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Outward
Journey
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Lourdes is a town in the
foothills of the Pyrenees,
the range of mountains that
forms the natural border
between France and Spain. It
is 580 miles south of
London. In fact, if it were
possible to travel from St
George's Cathedral down the
exact longitudinal
coordinate for 580 miles,
you would land 2½
miles west of the grotto -
an hour's walk!
150 years ago, Lourdes had
no more than 4,000
inhabitants and yet last
year 8
million pilgrims visited
during the Jubilee Year. Pope
Benedict XVI made his own
pilgrimage from 13th until
15th September 2008.
Our Youth Team with the
Southwark Catholic Youth
Service left yesterday by
coach from the Cathedral and
the rest of Southwark's 130 pilgrims
travelled out today. Those
who took the plane landed at
the small local airport - Tarbes
Ossun Lourdes - about thirty
minutes drive to Lourdes.
The more adventurous took
the train: Eurostar to Paris
(about 2½
hours), then south across
Paris from the Gare du Nord
to Gare Montparnasse to
catch the high-speed TGV for
the 500 miles to Lourdes
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Prayer Intention for
Saturday:
For Archbishop Kevin, Bishop John,
Bishop Pat and Bishop Paul: that the Lord will bless them and
guide them in their ministry as Bishops in our Diocese of
Southwark. We also remember in prayer Archbishop Michael, Bishop
Howard and Bishop John. |
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PILGRIMAGE
BRIEFING
This morning,
Deacon Michael
met with all the
Southwark
pilgrims at the
Hotel Pardoue for a
pilgrimage
briefing with
the opportunity
to ask any
questions. He
stressed that
the pilgrimage
programme was
designed for the
benefit of all
pilgrims, but
that we should
not consider
every event
obligatory.
Pilgrims were
free to choose
what they felt
they could do
and wished to
do. Bishop
Patrick spoke
about the
difference
between being a
tourist and a
pilgrim.
GATHERING MASS
This afternoon
at 3:30pm in St
Bernadette's
Church, Bishop
Patrick was
principal
celebrant at the Gathering
Mass - the
opening
celebration of
the pilgrimage
for all dioceses
and groups that
travel with the
Catholic
Association. In
his homily,
Bishop Patrick
said that for
Bernadette
Lourdes was a
place of prayer,
peace and
penance - and so
it is for us. The
Mass celebrated
was that of 'Our Lady, Queen
and Mother'.
Read Bishop
Patrick's homily
at the Gathering
Mass
After the homily
the helpers'
hands were
blessed with oil
and towards the
end of the Mass
Bishop Crispian
Hollis, Bishop
of Portsmouth,
presented the
Hospitalité
insignia.
TORCHLIGHT
PROCESSION
This evening the
Torchlight
Procession was
led by the
Catholic
Association.
Bishop Paul, the
President of the
Catholic
Association
Trust, intoned
the Creed at the
beginning of the
Torchlight
Procession,
followed the
statue of Our
Lady, said the
concluding
prayer and gave
the blessing.
The photos show
scenes before
the procession.
TOUR OF LOURDES
There was also
the opportunity
to join a
walking tour of
Lourdes and to
visit the Cachot,
where Bernadette
and her family
lived at the
time of the
apparitions.
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Prayer Intention for
Sunday:
For all Priests and Deacons in the
Southwark Diocese: that, called to serve the communities they
are sent to as Ministers of Word and Sacrament, they will be
faithful witnesses to the Gospel. We also remember all the
Religious Communities of Priests, Brothers and Sisters and ask
that their works may be blessed. |
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INTERNATIONAL
MASS
We gathered in
the St Pius X
Basilica at 9:30
am this morning
for the
International
Mass. We were
among 25,000
pilgrims that
filled the
Basilica, which
was consecrated
by Cardinal
Angelo Roncalli
(later Pope John
XXIII) on 25th.
March 1958 to
celebrate the
centenary of the
apparitions.
This rather
austere concrete
Basilica spreads
out underground
between St.
Michael's Gate
and the Statue
of the Crowned
Virgin. It is in
the form of a
vast upturned
ship - 191m long
and 61m wide.
