Chicago Cardinal Francis George, OMI, heads US preparations for the 150th Jubilee Year of the Apparition of Our Lady to Bernadette at the grotto in Lourdes, France. The Jubilee Year begins on December 8, 2007 through December 8, 2008.
Assisting in this celebration will be Rome-based American Cardinal William Levada, who will celebrate the anniversary Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. on February 11, 2008, the date of the first apparition.
The involvement comes as an invitation from Bishop Jacques Perrier, Bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes, who invites the world to join in the 2008 Jubilee Celebration. The invitation extends to the United States through Fr. Regis-Marie de La Teyssonniere, a former chaplain at Lourdes for almost 10 years. In April 2006, with Cardinal George as the Honorary Chairman, a group of volunteers formed Friends of Lourdes USA in answer to this invitation.
The goal of Friends of Lourdes USA is to revive and re-tell the story of Bernadette to all communities, churches, and schools throughout the US, especially those that bear names connected to our Blessed Mother.
This revival will take the form of a grassroots movement, wherein local individuals and communities gather their efforts and initiative to spread and re-learn the message of Lourdes. Through a website created for this celebration, the story of Bernadette will be told very simply.
It will open the story of Lourdes from the First Apparition, to the words spoken by Our Lady. It will continue on through the miracles and how the sick are considered the most important people in Lourdes.
The website will carry suggestions on different topics, list of books, videos and DVDs. Activities suggested will be varied according to different groups and ages of the audience.
Suggested events such as the pilgrimage to a church dedicated to Mary within the diocese, The Mass celebrating a feast of Mary, Blessing and Anointing of the Sick, Candlelight Procession, simple prayers for the conversion of sinners, and simple Novenas are a few activities which would connect one to this Jubilee Celebration. Some may want to go to Lourdes on a pilgrimage or as visitors.
It is the hope of Cardinal George, and all the other Bishops, that communities will come forward with their own ideas and suggestions, then develop and adapt them in the format which will best suit people. By working together in this grassroots movement, each community may differ in approach, but each will support the same goal of re-learning the message of Lourdes and ultimately, evangelize the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
There are many individuals and groups who are now involved with Lourdes, and to them, Cardinal George extends his welcome and invitation to join and be one in the pursuit of this goal. Knowing there are others who love Lourdes gives moral strength. It is a blessing to promote this grassroots movement, knowing too that one is not alone.