The Association of British Lourdes Pilgrimage Hospitalités (ABLPH)

There are, of course, many groups that go to Lourdes from Britain. Many of them, particularly the Diocesan pilgrimages, were once part of the Catholic Association. Others have their own distinctive history.

To share good practice, experience and fellowship between pilgrimage Hospitalités, the Association of British Lourdes Pilgrimage Hospitalités (ABLPH) was formed. This meets once a year to discuss issues of mutual concern, to encourage communication, and to meet with representatives of the Sanctuaries and the Hospitalité Notre-Dame de Lourdes.

The ABLPH usually meets over a weekend in February, and the Catholic Association is invited to send two resident delegates, nominated by the Hospitalité President. In 2003 the CA was represented by Sadie Vile and Johan Bergström-Allen, who gave a presentation on our understanding of pilgrimage and Hospitalité (reproduced below).

The Chair of the Association is John Sexton from the Arundel and Brighton Pilgrimage Hospitalité.

We are honoured that our own Sadie Vile is the Vice-Chair.

The Secretary is Mike Crockett.

The Constitution of the ABLPH can be viewed in PDF format.

Articles from the ABLPH conferences (in PDF format)

2003: Pilgrimage and Hospitalité by Johan Bergström-Allen, Catholic Association Pilgrimage

Printable format