August 17, 2024
Bishop Frank J. Caggiano will celebrate a Lourdes Healing Retreat on Saturday, September 7 at 1 p.m. at St. Mary of Stamford Parish at 566 Elm Street.
Coordinated by David D’Andrea of Greenwich and hosted by Fr. Gustavo Falla, pastor, the event is free to the public although donations are encouraged.
The event, which will last about an hour, will include a procession with the Our Lady of Lourdes statue around the church, a candlelight Rosary of the Joyful Mysteries said in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French and Italian, a Eucharistic Blessing, a homily by Bishop Caggiano, distribution of holy water from Lourdes, and a reception in the church hall. To make reservations or to obtain more information, email [email protected].
Anyone suffering physically, emotionally or spiritually is encouraged to attend the healing service.
Lourdes, France, is the most famous Marian shrine in the world, and more than 7,000 healings have been attributed to the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Every year, 6 million pilgrims travel there. Many go in the hope they will receive a healing at the spring she revealed to St. Bernadette Soubirous, a 14-year-old peasant girl. In the 160 years since the apparitions in the grotto at Massabielle, thousands of people have been healed in the waters, and 70 have been recognized as miraculous cures by the Church.
“I hope to see anyone at the retreat who has challenges personally or who has family members who are suffering physically, spiritually or mentally,” said D’Andrea, who attributes his recovery from polio as a child and from Stage 3 cancer to Our Lady. “You do not have to be Catholic to attend. Healing goes across every religion.”
Erin Neil, LCSW, Director of the Diocesan Safe Environment Office, will also offer comments at the event.
“Our Committee for Healing, a sexual abuse survivor support group organized through our office, invites everyone who has been wounded by any form of abuse to join us on this special day, Neil said. “Members of our group include survivors of sexual abuse as minors by clergy and family members of victim-survivors.”
She said the Lourdes Retreat is an opportunity “to bring hope and healing and encourage those who have not yet been able to find a way to come forward to know that they will be listened to and accompanied whenever they feel ready.”
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