On Saturday, May 16, the NYC Area held its second annual “Lourdes in a Day” at Mary Manning Walsh Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center in Manhattan. Nearly 100 residents, family members, guests, Dames, Knights, Affiliates, and volunteers came together for a truly grace-filled day. Please scroll through the slideshow below to see more photos from the event.
The morning began with volunteers helping transport residents to the Chapel, where the Sacrament of Penance was available and videos from recent Lourdes Pilgrimages played on a large screen, bringing the spirit of Lourdes to those who could not make the journey themselves. Area Chair Steve Bujno, KM welcomed everyone before the group gathered for a Water Gesture with Lourdes Water, mirroring what our pilgrims experience in Lourdes each year. Area Hospitaller Erin O’Kane, DM, Dr. Claudine Holt, DM, and Area Affiliate Chair Jessie Massabni, AUX led the recitation of the Holy Rosary during the gesture.
Rev. Msgr. Robert Ritchie, GCChC, Chief Chaplain of the American Association, served as principal celebrant of the Anointing and Healing Mass, with Fr. Javid Akram, Chaplain of Mary Manning Walsh, as concelebrant. In his homily, Msgr. Ritchie reflected on the meaning of Lourdes and the gift of bringing our Lady to the homebound residents through this annual program. Each May, thousands of Knights, Dames, and volunteers from across the world travel to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in the French Pyrenees, the site where the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Bernadette Soubirous in 1858. Since that apparition’s centenary, the Order of Malta has made an annual international pilgrimage to Lourdes, taking malades—sick and disabled pilgrims—to the Grotto of Massabielle. At this spring, which flows at the base of the Grotto, Our Lady of Lourdes invites us to come and “drink and wash ourselves.” The Catholic Church has officially recognized 72 medical miracles at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in France.
Lauren Andree, AUX shared her gift of song as cantor, and violin solos were performed by Zoe Nguyen — herself a Lourdes Malade in 2019, when she was just 10 years old. The Mass also included a crowning of the Blessed Mother, with the honor of presenting the crown going to Mary Manning Walsh resident Jim Murtagh Sr., assisted by Joe Mangan, KM and a Carmelite nun, Sister Luke.
At the close of Mass, each participant received a bottle of Lourdes water and a Lourdes prayer card, with additional bottles distributed to residents who were unable to attend. Special recognition was given to the Carmelite nuns for their decades of dedicated service to Mary Manning Walsh, a ministry that will be coming to a close in July.
The celebration continued with a festive reception hosted by MMW and ArchCare on the beautiful 7th floor terrace, capped off with a rousing piano singalong using the songbook from the beloved Jeanne d’Arc singalongs in Lourdes itself.
A heartfelt thank you to Msgr. Ritchie and Fr. Akram for leading our Anointing and Healing liturgy; to the MMW staff—especially Executive Director Michael Monahan and Assistant Administrator Jonathan Feltheimer for his tireless efforts behind the scenes; to organist and singalong pianist Rebecca Ehren, cantor Lauren Andree, and violinist Zoe Nguyen for the gift of music; to Michael Espiritu, KM for alter serving; and to our Year of Formation candidates Amanda Rottermund for reading at Mass, Brandt Lewis for altar serving, and James Palazza for his help throughout the day and for supplying the Our Lady of Lourdes donuts at the reception. We are also deeply grateful to all our volunteers, including the group who labeled and filled over 227 bottles of Lourdes water at Tuesday’s Karaoke night. We especially thank Erin O’Kane and Steve Bujno for their months of dedicated work bringing this program together and the residents of Mary Manning Walsh for the privilege of sharing this Lourdes experience with them.
