Holy relics from Lourdes to be displayed in Portlaoise church next week

Relics of Saint Bernadette will be displayed in Portlaoise next week after being brought from Lourdes to Ireland for a tour around the country the first time ever.

The International Marian Shrine at Lourdes has always had a special place in the hearts of Irish people. Countless Irish pilgrims have made the journey to the shrine for the last 166 years since the apparitions of Our Lady to Saint Bernadette in 1858. This year the people of Ireland will have the opportunity to welcome the spirit of Lourdes and Saint Bernadette to a local church in their own home diocese.

The relics will be in Church of Ss Peter & Paul, Portlaoise, on Tuesday, October 8.

The relics may be visited throughout the day from 7am to the closing ceremony at 9pm. Confessions will be available from 4.30pm to 6.30pm.

Welcoming the visit of the relics, Primate of All Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin said, “The pilgrimage around Ireland of Saint Bernadette’s relics will be a source of hope, great joy and inspiration, especially for the many people of Ireland who have travelled to Lourdes over the years and for the dedicated groups across the island who work all year round to plan pilgrimages at parish and diocesan level. Of course Lourdes is synonymous with care and love for sick and disabled persons and it is a special sanctuary for those who struggle with worries or decisions of one kind or another.”

Father Gerard Fox, Pilgrimage Director for the Diocese of Down & Connor, and member of the steering group who collaborated with the Sanctuary of Lourdes to arrange the visit said, “This is a unique opportunity for those of us engaged in bringing pilgrimages to Lourdes, to bring the message and a little ‘taste’ of Lourdes to local communities. Saint Bernadette understood her role as a messenger of Mary’s message, now she brings that message to the Church community in Ireland.”