WORSHIP TIMES

Immaculate Conception
Saturday: None
Sunday: 8:30 AM
More...

St. Joseph's
Saturday: 4:00 PM
Sunday: None
More...

Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes


732 US Route 20
New Lebanon, New York 12125

On the grounds of
Immaculate Conception/St. Joseph Parish

Catholics and Devotion to Mary

During the years 1961 to 1965, The Second Vatican Council met four times to review the whole life of he church, including a re-evaluation of the role that Mary had played in the Church. Through their document Lumen Gentium (LG), Mary’s role is emphasized as the Mother of God, as well as a member of the people of God and a model of the Church.

In his book, Mary and the Saints: Companions on the Journey, James P. Campbell notes that LG also connects Mary with prophecies from the Old Testament and revisits the accounts of Mary’s life journey, from the conception of Jesus to his death on the Cross. At His Crucifixion, Jesus proclaimed his mother to be the mother of all believers (LG #56-58).

Because of her traditional image as one who cares for all, untold numbers of people pray to Mary for help with their most difficult needs. Although the Church encourages seeking help from her, the faithful are reminded that devotion to Mary cannot take away from the recognition that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God, and that it is though him that we are saved. Mary, as mother of Jesus, helps people to go to her Son.


“I Am the Immaculate Conception”
The Story of Our Lady of Lourdes

“In 1858, in the grotto of Massabielle, near Lourdes in southern France, Our Lady appeared eighteen times to Bernadette Soubirous, a young peasant girl. She revealed herself as the Immaculate Conception, asked that a chapel be built on the site of the vision, and told the girl to drink from a fountain in the grotto. No fountain was to be seen, but when Bernadette dug at a spot designated by the apparition, a spring began to flow.  The water from this still flowing spring has shown remarkable healing power, though it contains no curative property that science can identify. Lourdes has become the most famous modern shrine of Our Lady.“ (from catholic.org)


The History of the Shrine in New Lebanon

In 1928 Fr. John B. LeFebvre arrived at Immaculate Conception, and seeing the marked resemblance of the countryside to that of Lourdes in France, decided to build a grotto like the one in Lourdes.  In little more than a year the vision became a reality.  In July of 1929 the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes was dedicated in New Lebanon with better then 9,000 people in attendance. The Shrine is kept up by people who volunteer from the parish, using donations from those who appreciate this lovely devotional place.


Canticle of Mary

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness;
behold, from now, all ages will call me blessed.
The Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.

His mercy is from age to age
to those who fear him.
He has shown might with his arm,
dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.
He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones
but lifted up the lowly.
The hungry he has filled with good things;
the rich he has sent away empty.

He has helped Israel his servant,
remembering his mercy,
according to his promise to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.
Luke 1:46-56

 

Click above to download