Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time | Bulletin of August 10, 2025 Word from the Pastor

My Dear Family of Our Lady of Lourdes,

The Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary begins a special week for the Famille Notre Dame de Lourdes. Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Parish is a member of the Famille as a parish family, and we can also be members individually of the Famille. The Famille is a Confraternity that has its home in the Sanctuary of Lourdes and is intended to join all the parishes and institutions of the world that are dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes in the grace that flows from responding to Mary’s invitation at Lourdes. The Octave that begins with the Assumption of Mary and ends with the Feast of the Queenship of Mary on August 22nd is the main feast of the Famille.

Members of the Famille Notre Dame de Lourdes can earn a Plenary Indulgence at both of those feasts. The octave is also when we as a parish family celebrate the Healing Mass with the Candlelight Rosary Procession and the Geste de l’Eau. This year, the Healing Mass is Friday, August 15th, at 7:00 pm. We will celebrate the Geste de l’Eau the following day, Saturday, August 16th, from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm.

You may have noticed that we carry a large candle at the front of the Eucharistic and Rosary Candlelight Procession each month. That candle has the name of every parish in the Archdiocese of Miami on it and represents our prayer for the healing of those who are sick and suffering throughout the Archdiocese. We carry the candle throughout the pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Lourdes and at the end of the pilgrimage we light the candle at the Chapel of Light as we bring the intentions of all our brothers and sisters to Our Lady for her intercession.

The intentions that the faithful leave at the Grotto of Lourdes each day are carried throughout the Candlelight Rosary Procession each night and brought to Our Lady for her intercession. We, too, carry the petitions that are left in the Petition Box at our Grotto throughout the month together with the Archdiocesan Candle during our monthly processions. I invite you to leave your petitions at the Grotto and to join in prayer for our brothers and sister who have. What wonderful days!

Msgr. Schwanger
Pastor

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