The Church has recognized 69 miracles there (click here to see a PDF list of the first 67 and here for a news article about the 68th). The International Medical Committee of Lourdes, a group of about 20 physicians, has certified another 2,000 unexplained cures. Many of the pilgrims are sick, hoping for physical healing and often experience interior miracles – people who are ill, even dying, who are able to leave Lourdes with an inner peace they did not feel before. Bernadette died in 1879, was beatified in 1925 and canonized in 1933 by Pope Pius XI. Pope John Paul II visited Lourdes again in August, 2004. He has made Marian piety one of the centerpieces of his papacy.

The International Order of Malta Pilgrimage to Lourdes is generally held from the last Wednesday of April to the first Wednesday in May each year. Over 5,000 pilgrims – members of the Order, auxiliary, clergy, physicians and nurses – bring Malades (French for “the sick”) and their caregivers to Lourdes from throughout the world. Typically there are over 800 from the three Associations of the Order of Malta in the United States; the American Association, U.S.A.; the Western Association, U.S.A.; and the Federal Association, U.S.A.

The American Association has been participating in the International Order of Malta Pilgrimage to Lourdes since 1986. In recent years we have brought over 300 pilgrims each year, including approximately 50 Malades and their caregivers who are our special guests. They are cared for by the Knights and Dames, the Association’s Auxiliary, our physicians, nurses and clergy. The travel expenses for the Malades and their caregivers are funded by the American Association.

During the pilgrimage, we wear the service uniform of the Order with a patch showing our nationality, and join with our confreres from throughout the world in living the 900-year-old mission of the Order; Obsequim pauperum (service to the sick and the poor) and tuitio fidei (nurturing, witnessing and protecting the faith).

Oncology Center in Poznań

Currently, the hospital provides care services for about 350 patients a year. The largest group consists of elderly patients with neurological disorders, including those after a stroke, with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis and orthopedic disorders include those encountered after fractures of the femoral neck fracture. Most of these patients have comorbid conditions of diabetes or chronic heart failure or kidney problems.

The second group of patients are those having endured craniocerebral injuries – brain, multiple accidental trauma, cardiac arrest and resuscitation.
Among these are usually older persons in a vegetative state or coma, requiring additional continuous mechanical ventilation.As concerns patients requiring respirator assistance, there is an increasing number of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/COPD/ or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis /ALS/.

A highly-qualified medical staff is employed by the hospital, including:

– doctors – specialists in internal medicine, anesthesia and intensive care, neurology, psychiatry, medical rehabilitation , pulmonology and surgery
– nurses – specialists in the field of
long- term care nursing - physiotherapists - psychologists - a speech therapist - an occupational therapist - medical care assistants
– an epidemiological nurse - a pharmacist

Treatment provided at the hospital includes:

– care provided by a physician - nursing care - the provision of care provided by care assistants - general rehabilitation of a basic scope, thereby reducing the effects of immobilization and improving movement capabilities- care provided by a psychologist - occupational therapy - pharmacological treatment - dietary care, including enteral and parenteral nutrition

Basic diagnostic testing - speech therapy - therapy using a respirator for those requiring continuous mechanical ventilation - supply of medical products - medical transport - health education Other benefits:
use of of the multimedia Cyber – Eye system in order to make contact with patients with minimal
awareness
– multi-sensory stimulation therapy /Snoezelen therapy /
– pastoral care

We are the only care hospital facility providing such services in the Warmia – Mazury voivodeship and probably one of the few in Poland, which can receive patients fed via parenteral special dietary preparations.
We are the first center in the Warmia – Mazury voivodeship and fourth in the country that has the ability to conduct multimedia Cyber – Eye testing for our patients.
The hospital works with:

– universities in the organization of practical internships for students of nursing, physiotherapy and research

– training companies in the organization of internships for students/nurses and care assistants

– schools in the field of voluntary organizations in the hospital

– offices and institutions active in the field of public health and health policy
Hospital in Barczewo is partially finansed by public entities, but these funds do not cover all costs
besides activity of Polish Order (charity concerts, charity auctions, fundraising, etc), the Hospital is in difficult financial situation
Therefore prayer and financial support is cordially welcomed
We would be very grateful for any donations:

You may use your Paypal account or credit card to donate via Paypal, using the button below:

Alternatively, you can send a donation check made out to the: Polish Knights of Malta, Inc.

Mail your check to:

Polish Knights of Malta, Inc
110 Chestnut Ridge Road 177
Montvale, NJ 07645

For regular donations, we will publish your name on the website unless you indicate that you want to remain anonymous. A receipt will be provided to you. All donations to the Polish Knights of Malta, Inc. are fully tax deductible under the law.

If you are donating to a special purpose please let us know.

In case of any questions our Hospitalier Conf. Jan Rościszewski will be happy to respond:
jan.rosciszewski@zakonmaltanski.pl
jan.rosciszewski@cardif.pl

Check also:

http://www.szpitalmaltanski.pl/site/  (polish only)

Oncology Center in Poznań

The Polish Order of Malta Volunteers in London was invited in December 2010 to a fundraising concert in Poznań for the Oncology Centre that we have been fundraising for in recent years. The volunteers enjoyed an excellent concert, met the Members of the Order in Poznań and took the opportunity to visit the Oncology Centre.

