Archbishop John J. Myers (front row, second from left) leads prayers in Our Lady of Lourdes niche chapel at the end of the procession on Feb. 11 at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark. Archbishop Myers presided at the evening prayer held at the Cathedral Basilica. During his days as a seminarian in 1964 Archbishop Myers visited Lourdes, France. He recalled vividly how seminarians would interact with and assist pilgrims who had traveled great distances to visit Lourdes. "I saw thousands of sick people who were offering their bodies as a living sacrifice to God," he recalled. "They persevered and found peace in prayer."

NEWARK-Close to a 1,000 of the faithful from throughout the Archdiocese of Newark filled the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Feb. 11 for an evening prayer service, celebrated by Archbishop John J. Myers, and a Plenary Indulgence granted by Pope Benedict XVI, honoring the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes.

"We celebrate this great anniversary and it is a time of prayer and veneration," Archbishop Myers said during the service. "Lourdes has been a place of worldwide pilgrimage and prayer. Miracles still happen today."

Archbishop Myers visited Lourdes, France, in 1964, which was also the year of the French National Pilgrimage. "I saw thousands of sick people who were offering their bodies as a living sacrifice to God. They persevered and found peace in prayer."

"We must celebrate Mary with love and with trust," Archbishop Myers stressed. "We must use our freedom as Mary did – to emulate the will of God. We welcome Mary's intercession and follow in the footsteps of her Son."

A Plenary Indulgence (the full or partial remission of temporal punishment due to sin) is obtained by celebrating the Sacrament of Penance, receiving Holy Communion and praying for the intentions of the Holy Father.

The Archdiocese of Newark is devoted to the Blessed Mother under the title of the Immaculate Conception. The name of Mary under that title is patroness of the archdiocese, Seton Hall University and Immaculate Conception Seminary (both located in South Orange), as well as several parishes throughout Bergen, Hudson, Essex and Union counties. Because of these devotions, the archdiocese continues to hold a special relationship with the Blessed Mother.

Beckoned by the glow of candlelight, the faithful venerated Our Lady of Lourdes at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark during an evening of prayer. The first appearance of the Blessed Mother to Bernadette Soubirous took place in Lourdes, France, on Feb. 11, 1858.