On Saturday, May 17th, the NYC Area conducted its first “Lourdes in a Day” program at the Mary Manning Walsh Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center in Manhattan. Over 100 MMW residents, family members, guests, Dames, Knights, Associates and volunteers participated. The NYC Area was honored to bring this Lourdes experience to the Mary Manning Walsh community and to continue the momentum from the recently concluded Lourdes Pilgrimage.
While residents were being transported to the Chapel by our volunteers, the Sacrament of Penance was available and videos from recent Lourdes Pilgrimages played on a large screen, to provide participants a sense of Lourdes and our pilgrimages. The formal program began with a “Welcome and Introduction to Lourdes and Lourdes in a Day” by Area Co-Chair Steve Bujno, KM. This was followed by a Washing Gesture with Lourdes Water, similar to what our pilgrims recently experienced at the Baths in Lourdes. During the Washing Gesture, Erin O’Kane (YOF) and Jessie Massabni (AUX) led the recitation of the Holy Rosary.
The Washing Gesture was followed by an Anointing and Healing Mass. Rev. Msgr. Robert Ritchie, GCChC, Chief Chaplain of the American Association was the principal celebrant. Concelebrants included Rev. Msgr. Frank Caldwell, ChM; Fr. John Anderson, VP of Mission Integration for ArchCare; Fr. Javid Akram, Chaplain of Mary Manning Walsh; and Fr. Adauto Alves, Chaplain of Terence Cardinal Cooke HealthCare Center. The Mass included beautiful hymns, many from the Anointing and Healing Mass in Lourdes. Lauren Andree (AUX) shared her gift of song as Cantor.
Adding to the spiritually uplifting music were violin solos by Zoe Nguyen, who was a 2019 Lourdes Malade when she was 10 years old. The Mass included a crowning and flower presentation to the Blessed Mother, with a MMW resident performing the crowning. We were honored to have Fra’ Nicola Tegoni, member of the Sovereign Council, lead us in the Daily Prayer of the Order.
Following Mass, the participants gathered in fellowship for a festive reception hosted by MMW. Adding another element from our Lourdes Pilgrimage experiences, our volunteers led the participants in a rousing piano singalong, using the songbook from the famous Jeanne D’Arc singalongs in Lourdes. The MMW residents have already expressed their interest in next year’s Lourdes in a Day and want to invite more family and friends.
We would like to express our gratitude to a number of individuals who helped make our inaugural Lourdes in a Day program such a success. Thank you to Msgr. Ritchie and all the clergy noted above for leading our grace-filled Anointing and Healing liturgy. We greatly appreciate the support and partnership of MMW staff, including Michael Monahan, Executive Director; Jonathan Feltheimer, Assistant Administrator; and Srs. Leda, Luke, and Agnes. Organist (and singalong pianist) Rebecca Ehren; Cantor Lauren Andree; and violin soloist Zoe Nguyen. All our volunteers, including Joe Mangan, KM and Margarite Heintze, DM for leading the resident transport. Area Co-Chair Eric Vitale, KM, for his creative solutions to our audiovisual and program logistics — and for leading the reception singalong. Special thanks to Erin O’Kane for all her effort and dedication the last few months creating, planning and organizing the Lourdes in a Day program with Steve Bujno. And most importantly, to the residents of Mary Manning Walsh for letting us share this Lourdes experience with them.
Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray for Us!
