Chaplain’s Reflection: 2026 AEC

By Fr. Christopher Kubat, M.D.

On Wednesday September 9 to Sunday morning September 13, the CMA held its 95^th Annual Educational Conference (AEC) at the Arizona Grand Resort in Phoenix, Arizona. Dr. Mary Keen-Kirchoff was the conference chair and by the grace of God, put on a marvelous conference. This year’s theme was mysteries and miracles in medicine.

That miracles happen is beyond dispute. The biggest miracle is right in front of us, the miracle of the creation of the visible and invisible world. Many of the presentations talked about miracles that have happened in modern times.

On Friday morning, Fr. Andriy Chirovsky celebrated the Byzantine-Ukrainian Liturgy. It was beautiful and for many, it was the first time they have experienced it. Fr. Chirovsky, who is in his senior years, made it a point to tell me he has had many doctors in his life but none like the Catholic doctors he met while at the conference. He was edified by their faith and reverence for the sacraments in addition to their knowledge of medicine. This is something that impresses me every time I rub elbows with the CMA members at the annual meeting.

Our most important guest, of course, was the Divine Physician Himself, Jesus Christ, who was present among us spiritually and bodily at Mass and in the tabernacle and monstrance in our adoration chapel. Each and every time I visited Jesus in the adoration chapel, there were many members present talking to our Divine Savior.

The highlight of the conference was the White Mass celebrated by the Auxiliary Bishop of Phoenix, Eduardo Nevares, at St. Mary Basilica in downtown Phoenix. In his homily, Bishop Nevares thanked the Catholic doctors, and healthcare professionals present for their witness and talked about the Gospel emphasizing the importance and necessity of mercy and forgiveness.

At the banquet, the keynote speaker was Mary Healey, best-selling author and international speaker, talked about several miracles that have happened during healing services. During her presentation, she discussed multiple Scripture passages teaching and reminding us that God is our Divine Healer and how He often works with doctors as He heals us physically and spiritually.

I would like to thank Mary Keen-Kirchoff, the board members of the CMA, those who worked so hard in putting our meeting together, our presenters, sponsors, and office staff, Mario Dickerson, Linda Donnelly and Carolyn Gretzinger who were with us and worked so hard and anyone else who made this year’s conference a success.

Let us be reminded we are walking miracles, because God created matter out of nothing and our souls out of nothing at our conception. And if we follow Jesus, the Good Shepherd, by His grace, our bodies will rise from the dead, a miracle we will all personally witness.

Glory and thanks be to God!

National Chaplain Fr. Christopher Kubat, M.D. is the pastor of St. Andrew Catholic Church in Tecumseh, Nebraska and St. Mary Catholic Church in St. Mary, Nebraska. He serves as a member of CMA’s Health Care Policy Committee, Ethics Committee, Awards Committee and Executive Committee.

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