The 124th Catholic Association Pilgrimage to Lourdes began yesterday with the opening Mass in the Rosary Basilica. In his words of welcome, the Chair of the Association reminded pilgrims of Bishop David’s reflection:
“An encounter with the healing love of the Lord enables us to imagine something different. And this is what hope is about.”
What better place than Lourdes to find such an encounter?
This year, pilgrims have travelled from the Dioceses of Clifton, East Anglia, Northampton, and Southwark, together with the Glanfield Children’s Group and The Stonyhurst College Association. Gathering as one family of faith, they came to worship God, to dedicate themselves to service, and to hear the words of Bishop Bosco, from the Diocese of Clifton and leader of this year’s pilgrimage. Preaching on the Gospel of the Visitation, Bishop Bosco reflected on Mary’s immense journey to the hill country of Judea to help her relative Elizabeth. In the same spirit, volunteers have journeyed to Lourdes by Jumbulance, air, train, and even electric cars to offer their help to Assisted Pilgrims. During Mass, the volunteers’ hands were anointed as the assembly sang, “Will you let me be your servant” and “Jesus, you can use my hands, use my hands to serve you in the world.”
From our own Diocese of Northampton, pilgrims range in age from 9 to 87. Some are staying in local hotels, while others are cared for in the Accueil Notre Dame, supported by a dedicated Medical Team led by the Catholic Association Chief Doctor—himself a Northampton pilgrim.
As the pilgrimage continues under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope”, we invite you to pray for all who are in Lourdes this week. Be assured that they, in turn, will ask Our Lady of Lourdes to intercede for you.
If you have particular prayer intentions, you are welcome to send them to the Pilgrimage Safeguarding Officer, another Northampton pilgrim, at safeguarding@catholicassociation.co.uk. These intentions will be remembered especially at our Diocesan Mass, celebrated in St Patrick’s Chapel, Lourdes, on Tuesday at 10.30am UK time.
For those who wish to follow the pilgrimage from home, a virtual pilgrimage page is available here
