September-October 2019 Vol. 11 No. 1 echoesfrom lourdes A publication of the Lourdes Center F Marist Fathers and Brothers 100 American Pilgrims joined us in our Annual Pilgrimage this past July THE DIRECTOR’S LETTER FR. GEORGE SZAL, S.M. Homily at Lourdes Grotto By Bishop Donal McKeown, Derry, Ireland (07/06/19) Bishop Donal of Derry, Ireland gave me permission to print the homily he gave at the Grotto of Lourdes while I was there with 100 American pilgrims this past July. I think that it sums up very well the experience and meaning of Lourdes. “The theme for all pilgrimages generosity, fun and good hu- – illiterate and in poor health. to Lourdes in 2019 is “Blessed mor inspire us. Many pilgrim- Mary appeared to this most un- are the poor in spirit.” This ages could not function without likely person. No wonder no- first beatitude must sound young helpers. body believed her story. Mary, patronizing to many. It can But there is always the danger the mother of Jesus, was her- conjure up an image of ‘the that we fall into the secular trap self a young girl who believed kind and healthy helping the of dividing the world into those that the Lord had appeared to poor and the sick’- or phrases who “have”- and “those who her, and who believed that her like, “Aren’t they great? God need our help.” It can become mysterious pregnancy was not bless them, but thanks be to an attitude where the needy are a sign of embarrassment but of God we are not like them.” useful to help us healthy ones divine wisdom. We all have our reasons feel good about ourselves. But God used a child born in a for coming to Lourdes. The that is not the message that smelly stable to save the world. 14-year-old Bernadette had comes from the heart of Jesus. God invited a nobody to bear her own reasons when she Rather, the Grotto helps us to the Son whose death would came with her sister and a understand what the Grotto is give hope to everybody. Ber- friend to the grotto/dump actually about, that is, the Be- nadette was graciously invited outside of town to gather fire- atitudes (cf. Mt 5:1-12), or what some to be the bearer of an improb- wood for her poor family one have called “the upside-down able message that the power- cold February day 161 years Kingdom of God” – whose val- ful did not want to hear. Of all ago. No one doubts that one ues makes little sense to a con- shrines, Lourdes is the one place of the impressive sights of sumerist society. that every day says to pilgrims, Lourdes is how many gener- We are here at what was a “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” ous, modern young people dump outside a small insignifi- because here God used Berna- come here with the intention cant town in 1858. The poor dette to minister to the rich and of working with the sick and came here to scavenge. Berna- powerful of her time; because those needing support. Their dette was from a poor family Continued on next page Page 2 The Lourdes Center Ministry of The Marist Fathers & Brothers of The United States.S. Homily at Lourdes Grotto Continued from previous page man who had murdered her! to the Spirit who blows where it in the words of the Magnificat, In Lourdes we are all pilgrims in wills. “God has put down the mighty need of healing and being loved. A Church that dreams of be- from their thrones and lifted up If we think that the pilgrimages ing strong again needs to listen the lowly.” (Lk. 1:52) are made up of some who help and to what Jesus, Mary and Ber- The great Jean Vanier, who others who are helped, then we nadette are saying to us today. died in May, was the son of a have not heard the first beatitude Without understanding the first senior Canadian diplomat, with of Jesus, nor the message of Mary, Beatitude, the Church will never a PhD in philosophy and a uni- nor what Bernadette would want be fit to do the mission in Jesus’ versity teaching post. He left all us to hear. name.” that in 1964 and moved in with During your time here support If any of you who have read two men, Raphael and Philippe, others and give them your time. this and would like to come to who had appreciable learning Do not be afraid to admit your Lourdes as a pilgrim or volunteer difficulties. He spent the next 55 own need of healing. Let the per- next summer, please contact us. years living with those who were son that you think you are helping We can help! rejected as stupid and in need of be a blessing for you. That is what care. He saw them as his teach- Bernadette teaches us at the Grot- Peace, ers rather than treating them as to. In the quiet of the Grotto listen Fr. George little people who needed a big man to help them. They helped him to love more and to have the pride slowly washed out of his heart by grace. Jean understood the first Beatitude – “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” Today we celebrate St. Maria Goretti. She came from a very poor family. Her father died when she was nine. In 1902, at age 12 she was murdered by a neighbor because she refused to At the Pilgrimage: A Sri Lanken family with priests and a brother give in to his sexual advances. A photo including the Sri Lanken family who attended the pilgrimage to Lourdes. The It took her three days to die of family is photographed at right, with parents Basil and Anne and their seven-year-old twin sons, Joyan and Jeyan. The family fled to the U.S. after Basil was attacked and left painful infection, but she for- permanently disabled during an anti-Christian riot in Sri Lanka. Our donors made it pos- gave her attacker. In 1950 she sible for the family to attend the pilgrimage. Also photographed from left, standing: Fr. Tom, Fr. George, Fr. Matthias, Fr. Joseph, (Anne and Basil), seated: Br. Patrick, Fr. Mike, was declared a saint in the pres- (Jeyan and Joyan.) A note to Fr. George from Jeyan and Joyan appears on page 4 with ence of her mother – and of the our Readers Write feature. Echoes From Lourdes The Lourdes Center Ministry of The Marist Fathers & Brothers of The U.S. Page 3 Readers Write Dear Father, Some years ago my After six hours of surgery the doc- on the surface of my mother’s skin. This 7-year old son, Justin, had a seizure tors came out to my husband and I and closed up entirely on Christmas Eve of while playing tennis with his friends. said that they had never seen anything 2018. My mother’s doctors, nurses and The first diagnosis by our pediatrician like this tumor and could not positive- caregivers all said that they had never and many subsequent tests by a neu- ly identify it. They were also amazed seen a wound as serious as this heal, es- rologist indicated no serious cause for that the tumor had no tentacles and had pecially those located on the lower back. concern. popped out like an avocado pit! Ten Her bedsore never caused her pain and Finally, an MRI found a Glioblastoma days later our pediatrician called and never became infected. My family and I on the right frontal lobe of Justin’s brain told me to sit down, “Jayne,” he said, are so grateful to Jesus and Mary for tak- – a very aggressive and deadly form of “You got your miracle! Justin’s tumor ing care of our mother and give all Glory cancer. The doctors told us that Justin turned out to be nothing more than a to God in the Highest! NJF needed to have surgery right away be- cluster of fibers. We don’t know how cause the tumor had tentacles reaching that is possible since the scans clearly Dear Father, About ten years ago I was far into the brain stem, and even with showed an aggressive deadly tumor!” in desperate straits. I was 48 years old the tumor removed it was very possible Twenty years have passed since then. and had been without a permanent job for that it could return. Justin’s speech, hearing and sight were about 7 years. I decided to make a pil- Also, because of the location of the never affected. The tumor has never grimage from Italy to Lourdes and started tumor Justin could wake up from the recurred, and he has gone on to lead a out in snow, wind and rain. However, surgery with a loss of sight, hearing and good, healthy, successful life. I thank when I arrived in Lourdes the sun was speech! Because of the urgent need for God every day, Our Lady of Lourdes and shining. It was my first time on a pil- immediate surgery, Justin’s First Holy Our Lady of Medjugorje for this miracle grimage and I had only a packed lunch Communion was advanced to the 9:00 on my son Justin’s life! JC and very little money. I was exhausted, AM Monday morning Mass at our par- confused and full of tears as I prayed in- ish.