Oncology Medical Centre Poznan

The existing centre has done tremendous work since it was built in the 1950s. It offers free universal medical services to 5,000 patients annually in oncology, gynaecology, radiology, internal medicine, cardiology, pulmonary medicine, psychiatry, surgery and path morphology. Expert medical volunteers from all over Poland dedicate their time to the centre. Their noble work saves many lives each year. The site on which the centre is built has been a place where the Polish Order of Malta has administered medical care for over eight hundred years but it is now time for the old Medical Centre to give way to a modern building, designed for the 21st century and compliant with European Union regulations.

This is a major fundraising project and we are still a long way from our target but to see the new building under construction was exciting. The foundations sit parallel to the old building. The basement and walls of the ground floor have been erected and were covered in snow. When construction resumes in the spring the second floor will be added.

Poland may be covered in snow in December but it bustles with pre-Christmas excitement. Poznań is a wonderful place to visit with a rich history, a picturesque city square and in December a wonderful Christmas market packed full of artisan stands, traditional food and of course grzane wino.

Blessed Gerard Hospital in Barczewo

Rehabilitation_Centre_KrakowThe Polish Association of Knights of Malta has included among its goals the establishment of a facility which would provide assistance to children with disorders of the central nervous system, and their parents. The general principles governing the operation of this facility will be as follows:

1. The facility is to be a specialized center for the care of children with various developmental handicaps. Diagnostic and therapeutic care will be extended to children of Krakow and its environs.
2. The center will conduct two modes of operation:
a) Ambulatory care – we intend to provide care to about 50 families per week, with children in two age groups: those under 1 year old to be provided diagnosis, treatment and consultation; and those 1 – 3 years of age, who besides receiving the aforementioned services would also be organised into therapeutic groups in which the children would participate with their parents and therapist (3 to 4 groups each consisting of 4 families, meeting twice weekly). In addition, we intend to involve another 10 families in a weekly therapy by means of Home Video Training.
b) A day−care facility for pre−school children. The center will accommodate 36−44 children in several groups.
The permanent team of specialists will include doctors, special educators, psychologists, therapists, nurses, pre−school caregivers.

Blessed Gerard Hospital in Barczewo

Pomagamy dzieciom, których rozwój jest opóźniony, przebiega nieharmonijnie lub nieprawidłowo
Zajmujemy się między innymi dziećmi z porażeniem mózgowym, upośledzeniem umysłowym, wadami genetycznymi, autyzmem
Pomagamy rodzinom, którym potrzebne jest psychologiczne wsparcie oraz pomoc w wychowywaniu i skutecznej stymulacji rozwoju dziecka

Optymalny poziom rozwoju dziecka, jak też droga, która do niego prowadzi jest indywidualna dla każdego dziecka i jego rodziny. System rodzinny jest integralną całością, jest też jedynym środowiskiem, które może zapewnić małemu dziecku najlepsze warunki rozwoju. Na tych założeniach opiera się model pomocy Centrum. Stąd też w metodach terapeutycznych przeważają te podejścia, które kładą nacisk na niepowtarzalność i specyfikę dziecka i całej jego rodziny. Zarówno dokonując diagnozy, jak też prowadząc terapię dzieci i rodzin staramy się wydobywać mocne strony i bazować na zasobach.

Zespołowy model pracy Centrum polega na:

przeprowadzaniu konsultacji przez zespół specjalistów podczas wspólnego spotkania z dzieckiem i rodzicami
współpracy wszystkich specjalistów przez cały czas trwania terapii
wspólnym tworzeniu i modyfikowaniu programu terapii

Ten sposób pracy zapewnia dziecku i jego rodzinie systematyczną i zintegrowaną pomoc.

Nasi terapeuci:

lekarz rehabilitacji medycznej,
neurolog i psychiatra dziecięcy,
psycholodzy kliniczni,
oligofrenopedagodzy,
neurologopedzi, logopedzi
fizjoterapeuci

posiadają certyfikaty i uprawnienia do pracy metodami:

wideotreningu komunikacji,
NDT-Bobath,
integracji sensorycznej,
Ruchu Rozwijającego Weroniki Sherborne,
kinezjologii edukacyjnej,
pedagogiki M.Montessori,
komunikacji wspomagającej i alternatywnej,
terapii karmienia,
muzykoterapii,
nauki pływania metodą Halliwicka.

Oferujemy pomoc w formie zajęć indywidualnych i grupowych przeznaczonych dla dzieci w wieku 0-7 lat oraz zajęć edukacyjnych, warsztatów i psychoterapii dla rodziców. Zapraszamy na konsultacje specjalistów innych placówek, którzy również pracują z naszymi podopiecznymi.
W przedszkolu specjalnym dzieci o specjalnych potrzebach edukacyjnych w wieku 3-7 lat objęte są kompleksową terapią i opieką.
Wszystkie usługi Maltańskie Centrum Pomocy świadczy nieodpłatnie!

Oncology Center in Poznań