National Pilgrimage to Šaštín on the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows
Approximately 40 000 pilgrims gathered on Friday, September 15th, 2017 in Šaštín on the occasion of the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, the patron of Slovakia. Solemnly Holy Mass, at which the President of the Slovak Republic Andrej Kiska, the Speaker of National Council of the Slovak Republic Andrej Danko and some ministers were present, was presided by Metropolitan Archbishop of Prešov Ján Babjak, S.J.
Many important members and delegates of the Order of Malta were present at the Solemnly Mass, as well: H.E. Alfred Prinz von Schönburg-Hartenstein, Ambassador of the Order of Malta to the Slovak republic and his wife, H.E. Norbert Graf Salburg Falkenstein President of SOMOS a procurator of Austrian Grand Priory, Anton Gatnar, minister of the Embassy of the Order of Malta to the Slovak republic, Constantin von Brandenstein-Zeppelin, President of Malteser Aid Germany and JUDr. Július Brichta, President of Malteser Aid Slovakia
Malteser Aid Slovakia was in charge of medical response and crowd management providing many volunteers and professional EMT. Our volunteers were also covering the VIP sector designated for government members and other high-ranking officials, assisting the pilgrims and operating the medical tent. Malteser Aid Slovakia made several successful medical interventions.
