The Relics of St Bernadette in Nottingham Diocese

Over the 6-7th October, the Diocese hosted the Relics of St Bernadette!

Friday, October 7, 2022

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Communications

On the 6th and 7th of October, the Diocese of Nottingham hosted the Relics of St Bernadette!

It was a great joy to be back in Lourdes this Summer to make our first pilgrimage to the Shrine since 2019, due to the pandemic. And now the relics of St Bernadette have made their own pilgrimage to us here in the Diocese of Nottingham! Lourdes came to us and on the 6th-7th October when we welcomed the relics of St Bernadette to Scunthorpe and then to Nottingham. This was a very special once in a life-time event and provided an opportunity for people to experience the message and special gifts of Lourdes right here in our Diocese.

The relics were in the Diocese for just 24 hours, arriving in the parish of St Bernadette in Scunthorpe on the morning of the 6th October. They were welcomed by Fr Matthew Jakes, parish priest, who hoped their visit would strengthen the faith of many local Catholics and an influence for the good in the wider community. St Bernadette has long been one of his favourite saints and, along with his parishioners, he felt very honoured that Scunthorpe was been chosen as one of the locations for the Relic Tour. After a busy schedule in Scunthorpe, where our schools featured prominently, the relics moved on to Nottingham Cathedral, arriving early evening, welcomed by Bishop Patrick McKinney and processed in by the Polish Scouts of Nottingham and broadcast live to BBC East Midlands evening news, with an extended feature repeating at 10.30PM. There were various celebrations at the Cathedral and an all-night vigil, before the relics departed for Birmingham on the morning of the 7th October after a Mass of Thanksgiving celebrated by Bishop Patrick McKinney.

Alongside moments for private prayer and veneration at both venues, there was a full timetable of liturgies and devotions attracting thousands of people in-person or via live-stream. Some of these moments had a special connection and association with Lourdes, such as the Anointing of the Sick, a candlelight procession, the rosary and the gesture of water, giving people the chance to experience something of the great shrine of Lourdes a lot closer to home, in both Scunthorpe and Nottingham.

Travelling on pilgrimage to venerate the relics of St Bernadette right here in our diocese, was an occasion for many special graces such as healing and conversion. Our whole diocesan family, as well as the many individual pilgrims who will visit Scunthorpe and Nottingham, has been be spiritually enriched and renewed by the presence of St Bernadette’s relics in the Diocese.

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‍A look back at the Programme of Events:

Thursday 6th October
St Bernadette’s Church, Scunthorpe

08.00     Arrival of the Relics
09.30     Rosary – the Joyful Mysteries
11.00      Mass (led by the Diocesan Schools)
15.00     Liturgical Celebration of the Anointing of the Sick
16.50     Liturgical Celebration to bid Farewell to the Relics
17.00     Departure of the Relics

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Thursday 6th October
St Barnabas Cathedral, Nottingham

18.30     Arrival of the Relics
19.30     Mass with the Anointing of the Sick
22.00     Torchlight Procession, with the Mysteries of Light

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‍Friday 7th October
St Barnabas Cathedral, Nottingham

09.00    Mass of Thanksgiving (Our Lady of the Rosary)
10.20    Liturgical Celebration to bid Farewell to the Relics
10.30    Departure of the Relics

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