The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes 2011

The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes 2011

After nine weeks of prayerful and long preparations for the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes was celebrated on 13^th of February, 2011, with great devotion and solemnity. It was long way back from December 18, 2010 the weekly novenas on Saturdays in preparation for the Feast began. Devotees from various parishes and religious institutes of Nagpur Arch diocese took the initiative of conducting the liturgy and other pious practices of the Grotto, especially the blessing of the Flag in honor of Blessed Mother. As spiritual preparation for the feast there was three days of retreat preached by Fr. Rudolf Rodriguez and his team from 28- 30^th of January, for which many people experienced the healing touch of the Lord.   From   4^th of February, there were daily novena prayers for last nine days in preparation of the feast.

On 11^th of February, the day on which the whole world commemorates the apparition of Our Lady of Lourdes,  there was solemn Eucharist was celebrated which was followed by a melodious and devotional Marian Bhajan Singing completion was organized by the Magazine Lourd Mata Sandesh. There was a very good response from all over Nagpur for the competition and the Dominican brothers were the winners of the competition.  On that same evening a replica of the grotto was displayed in front of the Grotto.  The devotees of our Lady who had come for the feast were filled with joy to watch the dance drama “The Passion of the Christ” which was performed  by the brothers of St. Charles’ seminary and some of the parishioners of the Our Lady of Holy Rosary, staged on 12^th February, after the evening Mass.

On the main feast day the celebrations began with Solemn Eucharist in English Language at 6.30 a.m., which was celebrated by the Rector of St. Charles Seminary Fr. Dominic Mendonca. It was followed by the masses in various vernacular languages, such as, Konkani, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam, for which the devotees took part with great devotion and participation. In the afternoon a fellowship meal was served to all the devotees who had come for the feast. Through the generosity of many Marian Devotees, the fellowship meal was a successful one. On the feast at 2.30 afternoon there was a solemn Eucharistic Adoration and benediction service which conducted by Fr. Justus Paul O.P.,the devotees  who attended were filled with joy of the blessings of the Lord Jesus. It was after the Benediction service the Solemn Eucharistic celebration began which brought to the close of the Feast Day.

The festal Eucharist was celebrated by the Arch bishop of Nagpur Most Rev. Dr. Abraham Viruthakulangara, along with a large number of clergy, from various parts of the country and amidst a vast number of devotees of the Blessed Mother, which was followed with a grace filled candle procession with a magnificent chariot which carried in it the statue of our Lady of Lourdes.  A good number of devotees irrespective of religion witnessed these blissful occasion. It was very touching to see the devotees of various cultures and languages were unified in the motherhood of Mary.

During the Feast day there was a long queue throughout the day of the Marian devotees of several of religions, for venerating the statue of our Lady. Priests were available for the devotees for the sacrament of reconciliation throughout the day. There was praying over the sick by the various ministers of the church, though which the devotees could experience the healing power of God though the intercession of our Lady of Lourdes. As the spiritual animator of the shrine of our Lady of Lourdes, I would like to thank all the Marian devotees for all their prayers, support, co-operation and contributions towards organizing the novenas and the annual feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. Through the intercession of Mary our Mother, may God bless and reward you and your families abundantly.

Fr. Jose Thomas OP.

(Director of the Lourd Mata Mandir)