At the Mass, we
felt a strong
sense of unity
with the
universal
Church. After
Mass, we
processed to the
Grotto for the
Angelus.
BLESSED
SACRAMENT
PROCESSION
We had the
opportunity to
join the Blessed
Sacrament
Procession at
5:00 pm. Here
are some photos
taken before the
procession.
Father Wilfrid
McGreal OCarm
(left) gave live
broadcasts from
Lourdes
for Radio Kent
on Saturday and
Sunday mornings
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Prayer Intention for Monday:
For the Parishes of the Southwark Diocese: that they may be places of welcome, places of love and service, places of joy and hope. |
PILGRIMAGE MASS AT THE GROTTO
An early start this morning for our Pilgrimage Mass at the Grotto. We assembled at the statue of the Crowned Virgin at 8:00 am and made our way together to the Grotto for Mass at 8:30 am. Our Mass celebrated the 'Immaculate Conception' and the principal celebrant was Bishop Michael Evans, Bishop of East Anglia. The homily was given by Bishop John Fleming, Bishop of Killala - his diocese is on the north-west coast of Ireland and is on pilgrimage to Lourdes this week.
Read Bishop John's homily at the Grotto Mass
PILGRIMAGE PHOTOGRAPH
10:00 am in front of the Basilica
Our photos feature the young people who took part in the Catholic Association pilgrimage - including the Southwark Youth Team with the Southwark Catholic Youth Service, some of whom were from the John Fisher School, Purley, the Richard Challoner School, New Malden, St. Philomena's School, Carshalton, and St Joseph's College, Beulah Hill.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
This afternoon at 2:15 pm Father Wilfrid McGreal OCarm led us in the Stations of the Cross. We climbed the 'high Stations' on Calvary, accompanying the Lord on his way to his crucifixion and celebrating his resurrection.
Photos of the Calvary Stations
The empty tomb
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Prayer
Intention
for Tuesday:
For the Young People of our Diocese: that they may be
open to the Lord's call in their lives; that they may
know that they are loved and cared for. |
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MASS IN
THE
UPPER
BASILICA
This
morning
our Mass
was
offered
with the
Portsmouth
pilgrims
and
members
of the
Catholic
Association
at 8:30
am in
the
Upper
Basilica
- the
Basilica
of the
Immaculate
Conception.
(Photo:
Br
Lawrence
OP)
EXCURSION
DAY
Many of
us
joined
the
coach
excursion
to
Gavarnie.
The
thirty
mile
journey
south
climbed
1000
metres
along
roads
with
hairpin
bends
and
steep
cliffs
rising
and
falling
at their
edges.
The
journey
lasted
about an
hour and
a half.
On
arrival,
we were
rewarded
with the
magnificent
views of
the
Cirque
de
Gavarnie
- a
majestic
glacial
amphitheatre
rising
to over
3000
metres.
The
village
of
Gavarnie
was the
last
village
in
France
in the
Middle
Ages on
the old
pilgrim
route to
the
shrine
of St
James at
Santiago
de
Compostela
in
Spain. A
coffee
or beer
at one
of the
cafes, a
browse
round
the
souvenir
shops
and a
walk
along
the
banks of
the
stream
... and
donkey
rides
for the
children.
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Prayer
Intention
for
Wednesday:
For the Agencies and Commissions of our Diocese; for all
involved in the work of Catechesis and Evangelisation,
Justice and Peace, Christian Unity, Liturgy and Worship,
Schools and Education, Pastoral Care for the sick, the
homeless, vulnerable adults and children; for those
involved with Young People: that the Lord will bless
their work and all who come into their care. |
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PENITENTIAL
SERVICE
This
morning
at
10:00
am
we
attended
our
Penitential
Service
in
St
Bernadette's
Church.
Fr
John
Twist
SJ
presided
and
gave
the
homily.
We
had
the
opportunity
of
individual
Confession.
STATIONS
OF
THE
CROSS
FOR
THE
SICK
This
afternoon
at
2:00
pm
Fr
Simon
Blakesley
led
the
Stations
of
the
Cross
for
our
sick
pilgrims.
