It was on the 11th of February 1858, when the Immaculate Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous in the Grotto of Massabielle in Lourdes, France for the first time.

Eighteen apparitions took place in all and Lourdes soon became a center of pilgrimage and prayers. It was Christianity’s foremost pilgrim site.

In Gozo, we find a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes. This church is built on a hill used to be known ‘tal-Qortin’ and overlooks Mgarr harbor. This was built in the year 1888. The work was finished by the Maltese architect Caruana Galizia on a Gothic style.

This is a place of pilgrimage for people from all over the island, especially in the days coinciding with the ‘visions of Our lady of Lourdes’ in southern France. The benefactor of the statue was Carolina Mamo and the artist was Carlo Darmanin. On the 25th of May 1879, the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes was put in her place and blessed on the 3rd of June 1883, by Bishop Pietru Pace.

Works on this chapel were finished on 6 February 1892 and a year later, in 27th August 1893 it was blessed by bishop Giovanni M. Camilleri. The church was consecrated on the 19th of February 1950.

The apparitions of Our Lady at Lourdes are solemnly commemorated every year in this church and people from all over Gozo flock to this church to recite the Holy Rosary and participate in Holy Mass. The programme of activities for this year is as follows:

Thursday, the 11th of February 2010: First Apparition of Our Lady in Lourdes.

The church is open during the whole day.

4.30pm: Eucharistic Adoration including the recitation of the Holy Rosary and Solemn Eucharistic Benediction.

5.00pm: A Concelebrated Mass led by H.L. Mgr Mario Grech, Bishop of the Gozitan Diocese, together with the clergy of Ghajnsielem Parish. The Lauretana Choir, under the direction of Mr. Lelio Spiteri, animates the Liturgy.

Sunday 14th February 2010: Second Apparition of Our Lady in Lourdes.

The church is open during the whole day.

4.30pm: Eucharistic Adoration including the recitation of the Holy Rosary and Eucharistic Benediction.

5.00pm: A Solemn Mass led by H.L. Mgr Nicholas J. Cauchi, Bishop Emeritus of the Gozitan Diocese. Organist Ivan Attard animates mass.

This programme is repeated during the other sixteen apparitions, which are held during these days:

Thursday 18th February 2010, Friday 19th February 2010, (Anniversary of the Church’s Dedication), Saturday 20th February 2010, Sunday 21st February 2010, Tuesday 23rd February 2010, Wednesday 24th February 2010, Thursday 25th February 2010, Friday 26th February 2010, Saturday 27th February 2010, Sunday 28th February 2010, Monday 1st March 2010, Tuesday 2nd March 2010, Thursday 4th March 2010, Thursday 25th March 2010, (Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord), Wednesday 7th April 2010, Friday 16th July 2010, (Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel).

The Rector of the church, Fr. Tarcisio Attard, invites all Gozitans to visit the Blessed Virgin Mary in the church dedicated to her in Mgarr. The commemoration of the apparitions in Lourdes is a sign of grace to all the Christians.

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