Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time | Bulletin of August 09, 2026 Message from Msgr. Schwanger

My Dear Family of Our Lady of Lourdes,

Because it is the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes, February 11th is the World Day of Prayer for the Sick. God has used Our Lady and her intercession at Lourdes to bring healing to His people  both physical and spiritual. Our Lady uses us. Responding to her call, we bring the sick and suffering to Lourdes, France and Lourdes, Miami to be healed by Christ. Our Healing Mass is rightly the highlight of our annual celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. And it is even bigger than that!

The response to the Healing Mass has been so great over the years that we are now celebrating it on the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary as well. This year, we will celebrate the Healing Mass on the Vigil of the Assumption, Friday, August 14th at 7:00 pm. I know this is unusual but there is a reason for that. The evening Masses on August 15th will not be the Masses of the Assumption of Mary but rather the Vigil Masses for the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Please invite all those you know who are gravely ill to join us for the Mass. The Sacrament of the Sick is Jesus, himself, anointing them with His blessing and bringing them His healing and life. Let us not forget as well those who are caring for the sick. They too need our prayers and support. The Mass will offer them comfort and strength as they go forward in Christ.

It is now a part of our permanent schedule that the Saturday following the Healing Masses the Hospitalite de Miami offers us the opportunity to celebrate the Geste de l’Eau (Gesture of the Water) where everyone is able to wash and drink of the healing waters of Lourdes just as we do when we are in the Sanctuary of Lourdes. That will be Saturday, August 22nd from 8 am to 8 pm in Our Lady of Lourdes Hall.

Finally, we are looking forward to September and the second leg of the 9th Annual Archdiocese of Miami Pilgrimage to Lourdes. The information packet and application forms for 2027 and the 10th Annual Pilgrimage are already available on the media racks and online at www.HdMiami.org. What a joyful anniversary pilgrimage that will be! May God continue to shower His blessings upon us as we answer the call. Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us. St. Bernadette, pray for us.

Pastor
Msgr.Schwanger

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