St Bernadette Soubirous
The church celebrates her feast on April 16.
Bernadette was born in the year 1844 into a very poor family. When she was just a child, she was very loving, and loved to pray to God. God had a very special plan for her.
Bernadette was only 14 years old when the Mother of God appeared to her with special messages for the world. She called herself The Immaculate Conception. After this happened, it changed Bernadette's life forever!
Miracles began to happen. One of the miracles was that water began to come out of the ground where Mary had appeared. When sick people came to this pool of water and washed in it, they became well again!
Mary also asked that a chapel be built in the very place where she was appearing. Bernadette went to school, learned how to read, and when she was old enough, she gave her life to God and became a Nun. She spent the rest of her life serving God.
Today, people still come from all over the world to pray in the church, and to touch the water that still comes out of the rock. Miracles still happen today as those who come and pray for healing have their prayers answered.
St Bernadette is the patron saint of shephards, and of those who are sick
St Bernadette, pray for us, and especially for all those who need to be healed!