Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes (Archdiocese of São Salvador da Bahia)
| Paróquia Nossa Senhora de Lourdes | |
 | |
| Dedication: | Our Lady of Lourdes |
| Venerated Saints: | None specified |
| Diocese: | Archdiocese of São Salvador da Bahia |
| Deanery: | |
| Address: | Avenida Joana Angélica, s/n, Nazaré, Salvador, BA 40050-130 |
| Coordinates: | -12.9822, -38.4681 |
| City: | Salvador, BA |
| Subdivision: | Bahia |
| Country: | Brazil |
| County: | |
| Website: | No website specified |
| Founded: | 1912 |
| School: | Yes |
| Email: | |
Paróquia Nossa Senhora de Lourdes (Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes) is a territorial parish in the Archdiocese of São Salvador da Bahia, located in the Nazaré neighborhood of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary under her title "Nossa Senhora de Lourdes"—commemorating the 1858 apparitions to Saint Bernadette Soubirous in Lourdes, France, where Mary identified herself as the Immaculate Conception—the parish church is a prominent twentieth-century structure in the city center.
The parish was canonically erected in 1912, with the current church inaugurated in 1958 to mark the centenary of the Lourdes apparitions. It features a distinctive grotto replica in the courtyard, modeled after the Massabielle grotto. As of December 15, 2025, the parish continues to serve the local community with regular liturgies, devotions to Our Lady of Lourdes, and celebrations of the feast on February 11.
The dedication promotes devotion to Mary's appearances at Lourdes, emphasizing healing, penance, and the Immaculate Conception.
History
Paróquia Nossa Senhora de Lourdes was canonically erected in 1912 by the Archdiocese of São Salvador da Bahia, reflecting the rapid spread of the Lourdes devotion following the 1858 apparitions and their approval by the Church in 1862.[1]
The current church was built to commemorate the centenary of the apparitions, with construction completed and inauguration in 1958. The design includes a replica of the Lourdes grotto in the courtyard, a common feature in churches dedicated to this title.
The parish operates within the archdiocesan structure, fostering Marian piety in an urban setting.
Special features
- Replica of the Massabielle grotto from Lourdes in the church courtyard, a site for prayer and devotion
- Patronal feast of Our Lady of Lourdes on February 11, with blessings of the sick and water
- Promotion of healing and penitential spirituality associated with the Lourdes message
Relics
According to established Catholic tradition, the main altar contains deposited relics, as is customary in dedicated churches. Specific details regarding the saints associated with these relics are not publicly documented in available sources. This follows common practice where first-class relics, often of martyrs, are sealed within the altar.
Architecture
The church, inaugurated in 1958, reflects mid-twentieth-century ecclesiastical architecture in Brazil, with a prominent façade and interior spaces designed to accommodate large gatherings for Marian devotions.
The courtyard grotto replicates the site of the Lourdes apparitions, complete with statue of Our Lady and Saint Bernadette.
Art and devotional features
The courtyard features a faithful replica of the Lourdes grotto, with statues depicting the Virgin Mary and Saint Bernadette Soubirous in the apparition pose.
Interior devotional elements focus on the Lourdes theme, including imagery of the Immaculate Conception and healing miracles.
Specific details on additional stained glass or sculptures are limited in publicly available sources.