A 40 foot tall historic Merrimack Valley Catholic cross has found its permanent, forever home on the campus of Mary Immaculate Health/Care Services in Lawrence, Massachusetts. To recognize the spiritual significance the iconic cross has had on regional healthcare over the years, the Most Reverend Robert F. Hennessey Vicar General and Regional Bishop-Merrimack Region, Archdiocese of Boston, bestowed a blessing that will ensure the cross will continue to be a beacon of hope and healing in the years to come.
“Let us venerate the cross in God’s plan,” said Bishop Hennessey, “remember Jesus’ sacrifice for the Church and grasp the mystery of the cross. May we spirit our cross on our journey through Christ our Lord. May our sins be nailed to His cross and may the cross be our comfort on the journey.”
“For decades this cross, originally erected on the roof of the Bon Secours Hospital in Methuen, Massachusetts, which subsequently became Holy Family Hospital, served as a beacon of light emanating a sense of peace, hope, love and caring for all who witnessed it glowing brightly in the night sky,” said Joseph Bourque, president of The Guild at Mary Immaculate. “Today as we celebrate the relocation and blessing of this cross, I would like to offer that this is more than a relocation—it’s a symbol of the resilience of the people of the greater Merrimack Valley community. We at Mary Immaculate are so proud and grateful to restore and bring this spiritual entity to our Catholic ministry to share with all in our community.”
