In 1858, in the grotto of Massabielle, near Lourdes in southern France, Our Lady appeared 18 times to Bernadette Soubirous, a young peasant girl. She revealed herself as the Immaculate Conception ...

And that scene, perhaps better than any other, encapsulated why Our Lady of Lourdes considered this championship its ... But ...

Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us. Exalted model of all mothers, Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray for us. Mother who did suffer so much, Pray for us. Mother poor and without shelter, Pray for us.

Our Lady of Lourdes was more than a house of worship; it was the neighborhood community center, offering a place to keep kids off the street. It did that with a combination of sporting and social ...