The reliquary of Saint Bernadette is continuing its journey through the United States among the American faithful: the water gesture, prayers and hymns from Lourdes, and torchlight processions have all been faithfully replicated in the 28 dioceses and 32 cities on the programme of this first transatlantic voyage.
The relics of Saint Bernadette visited New York
Recently, the relics of Saint Bernadette visited New York state where they were welcomed with great joy.
At the church in West Harlem, the crowd of parishioners braved a storm to venerate the relics of Saint Bernadette. Everyone knelt in prayer in front of the relics and some brought personal items to place in front of the reliquary: rosaries, statuettes, images. “A saint is coming to our church”, rejoiced a parishioner with a smile. “I feel very happy.”
The West Harlem tour, which ran from 20th – 24th May, included a visit on 23rd May to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the parish church of the Archdiocese of New York.
Mass in the afternoon of Monday 23rd May, took place in the presence of Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York.
The relics were also on display at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse
The relics were also on display at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse in New York where the Hospitality Lourdes American Volunteers was born. This association has been bringing sick and suffering people to Lourdes for 20 years, under the direction of their founder Marlene Watkins.
The idea for this journey came, a few years ago, from discussions between the Sanctuary of Lourdes and the Hospitality Lourdes American Volunteers. This pilgrimage of the relics to the USA is happening today thanks to their help, and that of the Sovereign Order of Malta and the Hospitality of Miami.
Currently, the relics of Saint Bernadette are continuing on their North American journey. After the state of Ohio and the diocese of Cincinnati on Friday 10th June, they will arrive in the state of Wisconsin. They will end their pilgrimage on the West Coast in August when they visit the city of Los Angeles.
You can follow all the news on the Facebook page: @StBernadetteUSA
Or the dedicated website: https://www.stbernadetteusa.org/ip.php?pg=The+2022+USA+itinerary+of+the+relics
