In pictures: Large crowds venerate relics of St Bernadette at St Eunan's Cathedral

Click on the arrows to go through the photos by Thomas Gallagher

Huge crowds throned to St Eunan’s Cathedral in Letterkenny where the relics of St Bernadette of Lourdes were hosted over the weekend.

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.

At the weekend, it was the turn of the Raphoe Diocese with several special events taking place.

A large crowd, including children from local schools, attended the Liturgy of Welcome on Friday.

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.

Readings were done by Cassie Lambe, Pascal Blake and Brenda Barrett.

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”

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.

On Friday night, Mass with Anointing of the Sick was celebrated by Fr Pat McHugh, who served as the Lourdes Pilgrimage Director for 23 years until 2020.

Fr McHugh was responsible for bringing around 10,000 pilgrims to Lourdes and he was made a Canon of the Sanctuary of Lourdes by the Bishop of Lourdes and Tarbes in 2019.

On Sunday afternoon, a Mass to mark the conclusion of the weekend and see the relics depart for Derry took place.

A Rosary Procession was held on Friday and Saturday night while a Night Vigil took place overnight on Friday and Saturday.

In August, the relics were entrusted to Bishop Kevin Doran and the pilgrimage around Ireland began in Galway Cathedral in September.