Our Lady of Lourdes

This past Monday, February 11th was the 150th celebration of Our Lady of Lourdes. It was in 1858 that the Virgin Mary Immaculate appeared to a young girl named Bernadette near Lourdes in France eighteen times. Through this humble girl, Mary called sinners to conversion and to a life of prayer and charity. In honor of this special time, Pope Benedict has declared that anyone visiting a Shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes will receive indulgences. Our Blue Angels, a Campus Ministry Team dedicated to Our Lady, went on an all day pilgrimage Monday visiting Our Lady of Lourdes Churches in Mountainside and in the Oranges.

A special stop was made at St. Joseph's Shrine in Stirling to remember those who had died in the Twin Towers collapse on September 11. Mary had a blessing waiting for them! As they entered chapel to pray the Divine Office, there was a gentlemen in a blue ski jacket praying in one of the pews. They asked if he would join them and he said he would be delighted. This beautiful man was Bishop Frank Rodimer, retired Bishop of the Paterson Diocese! Bishop Rodimer gave the girls a special blessing with Lourdes holy water after sharing the story of Bernadette and morning prayer.