The Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage took place last week.
Source: Diocese of Nottingham
Clergy, assisted pilgrims and young people from across the Diocese of Nottingham, braved temperatures of more than 30 degrees, in the French town of Lourdes last week, for their annual diocesan pilgrimage led by Bishop Patrick McKinney.
Two hundred and ten pilgrims-including 44 young people; 10 young adults; 30 assisted pilgrims; 2 seminarians; 9 priests; 3 deacons and 2 Religious arrived in Lourdes on Monday July 14, for five days of prayer, reflection and fellowship.
Their pilgrimage began with a welcome Mass in the afternoon at the Chapel of St Joseph. Fr Greg Tobin, the pilgrimage director, preached about the impact of Lourdes on his faith and vocation.
On Tuesday morning, the pilgrims were up bright and early for a 7:30am Mass at the Grotto, celebrated by Bishop Patrick McKinney, who told the pilgrims: “What sustains us, what keeps us going is the hope we find in God. It is the belief that God never gives up on anyone! It’s the reassurance that the darkness that we all face sometimes in our lives will not overwhelm us.
“If we place our trust and our confidence in this truth; that since the moment of our baptism, we are God’s beloved sons and daughters, so whatever we face, God ultimately is with us. This is the hope that Pope Francis was encouraging us to accept and to deepen still more in our lives and to share that hope with others.”
In the afternoon, the pilgrims participated in the Geste de L'eau, during which pilgrims and assisted pilgrims washed the face and hands of one another, against the backdrop of the grotto, where our Lady told St Bernadette: “go and wash at the spring”.
Vocations Director, Fr Neil Peoples, also blessed and lit the Diocesan candle, which carries the prayers of the diocese, and which remained burning for days after.
Wednesday began with the International Mass, where approximately 4,000 people were in attendance with 15 bishops amongst them.
The seminarians of Nottingham Diocese and the young people in attendance then led a Rosary for vocations, before everyone participated in a procession of the Blessed Sacrament, during which one of the youth helpers helped to carry the Cross.
In the evening, there was a moving diocesan Reconciliation Service in the Church of St Bernadette, led by Canon Matthew Jakes, during which almost 200 people attended Confession.
Thursday marked our pilgrims’ penultimate day in Lourdes, beginning with a Mass for the Anointing of the Sick on the esplanade outside Lourdes’ three famous basilicas, followed by Stations of the Cross and an underground Blessed Sacrament Procession to escape the heat.
The day culminated with an evening torchlight procession, during which four young men from the youth contingent of the Nottingham Diocese, carried the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Among the men was Abel of Christ the King CVA in Nottingham, who said: “I felt proud to be able to process the statue of Mary with three of my friends and to be able to represent my diocese.”
The diocesan closing Mass took place on Friday morning on the outdoor altar on the esplanade and the pilgrimage concluded with a garden party at 2pm.
Reflecting on the event, Joe Hopkins, Director of Adult Formation for Mission and Head of Hospitalité for the Diocesan Pilgrimage said: “The feedback which I have received from the pilgrims, speaks for itself. One of the first-time pilgrims told me that it had been an incredible experience and that she would be coming back to Lourdes. Another young adult said she was so glad to finally make many friends who shared her faith, and an assisted pilgrim told me that it was the best week of her life!”
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