The International Pilgrimage of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta to Lourdes
MAPFRE MSV Life has once again this year extended its support towards the International Pilgrimage of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta to Lourdes which is held at the beginning of May each year. The donation was presented by Michael Galea, Chief Officer Business Development at MAPFRE MSV Life to Dr. Michael Grech, Chancellor of the Maltese Association of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.
This year 7,500 members of the Order, hailing from 45 countries around the world attended, together with some 250 priests and 380 doctors and nurses, who assisted 1,500 sick and disabled pilgrims.
Dr. Grech explained that the Maltese Association of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta was amongst the national associations of the Order participating at the pilgrimage, with a total complement of 360 persons, of whom 70 sick and infirm, who were assisted by members of the Order and numerous volunteers. The Maltese delegation was led by the President of the Maltese Association Marchesino Daniel de Petri Testaferrata and was under the spiritual guidance of H. Emm. Prospero Cardinal Grech.
This year was a special pilgrimage for many reasons – it marked the 160th anniversary of the Lourdes apparitions and also coincided with the 60th anniversary of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta’s International Pilgrimage. It also marked the first official engagement of the Order of Malta’s newly elected Grand Master H.M.E.H. Fra’ Giacomo Dalla Torre del Tempio di Sanguinetto, who was elected to the post on the 2nd May.
