40th Anniversary Report

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Our Lady’s
40th Anniversary Banquet

Sunday June 20, 2010
Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel
12 - 4:30 p.m.

245 pilgrims from throughout the world enjoying first-class cuisine and good company.

"I was very pleased at the numbers present at the Banquet. It eases my heart to see so many true souls present."

Our Lady, June 21, 1992

Pilgrims from Southern California

Pilgrims from Massachusetts

Pilgrims from India and England. Cedric Fernandes (2nd from left) with his wife, Marie (l.), from Mumbai, India wrote regarding their experience of the 40th Anniversary weekend, "It was the most enriching spiritual pilgrimage that Marie & I experienced."

Samoan pilgrims: Anthony Lautoa and little Michael

Regina Fox, SMWA International Pilgrimage Coordinator, gives a welcome address.

Kiara Bauer of Cape Cod. Mass.

40th Anniversary Banquet Program

Bill Dykes (below), LOSM, narrated a fast-paced, stunning, multi-media presentation with highlights of each of the 40 eventful, grace-filled years of Our Lady of the Roses, Mary Help of Mothers Shrine; which included footage of the 17th and 25th Anniversary Banquets.

The theme of this year's Anniversary was "Your Mission to go Fishin', Hook Someone New Today". Darryl Bolisay, LOSM, interviewed some pilgrims who gave their quick-hitting and inspiring stories of how they got hooked by Our Lady.

Michael Broydrick of East Bridgewater, Mass., was away from the Church for 20 years and was diagnosed a manic depressive before being miraculously transformed after receiving Our Lady's Message in 1988 from another devotee. Michael was cured of his illness (hasn't taken any medication in 16 years) and is currently the Boston, Mass. organizer.

Monica Alvarado of East Rutherford, N.J., practiced withcraft (e.g. tarot cards and seances) and was a Jehovah's Witness before long-time devotee, Nubia Savidge, a co-worker invited her to come to the 39th Anniversary Vigil at the Shrine. It was there on the sacred grounds that Monica went to confession for the first time in 30 years.

A reminder of our mission to go
fishin' slogan

Jeanette Neely of Norwalk, Calif., a nightclub performer, party girl and divorcee before a Bayside advertisement in the Los Angeles Times in 1985 turned her life upside down. Jeanette went to a Rosary Vigil and then returned to the sacraments after 30 years. Jeanette now holds the Rosary Vigils in her home in Southern California--you are invited--in union with the Vigils at the Shrine.

James Donohue, LOSM, a regular at the bars and race tracks before his stunning conversion. Long-time devotee, Mario Riotto, handed him Our Lady's Message in a Manhattan subway in 1977.
Following, James went to confession for the first time in eleven years and two years later joined the Lay Order of St. Michael. And the rest is history.

Darryl then spoke about the spiritual life of the Lay Order of St. Michael and the urgent need for more brothers of this developing religious Order of St. Michael of which Our Lady said on June 18, 1974, "will go forward throughout your country and the world."

Video-taping this historic event

Michael delivers a rousing talk: Our Lady of Bayside: making saints for 40 years

A captivated audience

Organizers recognized: James Donohue, LOSM, distributing roses.

Cookie and Nickie Smith, Toledo, Ohio organizers

A few of the door prizes

Gena Fleury of N. Andover, Mass. with a children's gift

Fr. Skurla picking the winners of the door prizes

Michael Maat of River Edge, N.J., wins a prize

Roland Escalante of Oxon Hill, Md., wins an afghan crocheted by a faithful Bayside woman.

40th Anniversary Raffle

Children picking the winners

1st Prize winner

Norma Patrick

Dupont, Penn.
$1500 Grand prize

2nd Prize winner

Orie Gonzales

Albuquerque, N.M.

$500

3rd Prize winner

Margaret Sweeney

Ireland

$250

4th Prize winner

Jonathan Prado

Los Angeles, Calif.

$100 gift certificate to SMWA gift shop

Special guest soloist, Yvonne Cheng, wowed the crowd with her singing: Archangel Michael; Our Lady of the Roses, 40th Anniversary Tribute; and Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod). She was accompanied by former concert pianist, David Martin (below), Los Angeles, Calif. organizer.

David and Yvonne

The candlelight ceremony

Mary, Light of the world, pray for us
Our Lady of the Roses, pray for us
Mary, Help of Mothers, pray for us

The priests giving us their priestly blessing to end the Banquet.

After the Banquet, the pilgrims venerated the Crucifix kissed by
Our Lady.

Michael Koegel of Whittier, Calif. with SMWA guards

Dear Michael and Lay Order
of St. Michael,
It was a great 40th and well worth the expense of SMWA! I understand that you are carrying a deficit of $5800 from the enormous Anniversary costs. And now, Veronica's 15th Anniversary is upon you with its considerable expense. Here's my thoughtful gift (tax-deductible) to help cover the 40th Anniversary gap and to assist with our beloved seer's 15th Anniversary events. Click here now to donate

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