WE KNOW IT IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE TO ATTEND THE PHYSICAL PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES. ON THIS PAGE, WE WILL ADD VIDEOS, PRAYERS, HYMNS AND MUCH MORE SO PILGRIMS NOT IN LOURDES CAN FEEL PART OF THE PILGRIMAGE VIRTUALLY THIS YEAR. WE WILL KEEP YOU ALL IN OUR PRAYERS - PLEASE DO THE SAME FOR US. THANK YOU.
With thanks to Clifton Diocese (Phil Gibbons and team) who have kindly allowed us to share their videos and photos. Thanks too to all our other photographers including Matt Betts and Clive Bullock.
Day 5: Wednesday 26 August 2026
Today, and perhaps this is always the case in Lourdes, we have an awful lot going on. We have our precious and privileged mass in the Grotto, where the boy Samuel is being taught how to pray, and that he must say: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening”. In the gospel we hear that astonishing prayer from the dying thief: “Jesus remember me, when you come into your kingdom”. Then later on we shall have our great gift of the Service of Reconciliation, and the opportunity for the sacrament of confession. What does all this say to you today?
Day 4: Tuesday 25 August 2026
One of the things that we learn at Lourdes is that God is very close to us, whatever our situation; and that this is especially true if things seem really bad. So in today’s first reading, the prophet Elijah is utterly fed up and just wants to die (have you ever felt like that?); and God feeds him and sends him happily on his way. Then in the gospel Jesus is told about Simon’s mother-in-law, who has a fever, which in a world without antibiotics is a threat to life, actually dares to touch her and effortlessly “lifts her up”. Have you seen this happen in Lourdes?
We went off to the City of Saint Peter to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of the Catholic Association coming to Lourdes. Bishop Paul Hendricks celebrated the Mass.
After Mass, we enjoyed lunch together in the grounds of the City of the Saint Peter with music and a ‘happy birthday’.
Each pilgrim also received a special commemorative badge.
We were then able to enjoy a talk by Matt Betts on the history of the CA, followed by an interesting discussion on experiences of Lourdes and what it might be like in another 125 years to come here.
Later, the Catholic Association led the Torchlight.
Day 3: Monday 24 August 2026
Today the Church celebrates the feast of Bartholomew, very likely the same as Nathanael, who is mentioned in today’s gospel. We know almost nothing about him, except that according to that gospel he was one of the earliest to be called to follow Jesus as a disciple. Somehow Jesus recognises him and says, “here is an Israelite in whom there is no guile”. And, we do not quite know why, Nathanael is overwhelmed, the more so when Jesus explains that “before Philip saw you, I saw you under the fig-tree”. We have no idea what this means, but something has gone home, and Philip is utterly convinced that Jesus is the real thing, for he mutters in astonishment: “Rabbi – you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel”. We simply stand back and applaud; for it is clearly a correct diagnosis of who Jesus is. We hardly understand what he is saying, but he has got there and has recognised who he is talking to. We might, each of us, while we are here in Lourdes this week, look out for those occasional moments of recognition, and discover what is really going on in life. That can happen in Lourdes.
Diocese and Groups had their own masses throughout Lourdes.
Day 2: Sunday 23 August 2026
Today, as on every Sunday, we celebrate with the entire Church that astonishingly good news of the Resurrection. Now sometimes English-speaking pilgrims decide they do not like the International Mass; but I should like to suggest that you attend it, because that mass carries the powerful message of the Church as belonging to all the world: that is what “Catholic” means. And so the message of today’s readings has the prophet Ezekiel told (as perhaps we are being told today) that God has “made you a watchman for the house of Israel”. Then the second reading has the Romans being told that the only thing that really matters is that they should be loving. And that is not a bad programme for us who have so recently arrived in Lourdes. Then the gospel underlines that message: “where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there in their midst”. So, I suggest that you journey prayerfully through that mass, with all your fellow-pilgrims, of all nationalities, today and for the rest of this week, always remembering that the Lord is there in our midst.
Today it was International Mass for many of the Pilgrimage.
The Glanfield Children’s Group went up the mountains to have time together and celebrate Mass.
The Pilgrimage then joined the Blessed Sacrament Procession.
Day 1: Saturday 22 August 2026
Well done – you have made it to Lourdes! And if you have never been here before, you may be wondering what it is all about. Well – you will soon find out. Happily enough, today celebrates the Queenship of Our Lady, just a week after the Assumption. And what do the readings tell us? That God is in charge, and that therefore “the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light”. Clearly, Our Lady has something to do with that; and that becomes very clear as we listen to today’s gospel, the story of the Annunciation to Mary: the main point is that God has a plan, and that Mary “has found favour with God”, as part of that plan. But that will only work if Mary agrees, so we listen with immense joy as Mary says, “Look! I am the Lord’s slave-girl”. What is God’s plan for you during this time in Lourdes? And how are you going to respond?
Today we enjoyed the Opening Mass.
