In this most Marian of weeks we celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on Monday 9th, Our Lady of Loreto on Tuesday 10th and Our Lady of Guadalupe on Thursday 12th.

Advent is a time of hope and of affirmation of our faith in the future. Whatever the trials and tribulations in our own lives and in the world around us, we are called to be hopeful and to trust in God. We have no better example to follow than Mary. As a young girl, she said ‘Yes’. Yes to trusting in God’s plan, yes to carrying and bringing into the world a baby, yes to becoming the Mother of God, and so Mother of the Church, and yes to service and sacrifice. She didn’t know exactly what the future held but she pondered things in her heart and she trusted in God. Mary extended an invitation to prayer and service to another young girl, Bernadette, who also said yes. On pilgrimage to Lourdes, we too can say ‘yes’ and take the opportunity to pray together and serve one another in a unique way.

Today is #GivingTuesday

#Giving Tuesday is a celebration of charities - a time of seeking ways to give back, pay it forward, and support the causes we care about. 

The Catholic Association is a UK charity that has been running pilgrimages to Lourdes, France for over a hundred years. Our vast community of volunteers is made up of a diverse range of age groups and backgrounds, all of whom share a commitment to returning to service in Lourdes with the CA every year.

Today, you can:

• Donate towards our work

• Save the dates for our next pilgrimage: 22 - 29 August 2025. All are welcome.

• Find out about other ways you can donate to our charity.

• Pray for the Catholic Association, its pilgrimage to Lourdes and for the people that make the CA work. 

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT.

The latest edition of the CA Hospitalité newsletter is now available.

As the days grow darker and we inch towards the longest day of the year, it can be hard to remember the heat and sunlight of Lourdes in August. We hope the enclosed articles and photos bring to mind your own memories. The CA is going through a period of growth and change - and so is the Hospitalité Newsletter! Don’t worry, same information, just a refreshed look and hopefully easier to follow layouts.

Read now

Please pray for the soul of Helen Carroll, who died on 21 September 2024, the Feast of Saint Matthew.

Helen will be truly missed by all who knew her. She was an integral part of the Catholic Association Pilgrimage to Lourdes AND the Hospitalité Notre Dame de Lourdes for many years (and even the Leeds Diocese Pilgrimage too).

Here is just a small list of the roles she took on: HNDL councillor (Saint-Frai), formator, Chief Handmaid of the Leeds Diocesan Pilgrimage, Deputy Chief Handmaid of the Catholic Association Pilgrimage, Trustee of the Catholic Association, Librarian of the CA Hospitalité library, Candle holder for the CA Pilgrimage, and...a dear friend to so many people.

We will miss you Helen.

May she Rest in Peace and rise in glory.

The Grotto in Lourdes flooded this morning. Please join us in prayer for any pilgrims in Lourdes, plus all those who live and work in Lourdes. Our Lady of Lourdes, pray that the flood water will recede very soon.

Update: The floods soon receded back to the river and any damage was quickly sorted.

Thanks to Tangney Tours who shared this image on their social media.

WE KNOW IT IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE TO ATTEND THE PHYSICAL PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES. THEREFORE WE HAVE CREATED A NEW PAGE WHERE WILL ADD VIDEOS, PRAYERS, HYMNS AND MUCH MORE SO EVERYONE NOT IN LOURDES CAN FEEL PART OF THE PILGRIMAGE THIS YEAR. PLEASE KEEP US IN YOUR PRAYERS.

• View here