Reaching people through the pulpit is a new approach for CHA. "Within 24 hours of launching the homily service, we had received dozens of favorable responses from priests, mission leaders, pastoral care personnel, academicians and others," said Sr. Patricia Talone, RSM, CHA's vice president of mission services. "The e-mails we received indicate that people appreciate that CHA has broadened its voice and is assisting Catholics in the pews. They like that CHA is working through the voice of the clergy and others engaged in ministry."

The service debuted in March with the first of five homilies written to coincide with the liturgical calendar and with selected feast days through November. The remaining four homilies will be available online several weeks prior to the Sunday to which they are tied. CHA plans to continue the service in 2009.

The homilies offer ideas for talking about suffering, treatment and the end of life, among other topics. "The issues addressed touch the lives of everyday people," said Sr. Talone. "A goal of this service is to help people form their consciences."

She noted that it is important for people to understand health care issues from a biblical point of view, particularly as election-year politics heat up and bioethical issues are brought to the fore in national debates. While parishioners are interested in the moral dimension of health care topics, their priests are often reluctant to discuss such issues from the pulpit, noted Sr. Talone. She said this may be because priests feel ill-equipped to delve into controversial subjects or because they have been taught to preach on the biblical text for the Mass, rather than on specific topics like health care.

Tim Serban, director of mission integration and spiritual care for Providence Everett Medical Center in Everett, Wash., said he opened the e-mail about the service "with curiosity and closed it with a renewed spirit."

It is "superb writing and reflection," he said of the opening homily.