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| Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Mineral Wells, Texas |
The past few days have been filled with blessings and challenges for the life of the Church in the United States. On February 10th I was able to celebrate a special Mass for the parish of Our Lady of Lourdes in Mineral Wells, Texas. This was on the vigil of the Feast Day of Our Lady of Lourdes. The Mass was in English and Spanish in the new Church, but the accompanying pictures (although a little dark) show the older Church in the late afternoon. Many people attended the Mass, and a dinner was held afterwards. A special thanks to Fr. Balaji Boyalla, SAC, who is the Pastor of this parish. The celebration was held to strengthen parish life, and increase the parishioner’s knowledge of and connection to Mary the Mother of God, whom we know as Our Lady of Lourdes from the apparitions in Lourdes France in 1858. Fr. Balaji is a member of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate, better known as the Pallotine Fathers, because the religious community was founded by St. Vincent Palloti. The Irish Pallotine Fathers evangelized much of north Texas, and through their ministry and pastoral care, truly enhanced the formation of the laity in their Catholic Faith. The majority of the Pallotines who came to Texas were Irish. We are grateful for the presence of Fr. John Casey and Fr. Philip MacNamara who continue to pastor and help so many people in their Catholic faith. We are also blessed now with the arrival of the Pallotines from India who are assisting us in carrying on the work of the Irish fathers. Present in our Diocese are Fr. Jacob Alvares and Fr. Balaji Boyalla. We are grateful for all.
