Posted on April 11, 2017 in News by The Grand Priory of America
On March 30th, 2017, the Imperial Calcasieu Delegation partnered with the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency (LOPA) and the Southern Eye Bank to conduct the 1st Annual Givers Candlelight Celebration at St. Patrick Hospital Convent Chapel in Lake Charles, LA. This celebration was to honor organ, tissue and cornea donors. The date was chosen because it was the end of National Eye Donor Month (March) and the beginning of National Donate Life Month (April).
Welcomes were from the Delegation Hospitaller, Nila Halloran; Grand Priory of America Chancellor, Chev. Hugh Straub; Saint Patrick Hospital Representative; LOPA Representative and Southern Eye Bank Representative. The highlights of the program were the donor family speaker, followed by the recipient speaker and then the candle lighting ceremony, which included the reading of donor names. After each name was read, a bell was sounded and if that family was present, they stood. The program was very moving, and many of the 75 participants were brought to tears.
