DAY 5 – BISHOP DENNIS SULLIVAN AND FATHER MICHAEL ROMANO JOIN PILGRIMS TO LOURDES, FRANCE

This week, Father Michael Romano will be sending back reports of his pilgrimage with Bishop Dennis Sullivan and the Knights and Dames of Malta to Lourdes, France. This is the fourth in his series of reports. 
Our last full day of our pilgrimage ended where it began, at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary, and what a different experience it was! Our opening Mass had a bunch of pilgrims worn out from our overnight flight, yet excited for what was to come. Our closing Mass had a bunch of pilgrims grateful for the the many graces received over these days. The highlight, for sure, was seeing two young malades from our group receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. It was hard to find a dry eye among us during that. It was a beautiful experience.
Following Mass, we all strolled the Way of the Cross. Pondering Christ’s passion, death and resurrection brought home the fact that, in reality, every single one of us is a malade in need of Christ’s love and mercy. So many of the Stations struck me, but none more than the 4th, when Christ meets his mother. I couldn’t help but think of the parents of the children malades among us, so great is their suffering….and their love.
The afternoon provided free time for all of us to once again visit our favorite places, to finish our shopping, or to simply sightsee. For Bishop Sullivan and me, it was our opportunity, with the Knights and Dames of Malta, to visit the baths of the healing waters of Lourdes ourselves.  While I was so ready for many parts of the baths, the thing I was not ready to experience was the way the volunteers treated the elderly and infirm. Just as with the Knights, these men were acting in loving charity in how they took care of the men who wanted to bathe in these waters.
Selfless service. That is the witness I take with me from this pilgrimage. In a world too full of selfishness, self-centerdness and pride, I was blessed to see men and women giving of themselves in selfless service to those less fortunate solely with the desire that the other experience the loving mercy of God and the tender closeness of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is certainly an example I need to follow in my priesthood and something in which all of us could grow. It is definitely the grace I was not expecting to recheck, but the one I will hold closest to my heart: lay men and women so beautifully helping others to get a taste of heaven.
Our evening concluded with a celebratory banquet. There was much to celebrate, for sure, for each of us has been changed by this pilgrimage. And none of us will return home the same tomorrow.
 

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