Religious icon to visit Diocese of Lake Charles
Published 8:51 am Monday, February 17, 2014
A historic icon for Catholics, Our Lady of Czestochowa, will be received by Bishop Glen John Provost at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 20 in Immaculate Conception Cathedral.
David Dawson, Diocese of Lake Charles director of marriage and family and pro-life, said the icon — normally housed in Czestochowa, Poland — has more pilgrimages made to it than most other places in Europe.
Dawson said the icon is rich in history and that many miracles have been associated with it over the years.
“There are stories that it was painted by one of the apostles (St. John),” he said. “The history of it is very powerful. Although this particular icon is not the original, it’s a copy of the original painted by someone in Russia and it was dedicated at the shrine of the original icon.”
Dawson said the icon is traveling throughout the U.S. this year on a pilgrimage around the world. Its stop in Lake Charles is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for local Catholics because the icon is such a big part of Catholic identity, he said.
“Those who come I think will find they are going to be very overwhelmed by the presence of this icon,” Dawson said. “It’s a very spiritual experience. Most people who visit it bring in sick people, pray for marriages in trouble or other things like that.”
The Louisiana portion of the pilgrimage will begin today, Feb. 15, and will feature stops in Kenner, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Leesville, before arriving in Lake Charles. The icon will travel into Texas after the stop in Lake Charles.
According to Dawson, after Provost receives the icon, veneration will follow in the cathedral. The Rev. Nathan Long will celebrate Mass at 7 p.m. and then there will be a rosary and additional time for veneration, he said.
