Council Lourdes Dinner

The Lourdes Dinner/Dance

The Lourdes Pilgrimage has been a major under taking of Santa Maria Council #553. Each year, since 1961, we have sent at least one person, afflicted with a serious illness and/or disability, to the famed Catholic shrine at Lourdes, France. The pilgrim(s) are chosen based solely upon need from the South Bend, Niles, Mishawaka and Elkhart area. The trip is usually undertaken in late September or early October.

The trip is funded by the council’s annual Lourdes Charity Dinner/Dance, an evening of dinner and dancing in our council hall. Held on the 1st Saturday in May each year, the dinner/dance will be held on Saturday May 11, 2011. The dance is open to the public. In addition to a silent auction, this dinner/dance is a great means to enjoy fellowship as well as help someone who may be less fortunate. In an effort supplement the ever rising costs, the Lourdes Charity Committee sends appeal letters to various businesses and organizations.

Such an undertaking requires many volunteers, not only to screen and select applicants for the journey, but also to handle the myriad of details of sponsoring the annual Charity Dance.

To date, Council #553 has sent over 50 pilgrims to Lourdes. The Lourdes Pilgrimage continues to be one of the great success stories of our council.

For a brief history of Council #553’s Lourdes Dinner Dance, please go to Lourdes Charity Committee Information Booklet.