The Pastoral Theme for Lourdes in 2003, was "A People from Every Nation", a theme that reflects the reality of Lourdes. People come from almost every nation on pilgrimage throughout the year. To cater for the needs of these pilgrims the Language Coordinators are there to be the link with the pilgrims of their language. The usual languages used in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes are French, Italian, Spanish, English, German and Dutch.
The pilgrims who come to Lourdes do so for a variety of reasons. Most come in faith to respond to that invitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, "to have people come here in procession". This procession comes from many nations and returns, as well, to many nations. The way people experience pilgrimage can be very different. Some will be helpers or sick pilgrims with the large organised groups like the Catholic Association Pilgrimage, others come with a parish group and there are others who come as individuals for a particular spiritual reason. In addition to this there are those who come as visitors, tourists and the curious. Here in Lourdes we try to allow these latter groups to have an experience of Lourdes that changes them from being mere visitors to becoming active pilgrims. In this way each pilgrim has a unique experience of the Message of Lourdes and its call to renewal in the spirit of the Gospel.
I hope that the articles on the spirit of Lourdes and personal experience of Lourdes that you find on this Catholic Association website will help you to understand the call and the Message of Lourdes so that when you come here, you may truly experience the love of God through your participation in the pilgrimage. As the pilgrimage joins in the other activities of the Sanctuary you will indeed have an experience of the Church, the people of God "from every nation".
Father Liam Griffin
Chaplain to English-speaking pilgrims