We
used
the
new
Stations
that
have
been
installed
on
the
level
ground
of
the Prairie,
which
is
on
the
opposite
side
of
the
River
Gave
to
the
Grotto.
They
were
carved
in white Carrera
marble
by
the
sculptor
Maria
de
Faykod
over
a
period
of five
years
and
opened
for
the
150th
Anniversary
of
the
Apparitions
last
year.
Photos
of
the
Prairie
Stations
PILGRIMAGE
MASS
At
4:00
pm
we
gathered
in
St
Bernadette's
Church
for
Mass.
The
Mass
was
prepared
by
the
children.
Bishop
Peter
Doyle,
Bishop
of
Northampton,
was
the
principal
celebrant
and
Mgr
Tony
Rogers
gave
the
homily.
Some
of
our
photos
show
our
children
acting
out
the
Gospel.
TORCHLIGHT
PROCESSION
This
evening
the
Southwark
pilgrims
joined
the
Torchlight
Procession
with
Bishop
Patrick.
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Prayer
Intention
for
Thursday:
For Vocations to the Priesthood and the Diaconate for
the Southwark Diocese; for Vocations to the Religious
and Consecrated Life; for those called to the Vocation
of Marriage; for those called to the single life: that
they will respond to the Lord's invitation and feel his
presence in their lives. |
| MASS WITH THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK This morning at 10:30 am we celebrated our Mass and Anointing of the Sick at St Bernadette's Church. Bishop Declan Lang, Bishop of Clifton, was principal celebrant and gave the homily. Assisting him with the anointing were Bishop Peter Doyle, Bishop Michael Evans, Bishop Paul Hendricks, Bishop Crispian Hollis, Bishop Patrick Lynch sscc, Father John Twist SJ, Father Wilfrid McGreal OCarm and Father Simon Blakesley.
It was a very moving celebration, filled with the hope of God's healing grace.
Photos taken before and during the Mass:
PASSAGE OF SICK THROUGH THE GROTTO
Those of us who are sick or disabled - assisted pilgrims - met at the Statue of the Crowned Virgin at 1:15 pm and went to the Grotto. We passed behind the altar, where we saw the spring of water in which Our Lady asked St Bernadette to wash, and then we touched the rock underneath the niche where Our Lady appeared. A simple act of devotion, but one which, perhaps more than any other, unites us to the heart of this holy place and invokes its many blessings.
We took with us a large candle, which was placed near to the Grotto. A large candle, but a small thanksgiving for all the graces of our pilgrimage.
SERVICE OF THANKSGIVING
Our pilgrimage is drawing to its close and Bishop Patrick, our pilgrimage leader, led us in a short Service of Thanksgiving at the Esplanade Altar at 3:00 pm this afternoon.
OUR FINAL EVENING ...
This evening, Bishop Patrick and Deacon Michael hosted a social gathering for the Southwark pilgrims in the bar of the Hotel Pardoue.
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Prayer Intention for Friday:
That our Diocese may reach out to all and be a beacon of
God's love in the world. |
| SENDING FORTH MASS We gathered in St Bernadette's Church at 8:00 am this morning for our Sending Forth Mass. Bishop Crispian Hollis, Bishop of Portsmouth, was principal celebrant and gave the homily. At the end of our Mass, Bishop Patrick Lynch sscc, who has led our pilgrimage throughout the week, led the Sending Forth Prayer and farewell.
We said farewell to the friends we has made from other dioceses and groups that had travelled with the Catholic Association and those from Southwark who were not travelling home with us. For most of us, the souvenirs of our pilgrimage were simple - a bottle of water from the Lourdes spring, a rosary that had touched the rock at the Grotto ... and the memories of a happy and grace-filled week.
And a final glimpse of the Grotto ...
HOMEWARD BOUND
At Tarbes Ossun Lourdes Airport ... 
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Southwark's
Diocesan
Pilgrimage
to
Lourdes
2009
Our Lady
of
Lourdes
Pray for
us
Saint
Bernadette
Pray for
us
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