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Order of Malta Australia

News

Lourdes Day Mass 2020 – Bringing Lourdes to Australia

07/12/2020 


For many Catholic Australians, especially for those in poor health, a trip to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in France where Marie Bernarde Soubirous (St Bernadette) had a series of visions of the Virgin Mary is an aspirational but unachievable goal.

 For those unable to visit Lourdes in person, for over ten years the Order of Malta Australia have hosted annual Lourdes Day Masses in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide. The masses are celebrated for the intentions of all Catholic families but ‘malades’ (those who are sick or infirm)  are particularly encouraged to attend. A blessing for good health with water brought from the spring at the Shrine of Lourdes follows the celebration of the Liturgy and the Order of Malta gifts each attendee a small bottle of Lourdes water for their personal use.

 “A pilgrimage to Lourdes represents one of the most significant moments in the spiritual life of the Order’s members and volunteers’ explained Order of Malta Regional Hospitaller Steve Christie. “Each year Lourdes dedicates the first weekend in May for the Annual Pilgrimage of the International Order of Malta where nearly 20.000 members, volunteers and malades attend. However for Australian malades the trip to France is not only expensive but arduous. Therefore members of the Order of Malta bring ‘Lourdes to Australia’ at their Lourdes Day Mass celebrations”

 Whilst COVID-19 has resulted in the cancellation of Lourdes Day Masses around the country, the mass at St Mary’s Cathedral, held on the first Saturday in December each year, was able to go ahead but with capacity restrictions. Thankfully a livestream of the celebration meant thousands of others across the country could join Archbishop Fisher and the congregation of 150, including 35 malades and 60 members and volunteers of the Order of Malta.

One of the attendees remarked: “It was a truly happy occasion.  Looking at so many smiling faces after such a tough year really lifted my spirits.  Archbishop Fisher’s offering of the Mass, his moving homily, his blessing of the sick and his generous and kind presence amongst us after Mass was greatly appreciated.”

 

 

The Australian Association

The Australian Association, formed in 1974, currently has in excess of 300 members and aspirant members across every State and Territory of Australia. We also have ongoing and strong links with the Order’s National Associations throughout the Asia Pacific Region including in Singapore and the Philippines and with members of the Order in New Zealand, Hong Kong SAR, Thailand and Korea. The Order of Malta is committed to serving Our Lords the Poor and Sick worldwide and has done so for over 900 years. This website shares with you the history, mission and current activities of the Order of Malta in Australia, and provides links to the work of the Order world-wide.