St. Bernadette’s Relics Venerated in Lancaster

The traveling relics of Saint Bernadette visited Saint John Neumann Parish, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania on September 30. Veneration began after the regular Wednesday school Mass at 9AM. There was simultaneous adoration in a side chapel between 10AM and 4PM.

A table had been set up in the narthex, staffed by a member of the Order. Local schools had made hundreds of rosaries to be given away, and hundreds more were supplied by Christine Diffenderffer, DM, of the Baltimore Region, who also brought hundreds of prayer cards. All these were available on the table. 

Throughout the day, in one-hour shifts, members of the Lancaster Region in work uniforms stood as an honor guard, one on each side of the reliquary. To help with this duty, we enlisted spouses, and at least one malade and companion, dressed in white and black.

For most of the day the line of people who came to venerate stretched down the church’s center aisle, into the narthex, and sometimes extended all the way out to the parking lot. For the most part, people came in two by two, but there were many small family groups and many children. 

At 6PM there was a special Lourdes Mass, celebrated by the pastor, the Rev. Dan Powell. The church was full. The congregation was aspersed with water from Lourdes. (Many vials were handed out, often two or even three to one person). Familiar hymns from the pilgrimage were sung.

Our last shift at the reliquary began at 8PM. It was not until well past the hour that the line finally began to thin. The church estimates some 2,000 people came. The atmosphere was reminiscent of that in the Domain, at the Baths or at the Grotto. The outpouring of faith was thrilling, almost palpable. 

Saint Bernadette, pray for us.

Photos courtesy of St. John Neumann photographers, John Bennett and Mary Grace Soper.