Northern Virginia Regional Mass Brings Lourdes to Arlington Diocese
date:
4/4/2024
On Saturday March 16, more than 300 people gathered at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Annandale, VA for the Annual Mass and Anointing of the Sick, sponsored by the Northern Virginia Region. The Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of Arlington, and Conventual Chaplain ad honorem, was the Celebrant and Homilist. Individuals from across the Arlington Diocese came to pray for comfort and healing, and to receive the Sacramental Anointing. More than twenty Dames, Knights, Candidates and Volunteers from across the region came in uniform to serve “our lords, the poor and the sick” in the tradition of our Masses in Lourdes.
Concelebrating the liturgy were Reverend Father Alexander Drummond (Pastor of St. Michael Church), and Very Reverend Andrew Fisher (Pastor of St. Ambrose Church), both Magistral Chaplains of the Northern Virginia Region, and Reverend Father Joseph Rampino, an Associate Chaplain of the Northern Virginia Region. Reverend Fathers Anthony Appiah, James Hinkle, Michael Nugent, and Paul Richardson (who had been a 2019 Lourdes Pilgrimage Malade) also concelebrated the Mass. Reverend Father Noah Morey (Chaplain of Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, VA) served as the Master of Ceremonies. The concelebrants joined Bishop Burbidge in administering sacramental anointing to those wearing large blue-and-silver Miraculous Medals, distributed by members of the Order prior to the Mass.
Bishop Burbidge commended all those present for offering their pain and suffering for the sake of the Church, emphasizing the fact that their sufferings were making them holy in the sight of Almighty God. His Excellency also thanked those who are sick and their companions for their faithful witness as they unite themselves to the Lord and His Cross, especially during the Lenten Season. Bishop Burbidge noted that all who are sick are very close to Our Lord at this moment in their lives. For that reason, the Bishop encouraged them to offer their sufferings for the needs of the Church, especially at this time, when so many in the church need healing and transformation.
After the Mass, everyone was invited to the St. Ambrose Parish Center for a luncheon prepared by Richard Micheli and the staff of Portofino Restaurant in Arlington, VA and served by Members and Candidates in the Order. The restaurant maintains close ties to the Order because Pilar Micheli DM and the late Sergio Micheli KM (restaurant founders) have faithfully served in the Order of Malta for more than 30 years.
Dames, Knights, Candidates and volunteers from across the Northern Virginia Region provided Lourdes water and prayer cards and private petitions that will be taken to the Grotto when the Order makes its annual pilgrimage to Lourdes at the beginning of May. Those who entrusted their prayer petitions to the Order will receive an acknowledgement mailed from Lourdes when their petitions are brought to the Grotto. Many attendees expressed their gratitude for being able to attend the Mass, to receive the sacramental anointing, to send prayer petitions to Lourdes, and to take home a vial of Lourdes water. Regional Hospitaller Kevin Fischer, KM commended the Candidates, Members, and Volunteers who regularly come together to serve the faithful of the Arlington Diocese.
Lora Hindenburg, RN, of Fairfax Inova Hospital attended as a first-time Volunteer for the Mass. At the luncheon she commented “As I watched the Bishop and priests anointing the sick, I was moved to tears by the beauty of the Sacrament. I simply thought to myself, where would we be without the Church?”
Photo Credit: Elizabeth Scheuren, DM
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