Special to the Herald
The Order of Malta Western Association USA is inviting Hawaii Catholics with life-changing illnesses or physical challenges to apply to join a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France, in spring 2027.
This sacred journey offers the chance to bathe in the healing waters of Lourdes and participate in spiritual events alongside fellow pilgrims. (Pope Leo XIV visited the site last month.)
The Order of Malta is a 900-year-old Catholic lay religious order devoted to serving the sick and poor.
The order’s term for an ill or physically challenged individual is “malade.” To qualify for the pilgrimage, malades must be physically able to make the trip and participate in all pilgrimage activities, such as Mass, processions, visits to the grotto spring and meals.
(For example, individuals who are on dialysis, who are oxygen-dependent throughout the day or who require treatments that interfere with participation will likely not be selected.)
One caregiver is permitted to accompany the malade; the caregiver must also be able to fully participate in all events.
The pilgrimage will take place from April 27-May 5. It departs from Los Angeles International Airport via a chartered flight, flying direct to Lourdes.
The pilgrimage is free for the selected malade; the cost for the caregiver is $3,800. Lodging, meals and transportation in Lourdes are included; incidental costs are not.
The malade and caregiver must also arrange and pay for their travel to Los Angeles, and must arrive by April 26 to avoid missing the chartered flight.
Financial aid is available upon request.
To apply to join the pilgrimage, contact: Thomas Cabrinha at thomascabrinha@att.net or (808) 284-3224; Anna Wong at annawong.orderofmalta@gmail.com or (203) 491-0803; or Darryl Wong at dwong@99imperial.net or (808) 381-2711.