History
The Lourdes Marian Center was officially dedicated on January 1, 2003, the Feast of Mary the Mother of God, by Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver, Bishop Jacques Perrier of Tarbes and Fr. Patrick Jacquin, then Rector of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. This blessed event was the culmination of much hard work, dedication and prayer.
The seeds for the development of the Lourdes Marian Center were planted during the visit of Pope John Paul II, during World Youth Day in Denver in 1993. Our Director, Fr. Michael Walsh, hosted the French clerical contingent during the World Youth Day events.
It was during this time that he was approached by the then Rector of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, Fr. Patrick Jacquin, to establish an authorized distribution center for the water from the miraculous spring in Lourdes. Through much prayer and reflection Fr. Walsh agreed to begin the work required to establish the Lourdes Marian Center. Through the hard work and dedication of many volunteers the seeds planted during Pope John Paul II's visit blossomed into what is now the Lourdes Marian Center.
The Lourdes Marian Center is one of only two places outside of Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes authorized to distribute water from the spring in the grotto. Since its dedication the Lourdes Marian Center has distributed thousands of bottles of water and welcomed many hundreds of visitors. There are a number of prayer groups that meet at the Center on a regular basis and spend much of their time praying for the intentions left in the Lourdes Marian Center's prayer intention book. The Center also helps promote Marian devotion through the distribution of materials designed to encourage the saying of the rosary and other Marian prayers.
The Lourdes Marian Center is dedicated to its threefold mission - promotion of Marian devotion, distribution of Lourdes water and the promotion of pilgrimages to Lourdes, France. Through the guidance of our Director, Fr. Michael A. Walsh, and the work of our dedicated staff and volunteers, the Lourdes Marian Center is committed to bringing the wonderful message of Lourdes, penance, conversion of sinners and the hope for healing through the miraculous spring.
