Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!
On February 11, Queen of Peace had a service of the Blessing of the Sick in imitation of this blessing of the sick in Lourdes, France. Bishop Chapetto of the Brooklyn Diocese along with Fr. Sean Suckiel, Vocations Director for the Diocese and Fr. George Sears, Rector of Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston, New York also presided over the service.
We were invited into prayer before Mass, to ready our hearts and minds for the Blessing. In their homilies, Bishop Chapetto and Fr. Sean reminded us to keep close to Mary and trust her like a young child in the image of St. Bernadette, so that Our Lady’s love may open us up to God’s grace of healing. He asked us to pray during the blessing not only for ourselves but for all to be healed.
Our Lord’s healing presence could be seen and felt. Each Resident responded to the blessing with joy and reverence – something that you could see on their faces – perhaps not unlike Bernadette’s reaction when Mary appeared to her at the grotto.
Blessing of the Sick