October 12, 2025
October is the month of the Holy Rosary. The Oblates of Mary Immaculate have a devotion to Our Blessed Mother. I want to share with you three outstanding Oblates. They are:
Fr. Joseph Debergh, OMI, who from his native Belgium brought devotion to Our Lady of Beauraing to Lowell in 1949. The “Beauraing Window” is the first window on the right as you enter in the Shrine.
Fr. James McGrath, OMI, first Pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish donated a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes which miraculously survived a shipwreck off Nova Scotia. The statue found its way to St. Joseph Church on Lee Street where it has been ever since.
Fr. Hervé Gagnon, OMI, former Shrine Director, after moving the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes to its present location, had a statue of Our Lady of Grace installed in the sanctuary to honor the patroness of Oblates of the former Franco-American Province and former Shrine of the same name in Columbia, NH.
A few years ago, I asked Fr. Ron to restore a statue of Our Lady of Hope. She is near the elevator. She watches over you during Mass. This Month of the Rosary let us pray to Our Lady and ask for her graces.
I remember you at Mass.
