St. Bernadette’s Relics Coming to the United States

Here is joyful news! 

The Lourdes reliquary of St. Bernadette is traveling to the United States for the first time ever. The plan is for the reliquary to visit 28 dioceses, beginning in Miami and ending in Los Angeles. The Sanctuary of Notre Dame de Lourdes has instigated this visitation, under the care of the North American Lourdes volunteers, with the assistance of the Order of Malta, to reach out to the faithful in the U.S. after two years in which many people have not been able to travel to France. 

The regions include Miami, Palm Beach, St. Petersburg, Savannah, Birmingham, Atlanta, Charleston, Charlotte, Baltimore, Metuchen, New York, Manchester, Syracuse, Columbus, Cincinnati, Green Bay, Bismarck, Great Falls-Billings, Denver, Kansas City, Wichita, St. Louis, Lafayette, Houston, Fort Worth, Santa Fe, Phoenix and Los Angeles. The Holy See has imparted a plenary indulgence to those who meet the obligations and visit the relic sites. In many visitation areas, the Lourdes volunteers will provide their “Virtual Pilgrimage,” an inspiring, in-person presentation of the Lourdes pilgrimage, including stones from the grotto to touch, and, of course, Lourdes water. The Lourdes virtual pilgrimage is approved by the Sanctuary and the Vatican and is also approved to impart a plenary indulgence when the same conditions are met.  

While the faithful venerate the relics and gather for prayer at every location, dames and knights of the Federal Association are encouraged to make pilgrimage and participate in nearby visitation sites, and assist as honor guards and brancardier at these locations. 

Possible service opportunities exist for candlelight processions, rosary, prayer, and distribution of Lourdes water. 

More information is available at www.stbernadetteusa.org, or call Wayne Ruth at 410-771-1922.