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PLACES OF WORSHIP WITHIN THE SANCTUARY
THE CHURCH OF ST BERNADETTE
The latest church to be built in the Sanctuary is the Church of St Bernadette, across the river on the prairie. It was from this site that Bernadette experienced the last of the apparitions on the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 16th July 1858. The Church of St Bernadette was blessed in 1988. It can hold 5000 but is usually divided into smaller sections (Côté Grotte and Côté Carmel) to allow a number of groups to use it at the same time. On the right of the church there is a conference centre known as the “Hemicycle”. Behind the church on the hillside outside the Sanctuary, is the Carmelite Convent.
THE ADORATION CHAPEL
The Adoration Chapel is to the left of the Church of St Bernadette and is all too easy to miss! It is available for silent prayer throughout the day and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from 6.00am to 11.00pm each day during the summer. The chapel is built on twelve pillars representing the twelve apostles, and is a haven of peace and prayer.
THE PODIUM
This open air altar on the prairie opposite the Grotto has a large awning over the altar. It allows very large gatherings to meet for the celebration of Mass close to the Grotto. This is where Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass in 2004 and Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Mass in September 2008.
ST JOSEPH’S CHAPEL
This small, partly underground chapel dedicated to St Joseph can be found on the left of the Esplanade just before St Michael’s gate.
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