Incorporating the 150th Anniversary in Parishes, Schools and Organizations

A. Suggested activities:

1. Living Rosary – participants walk around the church, say different decades in different languages or a candlelight procession around the neighborhood.
2. Blessed Sacrament Procession after the Liturgy, with healing services, imposition of hands.
3. Invite surrounding parishes in area to participate.
4. 24-hour Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on the eve of Feb 11, 2008, or an all night vigil with guards of honor, rosary on the hour, for 24 hours.
5. Before the 11th of Feb 2008, hold a parish mission.
6. Homily on Mary as early as possible in the Jubilee Year
7. On weekly basis: some reminder of some incident about the Marian Apparitions, written up in parish bulletin.
8. Bulletin articles every month during Jubilee Year, focusing on Lourdes.
9. Wearing of medals of the Immaculate Conception, etc as constant reminder of Mary’s presence.
10. Hold pilgrimage in a local church dedicated to Mary within the diocese.
11. Suggest a pilgrimage to Lourdes or to the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC.
12. Contact local newspapers, someone in the religious division to write and encourage participation in writing stories on Marian Apparitions and pilgrimages.
13. A night at the movies: video showing and social, Song of Bernadette, other DVD’s, offering popcorn
14. List of articles 4-5 in a package, which can be duplicated and passed out in various parishes www.friendsoflourdesusa.com .
15. Recommend: various Catholic Schools, HS and Catholic Colleges – contact chaplain, senior religious personnel – ask if there could be a commemoration day with all students participating in a candle light procession.
16. Solicit participation from local travel agencies who bring pilgrimages to Lourdes.

B. Activities and Pastoral Perspectives:

1. January and October – prolife dimension, to nurture and support, especially the vulnerable.
2. Spring – Sacrament of Confirmation, entails compassion, service.
3. December – Immaculate conception – National Healing.
4. Catechesis – nature of healing, Jesus, Church, Blessed Mother.
5. Ministers of Care and the Medical Profession – mostly overlooked, offer special Masses and spiritual dimensions.
6. Gospel passages – integrated vision, word of God and Sacraments.

C. Marian Promotion – Individuals and Communities

1. Emphasize importance of additional prayer, fasting for somebody else.
2. Re-awaken togetherness – Devotion builds spirituality.
3. Movement of education, Blessed Mother as Model.
4. Devotions ought not to focus individuals just on their own private experience, needs, spiritual developments, etc. Rather, devotions ought to open them to a greater connection to the whole communion of saints – the entire body of Christ.