Oblate News

Lourdes Novena 2024

Join in person (Inchicore/Kilburn) and online events

February 2-11 2024

Our Lady of Lourdes:

In honour of Our Lady Of Lourdes, the annual Novena takes places in Inchicore and in Kilburn, closing with the very special Torchlight Rosary Procession. We join with all those who mark these nine days of prayer ahead of the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes on February 11th when Mary appeared to a young peasant girl, Bernadette Soubirous, for the first time in 1858 in a cave on the outskirts of a small village in the French Pyrenees foothills.

With pilgrims from all over the world, praying the Rosary and singing the Ave Maria of Lourdes, we follow and carry the light of Christ to renew our faith and strengthen our hope. As night falls, the light-filled earth seems gently to be touching the heavens, welcoming its mystery and its clarity. (- From the website of Lourdes Sanctuary)

Join in-person and online:

As well as the in-person Novena taking place in Inchicore (twice daily 10am & 7pm) for more information please click here), and Kilburn (10am) we are also offering some online events – daily morning prayer at  and novena prayer with our Oblate Parishes (8.30am) and with the Oblate Lourdes Pilgrimage team in Lourdes) and we will also celebrate Mass on the Feast Day at the Grotto which you can watch online. If you would like to be notified, please sign up here or email us at communications@oblates.ie, or subscribe to our YouTube Channel.

Pray with us:

We also invite you to send in your prayer intentions to be taken to Lourdes – you can email them to lourdes@oblates.ie or send them to The Mission Office, Oblate House of Retreat, Tyrconnell Road, Dublin 8, or phone Barbara in the Mission Office on +353 1 4542888. We will present your intentions to Our Lady at the Grotto in Lourdes on her feast day, so please send them in ahead of this time.

World Day of the Sick:

The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes is also World Day of the Sick. Our Lady of Lourdes is the patroness of the sick and also of healthcare workers. We remember those especially during our days of prayer. This year, the Holy Father, Pope Francis prays especially for a healing of relationships, and a reminder that the sick and vulnerable and the poor are at the heart of the church.

“To those of you who experience illness, whether temporary or chronic, I would say this: Do not be ashamed of your longing for closeness and tenderness!” says the Pope. “Do not conceal it, and never think that you are a burden on others.” – Pope Francis, Message for the 32nd World Day of the Sick, 11th February 2024

The sick, the vulnerable and the poor are at the heart of the Church; they must also be at the heart of our human concern and pastoral attention. May we never forget this! And let us commend ourselves to Mary Most Holy, Health of the Sick, that she may intercede for us and help us to be artisans of closeness and fraternal relationships. – Pope Francis, Message for the 32nd World Day of the Sick, 11th February 2024

Mission Shop:

If you would like to have a candle lit or obtain Mass cards, please visit the online Mission Shop

https://oblates.ie/mission-shop/

Save the Dates:

The Oblate Pilgrimage to Lourdes takes place from the 15-20 September this year. Watch this space for booking information.

https://www.oblatelourdespilgrimage.com/

Novena Prayer:

Download the Novena Prayer here:

Lourdes Novena Prayer Card

O Mary, you who appeared to Bernadette in the hollow of the rock, in the cold and shadow of winter, you brought the warmth of a presence, the friendship of a smile, the light and beauty of grace. In the hollow of our obscure lives, in the hollow of this world where evil is strong, bring hope, give more trust.

You who said to Bernadette ‘I am the Immaculate Conception’ come to help us, sinners. Give us the courage of conversion,

the humility of penitence and the perseverance of praying for sinners, that we are.

We confide to you all whom we carry in our heart, and especially the sick and those who have lost hope, you who are ‘Our Lady of Good Help’. You who guided Bernadette to discover the spring, guide us towards Him who is the source of eternal life, He who gave us the Holy Spirit so that we can dare say:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.

St Bernadette, pray for us.

O Mary, conceived without sin,

pray for us who have recourse to thee.