God, Creator of man and Lord of life and death, be glorified in this shrine of St. Andrew Bobola in Dudley. We thank you, God, for the gift of the relics of St. Andrew Bobola, which came to Dudley thanks to the rescue of his coffin from the Russians by the courageous American Jesuits, Fr. Louis Gallagher and Fr. Edmund Walsh, and were delivered to Rome for St. Andrew's canonization by Pope Pius XI in 1938. It was thanks to the efforts of American Jesuits that the relics of one of the greatest martyrs of the Catholic Church were saved. This was a miracle before the eyes of the whole world when they organized humanitarian aid during the famine in Russia. At that time, they bought grain in America in exchange for the return of Bobola's coffin. We thank you, God, for the American people, who financially helped the Vatican organize this humanitarian mission for the starving Russians, which prompted the Russian government to return the coffin of this holy martyr.
Now we know that St. Andrew Bobola wanted to repay the Catholics living on American soil for rescuing his coffin from the Russians. He helped to build his first and only church in America in 1954. He invited Fr. Gallagher—who had helped bring his relics, the saint's statue, and all the altars from Rome—to the dedication ceremony. St. Andrew Bobola, with his relics, came to this unique church to help and pray for graces for all Christians living here. We come to this sanctuary because St. Andrew himself chose Dudley as the place where he prays for graces for the sick and needy.
It's extraordinary and admirable how Saint Andrew Bobola leads his only parish in the USA! In the Jubilee Year, on May 11, 2025, he elevated his only church in America to the rank of a Shrine. This is a gift from God, who gave Saint Andrew Bobola as an example to follow in difficult times. Saint Andrew continues to give signs so that we don't forget God's commandments and confirms with miracles that he is present here and intercedes for the lost, the sick, the lonely, the broken, those experiencing difficulties in marriages and families, the conflicted, and the angry. We thank God for those who have experienced the grace of healing in this shrine. We thank the Lord for the miraculous healing of our parishioner Anne Bembenek during the first novena to Saint Andrew on May 10, 2024, which confirmed God's will in establishing this shrine. We give thanks for the answered prayers and miraculous healings of three pilgrims who prayed here for healing from cancer during the Jubilee Year 2025. These are the testimonies of pilgrims who say that St. Andrew wants to help us.
This is only the beginning of St. Andrew Bobola's miracles in Dudley. He intercedes for graces and miracles from Jesus, so that here we may sanctify ourselves, convert, and experience a transformation of life. God chose this sanctuary during the Holy Year so that we might imitate the virtues of St. Andrew and, like him, become saints. He is the Patron of Unity, and therefore we need him to reconcile broken families and resolve difficult problems. He desires to evangelize and awaken consciences so that all followers of Christ may follow Him on the path of faith. Lord God – I thank you for the example of St. Andrew Bobola, who, like each of us, struggled with weakness and sin. Gazing upon Your face during adoration, he learned how to imitate You and become a saint. I stand before You today, Lord Jesus, in this time of Lent, and I ask for the grace of conversion.
I am sorry for my sins and ask for forgiveness. In Your name, I also forgive all those who have hurt me, and I ask for forgiveness from those whom I have hurt through word or deed. I invite You into my life. Heal me in body and soul, for I struggle with an illness that torments my body, mind, and soul. I don't know why this illness has befallen me, but I know I must accept it and surrender it to You, Jesus. You can heal me and restore my health if it is in accordance with Your will. Help me understand Your will and grant me the faith of the prodigal son, who realized his mistakes and returned to his merciful father to make amends.
Father God, touch me now with Your healing hands, that I may see like the blind man at the Pool of Siloam, for You can do all things. Heal the unhealthy cells in my body. Open the blocked arteries and veins and rebuild all the damage to my body. Remove all inflammation and infections by the power of Your Son, our Savior. Let the fire of the healing grace of the Holy Spirit pass through my entire body and soul. Touch also my mind and my emotions, the deepest recesses of my heart, and fill me with Your presence. Make me an instrument of Your grace, so that my life may bring glory to God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. If it is Your will, God the Father, that I recover today, then free me from this illness through the intercession of Your servant, St. Andrew Bobola, whom I ask to bring my prayer to Your Divine Throne.