Relics of St Bernadette of Lourdes arrive at St Eunan's Cathedral

The relics of St Bernadette of Lourdes were received into St Eunan’s Cathedral in Letterkenny on Friday.

A huge crowd, including children from local schools, thronged into the cathedral for the Liturgy of Welcome.

Bishop Philip Boyce, Bishop Emeritus of Raphoe, presided over the ceremony, aided by Diocesan Administrator Monsignor Kevin Gillespie.

“There is a great sense of anticipation in the Cathedral waiting for something important . . . the coming of the relics of St Bernadette,” Bishop Boyce said. “St Bernadette is well known to you, especially hose who travel to Lourdes on pilgrimage. She is an example for us all and to our young people.”

Children from St Bernadette’s school were present to welcome the relics of their patron. Students from St Eunan’s College took part in the welcome of honour while Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal and Loreto Secondary School provided music with pupils from Scoil Colmcille, Letterkenny and Scoil Naomh Fiachra, Illistrin also in attendance.

Bishop Boyce recalled how Bernadette Soubirous was a poor peasant girl, uneducated, small in stature and living in poverty. Catholics believe that in 1858, Bernadette saw Our Lady 18 times at the grotto in Lourdes.

Eight years later, the apparitions were authenticated by the Vatican. Bernadette died at the age of 35 of tuberculosis in 1879 and she was canonised by Pope Pius XI in 1933.

Bishop Boyce said: “The Lord chose the most unlikely and humble people to bestow onto them special graces and the special graces received by Bernadette were the apparitions of Our Lady.”

Bishop Boyce told the congregation how Bernadette, owning to her breathing difficulties, had to be seated upright and her last words were: “Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for me a poor sinner, a poor sinner”

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Arising out of Bernadette’s visions, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes is one of the most important Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world.

Friday’s service was attended by Archdeacon Willie McMenamin, who Mgr Gillespie said was “both a pioneer and a veteran of the Lourdes pilgrimage” and by Fr Stephen Gorman, the director for the Donegal visit of the relics.

The relics, in a reliquary, comprise mainly of bone fragments, lots of hair and muscle and are visiting each of the 26 Catholic dioceses in Ireland. In August, the relics were entrusted to Bishop Kevin Doran and the pilgrimage around Ireland began in Galway Cathedral in September.