Volunteering in Lourdes since 1901

The Catholic Association (“CA”) is a UK-based charity that has been running pilgrimages to Lourdes, France for over a hundred years. The CA is comprised of the diocesan pilgrimages of Clifton, East Anglia, Northampton, Southwark and Stonyhurst College, as well as the Glanfield Children’s Group. 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 every year.

Lourdes is a town in the French region of Bigorre, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, where in 1858 the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, appeared eighteen times to a simple teenage girl, Bernadette Soubirous, in order to draw people into a deeper relationship with her son Jesus. Nearly 150 years later, the Lourdes shrine attracts over six million visitors a year, which includes our pilgrimage of approximately a thousand people. We spend a week in Lourdes every August. Whether we are assisted pilgrims or helpers, young or old, clergy or laity, we are all in need of spiritual renewal, and our journey to Lourdes helps our pilgrims to refocus in their life’s journey to God.

As Chairman of the Catholic Association, I am immensely proud of our work and encourage all newcomers interested in joining us, whether as individuals or groups, to reach out to a member of our team. We hope that the information we have compiled in this website, including the various resources, is helpful to you.  

Rev Paul Hendricks, Chairman
Auxiliary Bishop of Southwark

Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees manage and oversee the Catholic Association’s activities and guard its funds.  

Heads of Service

The Trustees appoint four Heads of Service, each of whom hold a four-year term and oversee the core pillars of service.

Hospitalité Council

The Catholic Association Hospitalité of Our Lady of Lourdes is responsible for coordinating the welcome and care of all pilgrims in Lourdes, with a particular focus on the assisted pilgrims who travel with us.

Christopher Page
Chair of Trustees

Bishop Paul Hendricks
President

Dr Sadie Vile
Trustee

Fr Piotr Wygnanski
Trustee

Anne Hoskins
Trustee

Dr Steve Gill
Treasurer

Brendan Roche
Chief Brancardier

Lina Alaraj
Chief Handmaid

Bishop Peter Doyle
Northampton (Patron)

Mark Smith
President

Dr Nuala Mellows
Chief Medical Officer

Tina Quin
Chief Nurse

Fr Nick King SJ
Chaplain

Andy Joyce & Sarah Sparrow

Young Helpers Group Leaders

Committees

Both the Care Committee and the Programming & Spirituality Committee form a core part of the organisational side of the CA pilgrimage.

Dioceses & Groups

The CA Pilgrimage is made up of the diocesan pilgrimages of Clifton, East Anglia, Northampton, Southwark, as well as the Stonyhurst College Lourdes Pilgrimage and the Glanfield Children’s Group, with each of these groups being overseen by a Diocesan or Group Director.

Pilgrimage Executive Group (P.E.G.):

Simon Gallop
Trustee - Chair of P.E.G

Brendan Roche
Chief Brancardier

Lina Al-Araj
Chief Handmaid

Tina Quinn
Chief Nurse

Dr Nuala Mellows
Chief Medical Officer

Fr Simon Blakesley
Pilgrimage Director

Fr Eugene Campbell
Director, Clifton

Deacon Huw Williams
Director, East Anglia

Neil Roseman
Director, Northampton