Malta members plan pilgrimage
A Mass and dinner hosted by Maureen Pesavento brought together members of the Diocese of Scranton chapter of the Order of Malta last week.
The Wednesday evening event at the Abington-area home of John and Sandy Pesavento began with a Mass celebrated by the chapter's chaplain, Monsignor Neil VanLoon.
Along with chapter knights and dames and their guests, attendees included and Christine and John Vacarro, who will be visiting Lourdes with the American Association of the Order of Malta for the knights and dames annual worldwide pilgrimage during the first week in May. The pilgrimage is being led by Carl and JoAnne Kuehner, who were among the knights and dames attending the local event. New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan also will be on the trip, as well as Dr. Debra Pellegrino and Linda Robeson of the local chapter and Kristin Travis.
During the pilgrimage knights and dames accompany malades (French for "the sick") and their caregivers to Lourdes, where the Catholic Church has recognized 68 miracles and the International Medical Committee of Lourdes, a group of about 20 physicians, has certified another 2,000 unexplained cures. And, as Carl pointed out at the gathering last week, the experience of a visit to Lourdes also provides a spiritual uplifting and assistance in accepting our lives as they are.
Along with Christine and Kristin, Scranton area hosted malades on the Lourdes Pilgrimage will include Sean Barrette.
The Order of Malta is a worldwide lay religious order of the Roman Catholic Church, "which seeks to glorify God by promoting the sanctification of each member through his or her work with the sick and the poor and defense of the Catholic faith," according to its website. Dames and knights provide volunteer work in humanitarian assistance projects and medical and social activities.
Among those at the Wednesday evening dinner were knights, Dr. Dennis Dawgert and Carl Kuehner, and dames, Maureen Pesavento, Grace Dawgert, JoAnne Kuehner, Dr. Debra Pellegrino and Linda Robeson; as well as Vicky Castagna, Dr. Ruth Connolly, John Graham, Patricia Graham, Dr. Michael Hardisky, Ann Hawk, David Hawk, Kevin Icker, Mary Icker, John Pesavento, Sandy Pesavento, Christine Vacarro, John Vacarro, and Monsignor Van Loon.
Star in strips
Capt. Ian Allen is competing in the Army's Best Ranger competition, which runs through Monday at Fort Benning, Ga. Capt. Allen of Moscow is among six soldiers representing the 10th Mountain Division stationed at Fort Drum, N.Y., undergoing the litany of grueling physical and mental challenges in the competition, which puts teams of two soldiers through a series of tests in a compact, 60-hour period. A 2002 graduate of North Pocono High School, Capt. Allen received a degree in kinesiology from Penn State in 2006. After enlisting in the Army as a private, he attended boot camp and Officer Candidate School. He was promoted to his current rank in February. Capt. Allen served a tour in Afghanistan, returning to run in the Steamtown marathon, where he finished in 3:28:27. He underwent a strenuous 48-hour selection process to make the team for the Best Ranger competition. Capt. Allen, the son of Rosalinde Thomas-Allen and the late William P. Allen, has been accepted into the Army-Baylor physical therapy program at Baylor University in Texas, where he will begin classes in the fall.
High notes
David J. Price will receive the Northeast Pennsylvania Council of the Boy Scouts of America Eminent Eagle Award. David, president and CEO of PDQ Print Center, is being honored for being an Eagle Scout who has been successful in his career and for demonstrating leadership and giving back to the community," according to district Scout executive Marcel Cinquina. David and his wife, Lauren, reside in Clarks Summit. He is the son of Dorothy J. and the late Llewellyn J. Price of West Scranton. David credits his father, a World War II D-Day veteran, and J.D. James for their guidance in attaining his Eagle Scout award. For tickets for the April 19 dinner at Calarusso's La Palazzo, at $50, and details on sponsoring Scouts, contact mcinquina@nepabsa.org at the Northeastern Pennsylvania Council of Boys Scouts of America; 207-1227, ext. 227.
- TERRY BONIFANTI