Resources help parishes observe World AIDS Day

Published: 2006-11-27

CHICAGO (CNS) -- The annual observance of World AIDS Day Dec. 1 gives everyone -- from national and international AIDS organizations to community groups, parishes and individuals -- an opportunity to recommit themselves to the fight against AIDS, said Dan Lunney, executive director of the Chicago-based National Catholic AIDS Network. An estimated 38.6 million people are thought to be living with AIDS or HIV, the virus that causes it. According to UNAIDS, 4.1 million people were newly infected in 2006. "This is an opportunity for us to focus on the important opportunities we have to improve our ministry to our brothers and sisters living with, and affected by, HIV/AIDS," said Chicago Cardinal Francis E. George in a recent conference call aimed at raising awareness about the disease and sharing resources for Catholic parishes to use to observe World AIDS Day. "It is also an opportunity for us to recognize and to thank those in the church who so actively work to prevent the spread of AIDS and to take care of those living with the virus," he added.

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