Montgomery County Celebrates Anointing Mass

On March 15th, 220 people attended the 16^th annual Lourdes Anointing Mass at Our Lady of Mercy, in Potomac, Maryland sponsored by the Montgomery County Region and joined by members from Washington DC, and Virginia. Bishop Juan Esposito, auxiliary of the Archdiocese of Washington, was the principal celebrant, assisted by Order of Malta chaplains: Msgr. Charles Antonicelli of the Archdiocese of Washington and conventual chaplain ad honorem, who was the homilist; the Rev. Richard Mullins, conventual chaplain ad honorem and pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle in Washington; Msgr. William English, magistral chaplain; and the Rev. Bud Stevens, P.S.S., magistral chaplain and rector of the Theological College of the Catholic University of America.

The Lourdes Anointing Mass was started in 2005 and returned last year after a four-year pause due to the pandemic. We welcomed the poor and sick from Montgomery County and the District of Columbia, including many residents from Victory Housing, an assisted living facility. There were about 30 knights, dames, candidates, and volunteers from across the regions who came to serve the poor and the sick. All attendees were given Miraculous Mary medals, prayer cards of Our Lady of Lourdes, as well as a bottle of Lourdes water prior to the Mass. Petition cards were handed out for guests to fill out and return at the end of Mass so that we can carry these petitions to Lourdes and place them in the Grotto. Our priests gave the Anointing of the Sick to the guests.

At the start of the Mass, Ambassador Michèle Bowe spoke briefly about the Order of Malta, including our origin and charism of caring for the poor and sick as a hospitaller order. The Rev. Mark Knestout, pastor, welcomed us to Our Lady of Mercy Church. In his homily, Msgr. Antonicelli spoke about how Pope Francis was a witness for the sick and suffering who calls us to love and respect those in need and who has been a wonderful example for all of us. We are all in need of healing, and God works miracles through us. God heals us as in our gospel reading of Jesus healing Peter’s mother-in-law. Msgr. Antonicelli also talked about the order of Malta helping those in need for centuries, and bringing hope even in sickness. He noted we are given the gift of life every day to be faithful and have God infuse us with hope, especially when we need it most.

A luncheon of sandwiches, pasta salad and fruit salad was served to all following the Mass in the Kennedy room. Members and candidates of the Order served the guests and enjoyed fellowship with all the attendees. It was wonderful to see residents of the Malta House attend because we serve them with a weekly rosary, Mass, and a monthly bingo. The extra food was donated to Gift of Peace, a home for the homeless run by Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity.

Several attendees remarked they were so grateful to be able to receive the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, and others asked about the Order of Malta and the Lourdes pilgrimage. The joy of Lourdes was certainly felt by all.