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Greetings from Lourdes!
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. John 3:16
It is a joy to be back in Lourdes for the American Association's 37th Annual Pilgrimage. Our journey began on Tuesday at JFK International Airport, where Knights, Dames, Chaplains, Auxiliary, Associates, Volunteers, Malades, and Caregivers picked up their welcome packets, dropped off their luggage, and boarded the charter plane to Lourdes. The excitement of the start of a new pilgrimage is always palpable as longtime friends reunite and members introduce themselves to malades and caregivers at the gate.
A special thank you to Steve Bujno, Eric Vitale, James Greenwood, Michael Smilek and the New York City Area's Order of Malta Mobile Ministries Van. These Knights drove the van to the NY Office Tuesday morning and with the help of the building's maintenance crew, loaded close to 100 boxes of supplies for the Lourdes Pilgrimage. The van was used to transport this precious cargo to JFK, where pilgrims helped unload the van and check the boxes in to be sent to Lourdes on the charter.
Pilgrims landed in Lourdes the next day around noon before boarding buses to Hotels Méditerranée and Alba. Waiting at each hotel were members of the Advance Team and hotel staff to help us check in and welcome us to lunch in the dining rooms. After lunch, our charioteers went down to the Sanctuary to retrieve the signature blue voitures that will carry our beloved malades throughout the pilgrimage.
We appreciated being able to enjoy some much-needed rest time before beginning the pilgrimage festivities the next morning. Some malades and other pilgrims took the opportunity to go to bed early while others gathered in each hotel for inspiring evening Masses, led by Most Reverend Allen Vigneron, ChC, and Most Reverend John O. Barres ChC, to kick off the week's spiritual activities. What a joy it was to celebrate our first Mass of the pilgrimage together with our Malades and Caregivers.
Following Mass, we took in the beautiful sunny weather at the reception on the balcony before heading to dinner at our hotels. Although we may begin the pilgrimage as strangers, we end as friends. Every reception, Mass, and even time we spend waiting to process provides us with the opportunity to enjoy each other's company and foster meaningful friendships in this holy place.
It truly takes a small village to make this pilgrimage a success each and every year. We are led this year by Lourdes Pilgrimage Co-Hosts Robert and Barbara Wilson, Lourdes Co-Presidents, Stacey Reisman and John “Mitch” Mitchell, American Association President, Kenneth Craig, Team and Travel Coordinators, Dr. and Mrs. John and Nancy Murphy, two members of the American Association’s NY Office, Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Trexler and Matthew LaRose, and our Advance Team, including Francois de Brantes, Tom and Susan Egan, Marcie Riley, Richard Smith, and Sally Sweeney.
We are joined by seventeen chaplains, who will guide our spiritual journey over the next five days. Over 40 doctors, nurses, and student nurses have traveled with us to provide medical support us. And in our hearts, we bring with us almost 300 malades and caregivers-in-spirit, those that could not physically attend the pilgrimage with us. Each team is assigned a selection of names to pray for throughout the pilgrimage and we bring their intentions with us to the Grotto.
Click here to view a special video message from Cardinal Dolan to the Order of Malta. Click here to view the Grotto livestream.
Until tomorrow...
Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray for Us!
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