Knights of Malta Pilgrimage to Lourdes

The Knights and Dames of the Virgin Islands Area of the Order of Malta participated in the 53rd annual international pilgrimage of the Order of Malta in Lourdes. This pilgrimage was attended by 6,800 members who came from 35 countries. They brought with them 1,500 malades seeking physical and spiritual healing who participated in a week of Masses, processions and recollections. Archbishop Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York presided over the procession of the Eucharist.

The Knights and Dames of the Virgin Islands deposited petitions and prayers from parishioners to the Blessed Mother in the grotto of Massabielle. They were accompanied by Troy Schuster, who came on the pilgrimage as a malade.

Pictured left to right are Leslie Highfield Carter of Holy Cross Church on St. Croix, Mr. Schuster, Christine and Jerry Woodhouse of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church on St. Thomas and Dr. Lina Batenga of Holy Cross Church. They posed in front of the Upper Rosary Basilica.