In two weeks I will be making my 4
th pilgrimage to Lourdes, France with the Order of Malta. I will leave Wednesday, April 28
th and return May 5
th. I am so blessed to work at a school, Notre Dame Academy, that allows me to take time off for this journey, and encourages me to involve my students. Since this is such an amazing opportunity, I want to share it with others as much as possible. I will try to blog daily updates and post pictures. I will also be teaching religion daily to my 2
nd graders via use of
webcam.
This year is a very special year for me because I had the opportunity to invite my good friend and colleague, Susan Murphy, to come as a
malade. Nine years ago Miss Murphy was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. She has been very fortunate in that the progression has been slow compared to others. Over the past few years, however, the disease has progressed. Knowing the profound impact that a Lourdes trip can have, I invited Miss Murphy in hopes that she will experience physical, but more importantly, spiritual healing. While she was reluctant at first, not wanting to admit she was ill; she has come to accept and rejoice in God's plan for her to come on this trip.
Please keep Miss Murphy and me in your prayers while we are away. Be assured that we will be praying for all of you. Please email me any specific prayer intentions that you may have and I'll be honored to take them to the foot of the Blessed Mother in Lourdes. My email address is:
mlowzinski@hotmail.comIf you are not familiar with the history of Lourdes, France or the Order of Malta, I will include this information below.
God bless
~Miss
Lowzinski--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Order of Malta is a lay, religious order of
the Catholic Church founded in
Jerusalem during the eleventh century. There are approximately 12,500 Knights and Dames of Malta around the world. Members seek to glorify God through work with the sick and poor and witness of
the Catholic faith. I am a member of the Federal Auxiliary which means I share the same ideals as the Order of Malta and agree to volunteer my time at a number of the Order's personal service projects.
On the first weekend of May each year, members of the Order of Malta from all over the world make a pilgrimage to the Marian shrine in Lourdes, France. It was at the grotto at Lourdes that the Blessed Mother appeared to St. Bernadette in 1858. Since then, millions have visited this
extraordinary village in the Pyrenees. Each day is filled with visits to the Grotto and the Baths, Masses, the procession of the Sick, the Eucharistic procession and the unforgettable candlelight procession. The group participates in processions involving over 30,000 people and attends the
Pontifical Mass in the Underground Basilica with 20,000 other pilgrims from all over the world. Coupled with these huge events are smaller, quieter times when a person can reflect or visit the Grotto alone at night.
The Order of Malta brings along a number of Malades (meaning sick) in hopes that they will experience the healing power of Lourdes. As members of the Order, it is our goal on the trip to attend to our beloved malades. My role is one of service. I will be with the malades early in the morning at breakfast and Morning Prayer, pushing their carts and accompanying them to various spiritual events throughout the day, and spending time with them during dinner. The ages of the malades ranges from 3 - 103 years old and ailments can include any number of things such as cancer, depression, mental handicaps, various physical handicaps, and may others. In some way or another, we are all malades and are in need of physical and spirtual healing.
