Fr Olivier Ribadeau-Dumas - CathNews New Zealand https://cathnews.co.nz Catholic News New Zealand Mon, 21 Feb 2022 00:13:59 +0000 en-NZ hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://cathnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/cropped-cathnewsfavicon-32x32.jpg Fr Olivier Ribadeau-Dumas - CathNews New Zealand https://cathnews.co.nz 32 32 70145804 Pilgrims stream to Lourdes grotto after two-year Covid closure https://cathnews.co.nz/2022/02/21/pilgrims-stream-to-lourdes-grotto-after-two-year-covid-closure/ Mon, 21 Feb 2022 06:50:57 +0000 https://cathnews.co.nz/?p=143838 Some 4,000 pilgrims visited the Massabielle Grotto at the centre of the Marian sanctuary of Lourdes on 11 February as the famous site reopened after two years of Covid-imposed closure. Touching the grotto's rock wall and viewing the source of Lourdes water are part of the rituals the faithful perform at the sanctuary. The Virgin Read more

Pilgrims stream to Lourdes grotto after two-year Covid closure... Read more]]> Some 4,000 pilgrims visited the Massabielle Grotto at the centre of the Marian sanctuary of Lourdes on 11 February as the famous site reopened after two years of Covid-imposed closure.

Touching the grotto's rock wall and viewing the source of Lourdes water are part of the rituals the faithful perform at the sanctuary. The Virgin Mary was said to have made the first of 18 apparitions to Bernadette Soubirous here on 11 February 1858.

Pope Saint John Paul II declared 11 February the World Day of the Sick in 1992.

"Pilgrims can once again complete their pilgrimage in complete serenity," said Fr Olivier Ribadeau-Dumas, rector of the sanctuary, during the Mass celebrating the reopening. "This shows the health crisis is almost completely behind us."

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Pilgrims stream to Lourdes grotto after two-year Covid closure]]> 143838