Seven local knights and dames of the Order of Malta, a lay religious order, participated in a weeklong pilgrimage to the sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in May coinciding with the 66th international pilgrimage. The streets of the French town were flooded with some 7,000 Order of Malta pilgrims from 46 countries. Of the 7,000 participants, 1,200 were a malade (an unwell person).
The charisms of the Order of Malta are defense of the faith and service to the poor and the sick. In transporting the sick to Lourdes for healing, the Order aims to elevate them to the Lord and empower grace through Our Lady of Lourdes for their physical, spiritual and emotional healing.
Knight Dr. John McKenzie and Dame Anne McKenzie, in a selfless act of sponsorship, supported a malade on this pilgrimage. Mike Shea and Companion Karol Shea, parishioners from Our Lady Star of the Sea, received the anointing of the sick from Archbishop Gregory Hartmayer of Atlanta in search of grace, peace and healing.
