RSVP Today for the Lourdes Virtual Pilgrimage Experience on Sept 21, 2019

Longtime Greenwich resident Dave D’Andrea, featured last month on GFP, said he desires to pay forward the miracles he’s received in his life.

“Based on my five-year battle with cancer, I know I’ll never make it to Lourdes,” he said. “I think about me, but there are elderly people who can never go there. They just can’t make it.”

When D’Andrea learned of the Lourdes Volunteers he called to ask about arranging a Virtual Pilgrimage Experience at St. Mary Catholic Church in Stamford, and was told he’d have to get a parish to approve.

“I’m already friends with Bishop Frank Caggiano. I called him and he called me right back and said, ‘That’s a go.’ I said I want to get St. Mary Catholic Church in Stamford involved.”

The event will feature a prayer service lead by Bishop Frank Caggiano, followed by a candlelight vigil. The statue of Our Lady of Lourdes will be up in front of the church. Tables will have rocks from Lourdes. Participants will procession up in candle light, and everyone will have a chance to touch the rocks and the holy water. They will be able to touch the statue and get a blessing.

“They say there hasn’t been one of these events without a miracle,” D’Andrea said. “There’s going to be a miracle that day. It happens, and if there is one, that’ll be worth it.”

The date for the Lourdes Virtual Pilgrimage Experience is set for Saturday, Sept 21, 2019 at 1:00pm. The location is St. Mary Catholic Church at 566 Elm Street in Stamford, CT 06902.

D’Andrea said while it’s not necessary to RSVP to attend the September 21 event, it would be helpful for organizers to have a tally in advance as there are already a few hundred reservations.

“Anyone can come,” D’Andrea said. “Hopefully it will evangelize other people. I hope to be lay evangelist for the diocese.”

Admission is free. To make a reservation and for information contact Mr. D’Andrea at (203) 918-9089 or email him at [email protected]