Report by Sauro Antonelli

Annually, the Order of Malta in Melbourne organises the Lourdes Mass on the closest Saturday to the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes, the 11 February.

This year the Mass took place on Saturday 8 February. The Cathedral was close to capacity with almost 2,000 faithful attending. The gift packs containing a small bottle of Lourdes water, rosary beads and prayer material were hugely popular with Mass attendees.

The principal celebrant at the Mass was the Archbishop of Melbourne, Peter Comensoli. He was assisted by the Order’s chief Chaplain, Bishop Terry Curtin, other chaplains of the Order, the Most Rev Tony Ireland, the Very Rev Kevin Lenehan, Fathers Binh Li and Max Vodola as well as the Vicar General, the Most Rev Tony Kerin.

Some 40 Confreres and Consoeurs were present at the Mass, with members undertaking the readings and the intercessions.

Particularly touching was the Offertory Procession with two people clearly experiencing poor health bringing the gifts of bread and wine to the Archbishop who, to his credit, made a special effort to come down from the altar to receive the gifts.

Prior to Mass commencing, a harpist, Stephanie Huang set the tone while the Cathedral bell-ringers, thanks to Confrere Anthony Krohn, a bell-ringer himself, welcomed people to the Mass.

In the meantime, preparations are well advanced for the monthly Lourdes Masses that the Order holds in aged care facilities, with the first of these taking place in early March.

Order of Malta Lourdes Mass Celebrations

A pilgrimage to Lourdes represents one of the most significant moments in the spiritual life of the Order’s members and volunteers, and each year Lourdes dedicates the first weekend in May for the Annual Pilgrimage of the International Order of Malta.

For Australians unable to visit Lourdes, Lourdes Day Mass celebrations are held annually in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide where those attending receive a blessing for good health and a bottle of Lourdes water for their personal use.

All are welcome to attend these special celebrations.