GARDEN GROVE, CALIF., (JANUARY 20, 2017) – The Most Tod Brown, Bishop Emeritus of Orange will anoint ill patients with holy oil and bless the hands of caregivers with holy water brought from the consecrated grotto of Massabielle in Lourdes, France; February 11, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Columban Church in Garden Grove. This grotto is the site of 18 appearances of Mary, the mother Jesus, to St. Bernadette Soubirous in 1858 and is well-known for the divine healing power of its waters, known as “Lourdes Water.” The Orange Chapter of the Order of Malta, the ancient Catholic religious order founded in 1050 AD will host this annual event. “Caring for the sick and infirmed is the ministry we are all called to as Christians. As a society many of the dedicated people who care for the most vulnerable are not given the appreciation their service merits. I value the important commitment of caregivers to their ministry and look forward to blessing them with the healing water of Lourdes. I will also anoint several critically ill patients and pray for their spiritual and physical strength,” said Bishop Brown. The anointing of the sick is administered by an ordained priest by the anointing of the body with holy oil. This rite is one of the seven sacred sacraments. A sacrament is a ritual performed in the Roman Catholic Church to confer grace through the Holy Spirit. About the Order of Malta: The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and Malta, better known as the Order of Malta, is an ancient religious Catholic Order founded in Jerusalem in 1048 AD. The Order has long focused on its Hospitaller works aimed at helping the sick and the poor. Its own Rule borrows from the Rule of St. Benedict and the Benedictine tradition. It operates in over 40 countries throughout the world and sponsors thousands of projects. The Western Association of the Order in the United States was formed 55 years ago, has over 700 members and is headquartered in San Francisco. The Order of Malta Orange County with 75 members is part of the Western Association, which includes both Knights and Dames, primarily from California, Arizona and Washington states. The Western Association’s charitable activities include volunteer hours and financial contributions in support of free clinics, parish nurse programs, Hurricane Katrina relief, tsunami relief, pilgrimage to Lourdes, hospitaller grants to local charities and Defense of the Faith grants. PASTORAL CENTER: COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT 13280 CHAPMAN AVENUE GARDEN GROVE, CA 92840 OFFICE: 714-282-3075 FAX: 714-282-302