithful to “open your soul and open your heart” to the healing power of God. The Whiting priest, who has hosted such occasional liturgies for years, completes extensive prayer preparation.
He said his Holy Hours have been geared to being ready to channel the healing power of God, starting with his own mending, especially after the passing of his father in 2023. He was not able to return to his native India to memorialize him.
“What strengthens me is prayer,” Father Nuthulapati explained. “It was really amazing how God brought emotional healing.”
He shared the heavenly message he received as an answer to his prayers. God told him, “Your earthly father is gone, but I am your Father.”
Caring for oneself allows a person to be well and present to another. Father Nuthulapati said this helps him gain the strength to be available for his parishioners on a daily basis, and for special liturgies such as the Mass of Healing, which he hopes to continue monthly.
At each healing liturgy, Father Nuthulapati offers individual prayers during the laying on of hands. For those staying until all have been prayed over, he offers more general blessings.
Commonly called a “Mass for the Sick,” he has steered away from that vernacular. One of the reasons is that there may be a negative connotation to being ill, or admitting one is sick.
“Liturgically, the words are ‘Mass for the Sick,’ but why we do the Mass for Healing is because sometimes there is something lacking in your body; there is no sickness at all, but it is a condition of the body,” explained Father Nuthulapati. “But they are pretty much the same.”
Further personalizing his ministry, Father Nuthulapati has categorized the various manifestations of problems people face to an extent beyond the body-mind-soul paradigm. He detailed five areas of concern: physical or “external,” emotional or “inner,” social or “status,” spiritual or “soul,” and intellectual or “motivational.”
A delineation not commonly explained at healing liturgies includes the observations made by the Whiting priest in an important area of spiritual warfare.
“The fourth category is spiritual healing, or a deliverance from evil spirits – possessiveness can be (because of) demonic elements, negative energies, the dark power like you see today – the witchcraft and black magic – those are so predominant, especially in the youth in peer groups and colleges,” explained Father Nuthulapati.
Enslavement in bad habits and association with negative individuals are ways to lose the active shielding of the Holy Spirit. Healing seeks to restore this. “When we were baptized, we were all (claimed for) the Lord in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. God possesses us. And the Holy Spirit protects us,” he added.
To the soft guitar melodies played by Sacred Heart parishioner Rosie Romo, John and Cheryl Sopo each proceeded to the steps of the sanctuary, where Father Nathulapati outstretched his arms and rested his hands over their heads. Some participants of the healing returned to their pews visibly emotional.
“This seems more personal and tuned to each individual, so you can make it your own,” said John Sopo, who is praying for physical health.
“From the beginning of the Mass, Father Jay puts you in such a state of mind to prepare yourself to actually receive the anointing,” Cheryl Sopo said, indicating that the delivery was not mechanical.
She continued, “I think what this Mass really does is increase the faith and it increases my desire to pray … it just renews something in me to believe more and to seek God.”
Among those representing a range of ages, but tilting toward the seniors category, is lifelong parishioner Mike Jones. The lector and choir member said he thought it was a really good idea for him to present himself for prayers as he is managing with an aortic aneurysm and a more recent onset of hydrocephalus, commonly known as water on the brain.
Though he is “scared to death and praying for a miracle,” he is confident in his medical care. He just hopes to make the right decisions. “I pray and I ask, ‘please let me make a good decision when it comes to the (proposed) surgery or not,’” said Jones.
Another feeling expressed by worshippers was a sense of “the more the merrier.”
“Father Jay is wonderful and the Mass is beautiful,” said Cheryl Sopo, who prays for physical healing. “If everybody in Northwest Indiana knew about it , the church would be overflowing.”
For more information about Sacred Heart or the Mass of Healing, call the parish office at (219) 659-0733.
Caption: David Maldonado (left) approaches Father Jayababu Nuthulapati (right), administrator of Sacred Heart parish, who imparts a blessing during the Mass of Healing in Whiting. Many parishioners and guests reported a lifting up of their spirits and more belief in God's healing power on March 15, after participating in the liturgy and receiving individual blessings from their Missionary of Mercy priest. (Anthony D. Alonzo photo)
