How to revive a world pilgrimage in the absence of pilgrims? By inventing the world's first digital pilgrimage, an " e-pilgrimage ". The new rector of the sanctuaries of Lourdes - he was, until a year ago, secretary general of the episcopate -, Archbishop Olivier Ribadeau Dumas, has just presented this innovative idea.
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The concept will become reality on July 16, the anniversary of the last apparitions of the Virgin to Saint Bernadette, in 1858. From 7 am to 10 pm, on the Lourdes TV channel available on the internet, on social networks and on several Catholic channels ( KTO for the French-speaking world, EWTN in the United States, TV2000 in Italy), a complete pilgrimage with masses and rosaries will be offered in ten languages. The project slogan and a special logo were created by the advertising agency Havas: " Lourdes United ".
Call for donations
The highlight of the day, from 4 pm to 6 pm, a " large television set " will welcome ecclesial, cultural and local personalities. Everyone will testify, directly, of their passion for Lourdes. Comedian Gad Elmaleh should be there. Touched by Lourdes, he is one of the co-producers of the musical Bernadette de Lourdes, which will punctuate this e-pilgrimage. Sister Bernadette, the last miracle from Lourdes, will also be present.
It will also involve launching a call for donations. The shrines were completely closed for several months. They have timidly reopened with compulsory masks, but, instead of the 25,000 daily visits during the high season, there are 2,500 pilgrims each day. The shortfall is 8 million euros for the sanctuaries and it will be 300 million for the city and its region, because the great pilgrimages have been canceled.
When a chaplain, alone, prayed before the statue of the Virgin, he could be followed by TV Lourdes on social networks by more than a million people around the world
Bishop Olivier Ribadeau DumasThis explains why professionals from the hotel, travel and local officials will also be on the set of Lourdes United because " we must allow the city and its region to start again " observes Mgr Olivier Ribadeau Dumas, who speaks of a "Ecosystem" of which "the sanctuary is the engine" . He ensures that "1 euro invested in the sanctuaries is 12 euros invested in this city" .
The experience of continuous prayer in the cave during confinement is at the origin of this project: "When a chaplain, alone, prayed before the statue of the Virgin, he could be followed by TV Lourdes on social networks by more than a million people in the world ” , tells the man of the Church. This spectacular media operation intends to call for "finding the way to Lourdes" while creating "another form of communion".
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Because "Lourdes needs the world as the world needs Lourdes," notes the prelate. We meet there, without distinction of generation, culture, social background, faith. The sick, the weakest, the poorest are served there first. It is a model of society: fraternity, respect for everyone, gentleness, hope show that Lourdes is already the “next world”! ”