Pilgrims and well-wishers joined a Blessing of Hands Mass at St Chad’s Cathedral in preparation for the Diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes, commencing next week, Monday 27 May.

This year the Mass took place on the Solemnity of Pentecost and was celebrated by Bishop David Evans, with the Homily given by Fr Jeremy Howard, pilgrimage director.

The Mass takes place to bless the hands of pilgrims for their service and ministry in Lourdes as hundreds will join the annual Diocesan pilgrimage next week.

The pastoral theme this year is “…and that people should come in procession.”, completing the three linked themes from Our Lady’s 

instruction to Bernadette to go tell the priests (2022), to build a chapel here (2023) and now finally in 2024, to come here in procession.

The processions at Lourdes are always some of the spiritual highlights of any pilgrimage and taking part in them with so many other pilgrims reinforces us in our faith as we unite together with one purpose.

We thank God for the profound commitment of our volunteers and pilgrims over the years and pray that we may inspire many others to come in procession / pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes to treasure its holiness and grace.

You can find the Lourdes Programme and more information on our Lourdes page.

Lourdes Pilgrimage

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