VALENZUELA City, Feb. 13, 2015—Devotees and pilgrims flocked to the National Shrine of the Parish of Our Lady of Fatima in Marulas, Valenzuela City on Wednesday, Feb. 11, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, which also marked the 23rd World Day of the Sick, during which, the faithful were anointed with sacred oil.
Fr. Avelino S. Santos of the Diocese of Malolos presided over a Eucharistic celebration in honor of the Blessed Virgin under her title Our Lady of Lourdes at National Shrine of the Parish of Our Lady of Fatima in Marulas, Valenzuela City, Feb. 11, 2015. (Photo: Ruben D. Florentino, Jr.)
Fr. Avelino S. Santos of the Diocese of Malolos presided over a Eucharistic celebration in honor of the Blessed Virgin under her title Our Lady of Lourdes.
To highlight the significance of the occasion, the Holy Mass was held near the national shrine’s own miniature replica of the grotto where the “Lady in white” appeared to a 14-year old semi-literate peasant girl, Bernadette Soubirous, in Lourdes, France, announcing, “Que soy L’Immaculado concepciou” (“I am the Immaculate Conception”), and asking that a church be built on the site.
After Mass, Santos, along with Fr. Ramon R. Garcia and Msgr. Bart G. Santos, Jr., anointed the the faithful with chrism (holy oil), while parishioners and members of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Lourdes recited the rosary.
The Knights of Columbus, the Commission on Social Action, and the Tanada SPPC were also in attendance.
Catholics all over the world commemorate the anniversary of the first apparition of Our Lady of Lourdes on Feb. 11 of each year. (Raymond A. Sebastián/CBCP News)
