Lourdes Prayer Week

Every year in May, the SMA holds a week of prayer in honor of Our Lady of Lourdes, the patron saint of the Mission House in Cadier en Keer. During this week, a Eucharistic celebration is celebrated daily in the Mission House chapel for a specific intention. During the celebrations, prayers are primarily offered for Africa and the work of missionaries in and with Africans. Special attention is also given to the intentions of acquaintances and supporters of the SMA. On one of the Sundays during this week of prayer, an open-air mass is held at the Lourdes Grotto in the park of the Mission House. The May campaign also provides an opportunity to financially support the work for people in Africa and Africans in the Netherlands.

Open-air mass at the Lourdes grotto
The Week of Prayer for Our Lady of Lourdes is a long-standing tradition within the SMA. It is held every year in May. At the beginning or end of the week, there is an open-air mass at the Lourdes Grotto in the park of the Mission House. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Historical bond
The tradition of the Lourdes Prayer Week dates back to Father Gaston Dèsribes, who brought the SMA from France to the Netherlands in the late 19th century and founded the Mission House in Cadier en Keer. Father Dèsribe came from the diocese of Tarbes-Lourdes and had personally known Bernadette Soubirous. It is therefore not surprising that he had a special devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes. He commissioned the construction of a Lourdes grotto in the park near the Mission House in Cadier en Keer. The park, with the grotto and the monumental Stations of the Cross, is open to the public daily. Since 2008, an open-air mass has also been held at the Lourdes grotto during the prayer week.

Purpose of the action
The May campaign is also explicitly intended as a fundraising campaign for the work of the SMA missionaries. Donations come from hundreds of people across the country, and the SMA is deeply grateful for them. The prayer intentions are a small reward from the SMA in recognition of the many generous donations.

Video history of Lourdes grotto
Several years ago, the regional broadcaster L1 produced a series about small-scale religious heritage in Limburg, including the Lourdes Grotto of the SMA in Cadier en Keer. In it, the late Father Johan van Brakel discusses the relationship between the Mission House and Lourdes.

Participate
Everyone can participate in the May Action / Lourdes Prayer Week by submitting a prayer intention and/or making a financial contribution.

Specify a prayer intention
You can support the May Campaign by submitting a prayer intention for one of the services during Lourdes Prayer Week or on a date of your choice throughout the year. Click on the link below to submit your intention directly: SUBMIT MASS INTENTIONS

You can submit an intention by telephone: 043 - 855 29 10.
(Don't forget to provide your name and address)
By mail is also acceptable. Please write to:

SMA Fundraising
Bakkerboschweg 14 - Room 1.6
6267 AJ Cadier en Keer.

Make a financial contribution
You can also support the May campaign by transferring a financial contribution to one of the enclosed account numbers, stating "May Campaign Contribution/Prayer Campaign"

ING Bank: NL98INGB0001023158

RABO Bank: NL64RABO0109996224

The SMA is recognized as an ANBI (Public Benefit Organization). Donations are tax-deductible.