The people of today are nomadic, not just in their ideas but also physically. They travel a lot. But the nomad also requires reference points. In the desert we need to know where to find water holes. This is as true for the Christian as for everyone else. This is why, today, pilgrimages and Sanctuaries are so important; they are resting places and an oasis in a busy world which can, so often, be a spiritual desert.
Each Sanctuary has its own particular atmosphere. Pilgrims find a source of enrichment in one Sanctuary or another.

The European Marian Network links twenty Sanctuaries the same as the number of decades in the Rosary. Many of them are situated behind the former «Iron Curtain».
Almost every European country is represented in the European Marian Network. The best known Sanctuary of each country was chosen.
Under different titles, the Blessed Virgin Mary is venerated in every country in different ways and by different Christian confessions. May Mary help nations to grow in union with each other and bring unity between all Christians.

The European Marian Network was formed in 2003 with the encouragement of Rome.
The Sanctuary Animators from the members of the Network meet each year to get to know each other better and, above all, to understand better the needs of the millions of pilgrims and visitors who frequent these Sanctuaries.

The following meetings have already taken place:
2003, Lourdes in France
2004, Fatima in Portugal
2005, Mariapocs in Hungry
2006, Knock in Ireland
2007, in Vilnius
2008, Saragossa in Spain
The next meeting will be in Czestochowa in Poland, 9-12 September

Contact :
Mme Pascale Santos
1, avenue Mgr Théas
65108 Lourdes cedex
France
Tel: 33(0)5 62 42 79 02
Fax : 33(0)5 62 42 79 76
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