STAMFORD—Hundreds of people from Connecticut and New York came to St. Mary Parish to honor Our Lady of Lourdes with prayers, praise and petitions for healing.
They knelt before the Blessed Sacrament and prayed the Rosary, sharing their sorrows and joys with the Blessed Mother. They filled the pews and processed throughout the church behind her statue. They listened as Bishop Frank J. Caggiano spoke of his pilgrimage to Lourdes years before, seeking a healing for his mother, who was diagnosed with cancer.
The annual Lourdes Retreat, organized by David D’Andrea and hosted by Father Gustavo A. Falla, included a candlelight Rosary of the Joyful Mysteries said in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French and Italian, a Eucharistic Blessing and a reception in the church hall.
Lourdes, France, is 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, six 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 have been healed in the waters, and 70 were recognized as miraculous cures.
In his homily, Bishop Caggiano recalled his own pilgrimage and said, “I poured out my heart to Our Blessed Lady and laid before her all my intentions…And to be brutally honest, I was very upset that my mom was sick, and so I had words with Jesus about that. In the midst of all those prayers, when I was finally exhausted by my lack of sleep — sitting there hoping against hope there would be some sort of sign or miracle — I began to realize Our Lady was speaking to me, not to my intention. She was coming to me, caressing me, encouraging me, drawing close to me like only a mother could do to a son. As I began to feel that presence, my anxieties began to diminish.”
He spoke of the calming words he felt in his heart from Our Lady.
“She was there for all of us, her children, as a mother willing what is best for them, and I had the sense in my heart that she said, ‘All things will be well; my Son is busy and will save all his children, all his family,” the bishop said. “Believe it and find peace.’ I would be a liar if I told you I had full peace that night, but this much I do know: She offered me the gift of healing: healing of my spirit, healing from all that confusion … and a bit of anger.”
He told the people who filled the pews: “My dear friends, you and I have come here with many intentions. Perhaps some of you are looking for physical healing, struggling with whatever disease you have, a disease that may incapacitate you, or even worse. Some of us are praying for those struggling with physical or mental illness or isolation or loneliness, who have been wounded by the sins of others and carried those wounds for many years. We pray that those wounds, seen and unseen, will be healed. And in time with grace, they will be, because Christ is victorious over all sin and all suffering.”
As Bishop Caggiano prepared to bless the congregation with Lourdes holy water, he told them, “I want you to remember that, as the water is sprinkled on you, Our Lady is offering you the grace of healing of spirit … She’ll not always heal us physically, but she can always offer us a path to greater peace, to greater hope, to greatness in our spirit, because she dwells within us, leading us to her Son, who is here before us in his Eucharistic Presence. She is the conduit and intercessor of all the graces that literally are flowing before us from him.”
Photos by Joe Pisani
He said that during his mother’s “odyssey of suffering, she never prayed for herself — she always prayed for those around her.” And he urged the people to pray for one another.
Commenting on the retreat, Father Falla said, “Praying to Mary has always been a tradition of our Church. She is our most valuable resource because she has direct access to her Son, from whom we have salvation.”
Erin Neil, Director of Safe Environments and Victims Assistance Coordinator, spoke about the healing ministry of her office and said those wounded by abuse can find healing through faith and through sharing with each other.
Greenwich residents Dave and Marie Micik, who was recovering from cancer, said, “The service was very beautiful and uplifting, and made you feel like you’re being healed.” Dave said they both pray the rosary every day.
Elizabeth Nista, who celebrated a 61st anniversary with her husband John, said she may never have an opportunity to go to Lourdes, but the bishop’s retreat inspired her and instilled stronger faith in her.
Diane Marino of Rye Brook, N.Y. and Phyllis Finn of Hawthorne, N.Y., said the retreat moved them spiritually and strengthened their devotion to Our Lady. Both are alumnae of Aquinas High School in the Bronx and join their classmates several times a month to pray for one another’s intentions.
Marilyn Sacco of St. Edward the Confessor Parish in New Fairfield said she has a strong devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and plans to return to the retreat next year.
Antoinette Sicurelli of New Fairfield said St. Bernadette, to whom the Blessed Mother appeared, is one of her favorite saints. Her friend Peg Vanttorson said she always prays the Memorare to the Blessed Mother.
Deacon Santos Garcia and his wife Elba of the Cathedral Parish in Bridgeport are longtime friends of Father Falla. They were supposed to attend with another couple, but the woman came down with an illness, so they prayed for her. The Garcias pray the Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy daily, often before the Blessed Sacrament.
Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo said he carries a Rosary he was recently given and has begun praying it again.
“The Blessed Mother always has your back and will help you with every issue in your life,” he said.
David D’Andrea, who organizes the retreats, estimated there were about 1,000 attendees and shared a story of his personal healing. Nine years ago, he was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer and was told he had five years to live. He credits his recovery to Our Lady of Lourdes.
“I am a devout Catholic and Mother Mary is everything to me,” he said. “And I believe she has saved me a few times.”
His devotion to the Blessed Mother inspired him to organize the Lourdes Virtual Pilgrimage in 2019, which more than 1,100 people attended, some of whom had physical, emotional and spiritual healing. It was followed in later years by the retreat in Stamford.
He expressed his gratitude to Bishop Caggiano, Father Falla, the St. Mary volunteers and all those who attended for making the event a success.
By Joe Pisani
