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, Angela Page and team) who have kindly allowed us to share their videos and photos. Thanks too to all our other photographers including Matt Betts, Terri Betts, Clive Bullock, Nik Hartley, Andy Hoskins, Andy Joyce and Christopher Page.

Full Programme

Day 7: Friday 28 August 2026

Today, not all of us will be able to be present at the pilgrimage mass, because the pilgrimage is coming to its end, and some are already on their way home. Try today to reflect on what you are now feeling: has this week been a good time for you? What was good about it? Why were you brought here? And what about today’s readings? What is the message that they invite you to take back home? What about that warning from Jesus: “the biggest of you is going to be your servant”? Can you live with that?

So now we are all heading home after a wonderful pilgrimage to Lourdes. On the morning of Day 7, there was a stunning 'Blood Moon' over Lourdes.

All flights, trains and automobiles set off - ready to return next year, DG.

Let us pray...

O Mary, Mother of Jesus, I thank God, through you, for the grace of this pilgrimage and for all that has happened to me whilst I have been here. Pray for my fellow pilgrims and for all who have helped me. Pray that I may have a safe journey, and obtain for me the graces to do at home what you have taught me to do here. Our Lady of Lourdes: Pray for us. Saint Bernadette: Pray for us.

Here's to the next 125 years!

Day 6: Thursday 27 August 2026

If Lourdes has done its bit, and if we have responded appropriately, then one thing that we should be noticing is a powerful impetus towards gratitude. Sometimes, that can feel a bit “over the top”, like David in today’s first reading, dancing energetically before the Lord, and Elziabeth expressing her gratitude for Mary’s coming to visit her. That gratitude is something that the children are teaching us today in their lively dancing and singing. Are you being invited to gratitude today? What are you grateful for about this time in Lourdes?

First we were at the service of the Geste De L’Eau. In this service, we balance reflective communal prayer with the deeply personal nature of the physical ritual, which is rooted in the Ninth Apparition, when Our Lady instructed Bernadette to "Go and drink from the spring and wash yourself in it ".

Afterwards the Pilgrimage attended the Thanksgiving Mass with the Glanfield Children’s Group.

At the end of the Mass, Bishop Paul thanked the Heads of Service and outgoing Chief Handmaid, Lina Al Araj. Anne Hoskins gave Lina her present from the whole CA family.

Matt Betts followed to announce that we have reached our target to raise £125,000 - but must keep going so the CA can be here for future generations. You can donate here.

This was followed by Christopher Page talking about the pilgrimage and the final day and thanking everyone for a fantastic pilgrimage.

After Mass, the Pilgrimage Candle was lit to include all our prayers whilst we journey home.

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?

In the afternoon, those that wanted to, could take part in Reconciliation Service. Glanfield went bowling and had a lovely afternoon.

At 5pm, everyone that could enjoyed a talk by Fr. James Cassidy who discussed Saint Augustine and Pope Leo XIV. His talk can be read here.

It was also a sad day for the CA Pilgrimage as explained by Mgr. Liam.

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’.

Party fun

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 - always a time of prayer and reflection.

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.