Press Release
Contact: Joe Maher
Phone: (313) 655-52333
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
11 A.M. EDT, August 12, 2013
Lourdes Closures Open Flood Gates
on Detroit Shrine
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – On August 15th, Catholics in the United States will change their travel plans from flying to France, to visiting a one hundred and thirty two year old replica of a French Shrine in Detroit, Michigan. Twice in less than a year, Massive flooding in Lourdes, France has closed a popular Catholic shrine where nearly 6 million believers from around the world, many gravely ill, go every year seeking miraculous healing. Lourdes has been a major pilgrimage site since a French girl’s vision of the Virgin Mary in 1858.
Reverend Eduard Perrone, pastor of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary parish in Detroit – more popularly know as Assumption Grotto because of its replica of the Lourdes Grotto in France – says many people in desperate need of healing do not want to take a chance of a last minute cancelation to the famous shrine in France. “The cost is tremendous of course to go to France”, Perrone said, “so a much more economical alternative is the Grotto here in Detroit where in past years there have been many miraculous healings and certainly a good number of conversions.”
The Catholic Church has now recognized 68 official miracles at Lourdes, France; 49 of those involve drinking or bathing in the spring water that flows into the cave. Bottles of this Lourdes water from the French shrine can be obtained from the Detroit Lourdes Shrine during the August 15th feast day celebration.
Like at the Lourdes Shrine in France, the faith and devotion of pilgrims to the Detroit Shrine are often rewarded by God with conversions and cures. People in their seventies and eighties today remember seeing as children all the crutches and braces piled up at the Assumption Grotto Shrine in Detroit. Some of these are now housed in a reliquary in the Detroit shrine’s gift shop.
“As a young boy, I remember visiting Assumption Grotto and was amazed at seeing the hundreds of crutches and braces stacked up everywhere.” Sixty seven year old Ray Jendrowski from Shelby Township said, “It was always a marvelous Church to visit because of the beauty of the Church and magnificent Grotto; even today we still make a visit on the August 15th feast day.”
Designated as a Michigan State Historic Site and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Assumption Grotto Church is the second oldest Catholic parish in Detroit. Coined as “a day of miracles in Detroit”, one of the high points of the August 15th parish feast day activities is a spectacular candlelight procession along Gratiot Avenue and to the Shrine after the 7 p.m. Mass. As in Lourdes, France, the faithful process singing hymns to the Blessed Virgin Mary and many religious groups carry banners and flags representing their affiliations. The Knights of Columbus Color Corp lead the long procession of priests, religious and faithful, which features a beautiful statue of Our Lady of Lourdes held high aloft on a special platform.
The schedule of events for the August 15th celebration also includes Holy Mass at 6:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., Noon and the 7:00 p.m. Mass, which will be followed by the candlelight procession. A healing service with blessing of the sick will take place at 3 p.m. at the Shrine. There is safe and secure parking at Assumption Grotto Church with special attention being given to the sick and handicapped. A free shuttle bus service will be available throughout the day and evening from St. Veronica Catholic Church in Eastpointe. St. Veronica’s is located just 2 miles north of Assumption Grotto at 21440 Universal Avenue.
Other activities include the blessing of Miraculous Medals and herbs, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament throughout the day, recitation of the Rosary, praying of the Stations of the Cross, and confessions will take place at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. There will be the St. Louis de Montfort Consecration to Mary at 5 p.m.
Food and refreshments are available for purchase throughout the day as well as a traditional Italian dinner until 5:30 p.m.
Vendors will be offering religious items for sale including Lourdes candles for the evening procession.
For more information, visit www.assumptiongrotto.com or call the rectory at (313) 372-0762.
Assumption Grotto Catholic Church is located at 13770 Gratiot Avenue, Detroit Michigan 48205.
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Please join us in Detroit, Michigan on August 15th. The Opus Bono Sacerdotii staff will be at Assumption Grotto Church for an amazing, grace-filled day of healing and spiritual renewal. At Opus Bono, we are very aware of God’s extraordinary healing power in the thousands of priests who have called on us for help. This is why the entire staff will be attending this powerful, spiritual event on August 15th at Assumption Grotto. In fact, we will be busy working throughout the day – a way of manifesting our thanksgiving to God for the many miracles He has performed in the lives of the priests we assist, and in your life as our Partner in Mission!
Fr. Eduard Perrone, cofounder of Opus Bono, is pastor of Assumption Grotto Church. His parish has a replica of Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto and through the years many miraculous healings have taken place there. It is the perfect pilgrimage spot for the summer! But, even more amazing are the conversions and spiritual renewals that come from participating in the days sublime events – especially the 7 p.m. Mass followed by the Lourdes candlelight procession and the singing of hymns to Mary at the miraculous Grotto. It is like visiting the Grotto of Lourdes in France.
I encourage you to come to Assumption Grotto on August 15th. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.
Thank you,
Joe
PS Pete and I will be directing traffic and crossing pilgrims all day and night in front of the Church, please stop and say hello!
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