150 Years Since Apparitions At Lourdes
Lourdes Novena
Our Lady first appeared at Lourdes to teenager, Bernadette Sourbirous as she gathered firewood near the grotto of Massabieille on 11 February 1858. Some weeks later, on 25 March, 'the mysterious lady' revealed that her name was The Immaculate Conception.
Devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes and the memory of Bernadette has spread throughout the world over the past century and a half. Pilgrims have been coming to the Grotto year after year in their tens of thousands to pray and to experience Our Blessed Mother's care for her wounded children.
From the late Nineteenth Century onwards, the Oblates in Britain and Ireland, and the people of Inchicore in particular, have been linked with devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes.
In 1883, Inchicore-based Fr William Ring OMI (1834-1919) led what was almost certainly the first large group of pilgrims from Britain and Ireland to visit Lourdes.
In the months prior to the pilgrimage, and with the assistance of a dedicated group of helpers, he wrote to the Vatican and all bishops in Britain and Ireland, informing them of his plans. The replies were so encouraging that he formed an association of prayer for the success of the pilgrimage.
He went on to lead a further seven pilgrimages to Lourdes and three to Rome.
On his return to Inchicore after that first pilgrimage, he suggested to Br Malone that they build a grotto. The ruins of that early grotto can still be seen in the grounds.
Work on the present grotto began in 1929. The brainchild of Fr Michael Sweeney OMI (1888-1964), this replica of the grotto at Lourdes was built with the help of local volunteer labour under the supervision of Oblate master-builder, Br Patrick McIntyre (1884-1963).
For details of this year's Lourdes Novena at Mary Immaculate Church, Inchicore, please click Noticeboard in the links to the left of this page.