Relics of Saint Bernadette to visit Mullingar Cathedral
The relics of St Bernadette of Lourdes are arriving in Ireland this week, and over the coming two months they are to be taken to churches in every diocese, including the Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar, and Sts Peter and Paul in Athlone.
The two-day visit to Mullingar Cathedral is scheduled for October 21 and 22, to Athlone on November 2-4.
Today, September 3, a special ceremony will be held at the grotto in Lourdes, where the holy relics of St Bernadette will be entrusted to Bishop Kevin Doran who, along with parishioners of the Diocese of Elphin, is on pilgrimage in Lourdes. They will bring the relics home with them to begin the pilgrimage around Ireland, beginning in Galway Cathedral on September 5.
During their visit, there will be opportunities to venerate the relics privately as well as by participating in liturgies reminiscent of the Lourdes pilgrimage experience.
Bishop Doran said: “There is a well established tradition of people bringing religious objects home from Lourdes, to share with family members and friends. This year, we have the unique privilege of bringing home the relics of St Bernadette, as we fly back into Knock Airport after the Elphin Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes.
“Many people are unable to travel on pilgrimage to Lourdes, but this year Lourdes will come to them, as the Relics of St Bernadette make their way around Ireland. We hope that many people will be able to share in the blessings of the pilgrimage, by gathering to pray with St Bernadette in cities and towns across the country.”
Bishop Doran said that the International Marian Shrine at Lourdes has always had a special place in the hearts of Irish people: “Countless Irish pilgrims have made the journey to the shrine for the last 166 years since the apparitions of Our Lady to St Bernadette in 1858.”
This is the first time the relics of St Bernadette will have been brought to Ireland, and the view of Bishop Doran is that this very special, once-in-a-lifetime, opportunity will enable people of all ages experience the special gifts and charisms of Lourdes in their local diocese, and to share the grace of an encounter with Mary as Bernadette experienced it.
“By venerating the relics, people of faith can encounter peace and joy of heart and become credible and courageous witnesses of love,” he says.
Welcoming the visit of the relics, Primate of All Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin said, “The pilgrimage around Ireland of St Bernadette’s relics will be a source of hope, great joy and inspiration, especially for the many people of Ireland who have travelled to Lourdes over the years and for the dedicated groups across the island who work all year round to plan pilgrimages at parish and diocesan level.
"Of course Lourdes is synonymous with care and love for sick and disabled persons and it is a special sanctuary for those who struggle with worries or decisions of one kind or another.”
Fr Gerard Fox, Pilgrimage Director for the Diocese of Down and Connor, and member of the steering group who collaborated with the Sanctuary of Lourdes to arrange the visit said: “This is a unique opportunity for those of us engaged in bringing pilgrimages to Lourdes, to bring the message and a little ‘taste’ of Lourdes to local communities. St Bernadette understood her role as a messenger of Mary’s message, now she brings that message to the Church community in Ireland.”