On Sunday, June 22nd, members of the New Jersey Area gathered to honor our Patron Saint of the Order with a Mass at St. Catharine’s Church in Spring Lake, NJ. Our lead Celebrants were the Most Rev. David M. O’Connell, ChC, Bishop of the Trenton Diocese and Rev. Pedro Bismarck Chau, ChD, Auxiliary Bishop Elect of the Archdiocese of Newark.

Concelebrating the Mass were three of our NJ Chaplains joined by Rev. Robert Schlageter, OFM Conv., Pastor of St. Peter’s Church in nearby Point Pleasant. Fr. Schlageter served as Chaplain and Campus Ministry Director at Catholic University while Bishop O’Connell was formerly its President during 1998-2010. A few members from the New York City Area, along with the American Association President, Ken Craig, GCM, joined us as well.

The Mass was followed by a beautiful dinner at Spring Lake Golf Club hosted by Cheryl and Michael Marino. Malades and Caregivers from this year’s Lourdes Pilgrimage came to celebrate and it was wonderful to be with them again. The highlight of the evening was recognizing our Knights and Dames who had anniversaries in the Order ranging from their 10th through 40th year.