The Atlanta Guild of the Catholic Medical Association is sponsoring its annual program on Saturday, Feb. 5, at Mary Our Queen Church, 6260 The Corners Parkway, Norcross. The annual White Mass, so named because physicians wear white coats, will be celebrated by Father David Dye at the 5 p.m. vigil Mass, with a special consecration of health care professionals at the Mass to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

The guild’s annual banquet and speaker program will follow in the parish hall. The topic will be “Balancing Two Vocations—Marriage and Medicine in a Culture of Life.” Physician marriages are some of the most difficult to balance between home and work because of the demands of time and the emotional stress for both husband and wife, regardless of whether one or both are physicians.

The speakers are Dr. Kevin Murrell, a psychiatrist from Augusta, and his wife, Karen. He is a past president of the Catholic Medical Association and an officer in FIAMC, the international association of Catholic medical associations. Petite Auberge, a French and German restaurant in Toco Hills, will cater the banquet.

The Catholic Medical Association, founded in 1932, is the largest national organization of Catholic physicians. Headquartered in the Philadelphia area, the membership recently approved St. Gianna Molla as co-patroness of the CMA with St. Luke. St. Gianna, a physician in Italy, exemplified heroic virtue as a married Catholic physician, ultimately laying down her life for her child. Her national shrine is near Philadelphia.

The mission of the Catholic Medical Association is to witness to the truths of the Catholic faith as applied to the science and practice of medicine. On a national level, it works with other Catholic and Christian biomedical organizations to promote a culture of life. Locally, its members are active in medical missions, marriage preparation, teaching and research in natural family planning, and speaking on the various life issues.

Advance registration is required for the event with no registration at the door. The dinner is $50 per person and $90 per couple. There are special scholarships for medical students. Checks may be made out to CMA-Atlanta, 2167 Northlake Parkway, Suite 105, Tucker, GA 30084. To register by credit card, call (770) 491-0353, Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The deadline for registration is Tuesday, Feb. 1.