Based on an article by David Lewis, a Trustee of the Catholic Association,
originally adapted for the website by Johan Bergström-Allen. Updated by Matt Betts.
These notes are written for the benefit of those who may not be familiar with the relationships of the various bits of The Catholic Association and how they work.
The Catholic Association, abbreviated to the CA, has been around in one form or another since 1881 and ran its first pilgrimage to Lourdes in 1901. Its objects are set out in the Memorandum and Articles but its main purpose is to mastermind the CA Annual Pilgrimage to Lourdes, currently incorporating the diocesan pilgrimages of Clifton, East Anglia, Northampton, Portsmouth, Southwark, the British Province of Carmelites, and the Stonyhurst College Lourdes Pilgrimage. Each of these groups is overseen by a Diocesan or Group Director. The entire Pilgrimage is coordinated by the Pilgrimage Director (currently Mgr Bill Saunders from Southwark Archdiocese).