Lourdes – A place of love, joy and hope

Deacon Michael Kennedy with the Southwark banner

Towards the end of August this year, over 170 pilgrims from across the Archdiocese of Southwark led by Archbishop Kevin McDonald gathered in Lourdes for the Annual Diocesan Pilgrimage. We joined with several other Dioceses as part of the Catholic Association. It was a great joy this year to welcome our first diocesan group of young helpers under the care of Frs. Geoff Munnery and Brendan McQuillan. We hope to see this group grow and develop in future years.

The beginning of the pilgrimage creates a feeling of excitement and expectancy as to what the week will bring. Some pilgrims are visiting Lourdes for the first time, unsure of what they will find and how they will feel; others are returning to greet a place which has become an old friend, to revisit those parts of the pilgrimage and the town which are now such a part of their lives. Their joy at being able to introduce the new pilgrims to what for them is a very special place, a very special event in their year is clearly evident. Once again they are able to spend time in this holy place, drawing close to the Lord through the gentle action of his mother, Mary.

Lourdes now greets over 6 million pilgrims each year with visitors arriving from all parts of the world, and this in itself is a great experience of the Church universal. Each day crowds of people begin their pilgrimage activities. In many other places such crowds would tend to be off putting, but in Lourdes they seem to be somehow different, adding yet another dimension to this wonderful place. From the moment of arrival at the hotels (the Hotel Solitude was our base), a pilgrim becomes caught up in the experience that is Lourdes. And so it was for our pilgrims.

Our opening Mass in the Basilica of Pius X celebrated by Bishop Peter Doyle (Northampton) on the Saturday afternoon brought together the young and old, the sick and handicapped, and those who look after them and care for them. This Mass reminds us very much that as pilgrims we both give and receive from one another during our time together. It reminds us that here in Lourdes the values of the world are reversed – this is a place of caring and kindness, a place of love and joy, but above all a place of service and prayer. The pilgrimage has begun!

Sunday brings the International Mass – a wonderful celebration in the underground basilica of Pius X, where over 20,000 pilgrims join together to celebrate Mass in 6 languages. This and the Blessed Sacrament and Torchlight Rosary processions seem to proclaim the note of celebration which is very much at the heart of Lourdes. But Lourdes is not only about great celebrations – it is also about those quiet times; times of prayer and reflection. Lourdes is a place that unlocks the doors of our hearts, sometimes doors that we did not even realise were there. No pilgrim seems to leave Lourdes untouched – everyone is changed in some way. It may be that we celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation whilst there, or that we go and spend time with the Lord in the Tent of Adoration present with us in the Blessed Sacrament, or that we find a quiet place under the trees to enjoy the warmth of the afternoon and think and pray (maybe even fall asleep).

On Monday morning we celebrated Mass in the Grotto, Archbishop Kevin being the principal celebrant. In the afternoon there were the Stations of the Cross. On the Tuesday after early Masses for the different dioceses, many pilgrims take to the hills on the various excursions on offer.

Our Mass with the Anointing of the Sick and our Penitential Service are always moving and very special moments in the pilgrimage. They once again unlock so many hearts, bringing the spring of life – restoration, joy, healing, peace and hope to those receiving the sacrament and to all those surrounding them with prayer.

However celebrations are not confined just to the Shrine. In the town, in the cafes, bars and hotels, pilgrims are also celebrating in a different way. Often over a coffee or a beer old friends catch up, new friends are made; the giving and receiving goes on and on!

Whether it is our first visit or one of many, we never leave Lourdes without being touched and changed in some way.

Our pilgrimage may be over for this year – but there is always next year to look forward to.

The pilgrimage for 2007 is:

Friday 24^th August until Friday 31^st August.

Further details will be available from January 2007. Please contact Fr David Hutton at lourdes.southwark@btinternet.com
or telephone 020 8462 6745

Any young person who is 17+ who would like to join the young helpers group should contact:

Fr Geoff Munnery at the Catholic Youth Service - geoff@scys.org.uk

or Fr Brendan McQuillan - bmcquillan@suttonlea.org

We hope you are able to join us.

2008 is the 150^th Anniversary of the Apparitions

More photos of the Pilgrimage