“What a beautiful and warm New Jersey morning,” Bishop Joseph Williams said to laughter on this nearly 100-degree day as he helped celebrate the 25th anniversary of Villa Raffaella Assisted Living in Pleasantville.
The Catholic assisted living facility is run by the Hospitaler Sisters of Mercy, and about 230 people gathered for Mass and lunch to celebrate this morning. Beforehand, Bishop Williams bestowed a blessing upon the site’s Blessed Maria Raffaella statue.
“We are here to celebrate the anniversary and the Hospitaler Sisters of Mercy, who care with warmth, comfort and dignity,” he said.
Before the final blessing at Mass, Bishop Williams praised the sisters and their dedicated ministry, and he read aloud from an apostolic blessing from Pope Leo XIV that “commends them to the maternal protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary that by the witness of generous and faithful hearts the flame of hope may always shine brightly in our world.”
Said Bishop Williams, “It was 59 years ago today that Archbishop Damiano invited your order to the Diocese of Camden. What a blessing it has been!”
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