Bishop Robert Baker has been extremely encouraging and instrumental in helping this Grotto to be a place which has enriched the spiritual lives of those in his Diocese and all who visit the Shrine.”Jennifer Prybyla, Assistant Director of Pilgrimages
HANCEVILLE – The month of August will be a bit busy at the Lourdes Grotto, located at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville. Wednesday, August 5th marks the Feast of Our Lady of Snows with a healing Mass at noon.
“A crowd of over 300 turned out for a healing service and candlelight procession at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament’s Lourdes Grotto on Saturday, June 27th, the Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help,” said Jennifer Prybyla, Assistant Director of Pilgrimages. “Fr. Joseph M. Wolfe, of the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word, presided over the service and procession, along with some visiting priests who were making a retreat at the Shrine.”
Prybyla said Relics of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos were present, and each person attending received an individual blessing with these relics.
“This beautiful event saw attendees from around Cullman County, both the Dioceses of Birmingham and Mobile, parts of Louisiana, Tennessee, Florida and beyond,” she said. “This was the third of a series of healing Masses, evening healing services and candlelight processions this year at the Shrine in Hanceville.”
Join us this Wednesday at 12pm.http://olamshrine.org/event/august-5-healing-mass/
Posted by Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament Pilgrimages on Monday, August 3, 2015
On Saturday, August 15th at 7 p.m. the Feast of the Assumption, a Eucharistic healing service and candlelight procession, will be held.
All faiths are welcome to attend. The Grotto is handicap accessible and wheelchairs are available. Join them as they honor our Blessed Mother and ask her intercession for the healing of our bodies and souls.
The Lourdes Grotto at the Shrine is a replica of the original, miraculous Grotto in Lourdes, France that was dedicated at the Shrine in 2008 on the 150th Anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady to St. Bernadette.
A piece of the stone from the original Grotto in France is mounted in the Shrine Grotto for the veneration of the faithful.
Also, just like the original Grotto in Lourdes, France, this Grotto rests alongside a river, which creates a peaceful and prayerful oasis.
“Bishop Robert Baker has been extremely encouraging and instrumental in helping this Grotto to be a place which has enriched the spiritual lives of those in his Diocese and all who visit the Shrine,” Prybyla continued.
“Each year he leads the Diocese’s annual October Rosary for Life and Vocations at the Grotto. Also, His Excellency was instrumental in getting a plenary indulgence attached to the Hanceville Grotto, which is granted to the faithful who make a pilgrimage there by fulfilling the usual norms and conditions.”
In 2013, said Prybyla, Bishop Baker hosted the Bishop of Lourdes, France, The Most Rev. Nicholas Brouwet. Both visited the Shrine’s Grotto and were able to pray at this replica, which impressed Bishop Brouwet considerably.
For more information about the Shrine or the upcoming events at the Grotto, call 205-795-5717 or visit olamshrine.com.
