Sunday 22 May 2022 Blessing of Hands Mass at St Chad's Cathedral Expand View the Daily schedule Sunday May 22 A special service was held at St Chad’s Cathedral to celebrate the forthcoming Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes. People representing the various groups which are travelling to Lourdes attend the Blessing of Hands event to have their hands blessed for whatever ministry they may be involved in. The annual Diocesan pilgrimage is returning to Lourdes for the first time in two years led by His Grace, Archbishop Bernard Longley. The pilgrimage will leave on Saturday 28 May and return on Friday 2 June. Its theme this year is ‘Go and Tell the Priests’. Mass was celebrated by Fr Jeremy Howard, Pilgrimage Director, with musical accompaniment by Jo Boyce, director of CJM Music. Mass Booklet Mass Recording Photo Gallery
Sunday 29 May 2022 Lourdes Pilgrimage Day One Expand Welcome to Lourdes Sunday - Opening Mass The beginning of the Lourdes pilgrimage happens at different stages: leaving home, the journey itself and arrival in the town of Lourdes and then the opening liturgy of our pilgrimage. At this Mass, which we celebrate on the Seventh Sunday of the Easter Season, we have marked Jesus’ departure at his Ascension into Heaven and we now pray for the coming of the Holy Spirit of Pentecost. We bring to this Mass the intentions of our pilgrimage: all that we bring as individuals and all that we bring as pilgrims together from the Archdiocese. So much to pray for, so many people that we represent here. Joyfully, we come on pilgrimage to pray, to do penance and to seek God’s blessing on our life’s journey. In a special way this year, we take up the Lourdes theme ‘Go and tell the priests’. This week, let us hold before the Lord the priests of our Archdiocese and ask God to bless the priests we have and to send us more good and holy priests for the Church’s Mission. As we do so, we ask for the Holy Spirit’s ongoing guidance for Pope Francis and the Synod Process and for our Diocesan Plan and Vision. At the same time as our Mass begins today, the newly appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Tarbes and Lourdes is being ordained a Bishop in the Underground Basilica, dedicated to Pope St Pius X, and where we shall go later in the week for the International Mass. We pray for Bishop Jean-Marc Micas and for his ministry here in Lourdes in the years ahead. Opening Mass - Live Streams Watch the recording on YouTube: The Mass was also streamed live on Facebook, you can watch it again from our Facebook page. Facebook Live Mass Recording Opening Mass - Homily, Archbishop Bernard Longley I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they may always see the glory you have given me. Homily Lourdes Opening Mass 2022 Photo Gallery
Monday 30 May 2022 Lourdes Pilgrimage Day Two Expand Monday – Grotto Mass The Grotto is a central focus of Lourdes. It commemorates the place where Our Blessed Lady appeared to Bernadette Soubirous and called her to pray and she said: Go and tell the priests to build a chapel here and that people should come in procession. Fulfilling the desire expressed by Our Lady to Bernadette, we have come in prayer to this Holy Place so associated with prayer and healing. By custom, we gather here for this Mass with other English speaking pilgrims who are in Lourdes at this time. Watch again: Grotto Mass - Homily, Bishop Stephen Wright Homily Grotto Mass 2022 Grotto Mass and Diocesan Picture - Photo Gallery Monday – Holy Hour and Anointing of the Sick This special liturgy takes place in the Rosary Basilica, at the heart of the domain area of the Lourdes shrine. We adore Christ present in the Blessed Sacrament and we witness the healing power of Christ in the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick for those among us who seek the Lord’s presence at a time of illness or enduring sickness. As this year we focus on the instruction ‘Go and tell the priests’, our Holy Hour will concentrate on the ministry of priests especially in respect of the sacraments of healing. We pray for our priests and we recognise their anointing for service at Ordination and their privilege to be agents of God’s healing through the Sacrament of the Sick. In moments of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, we enter into the timelessness and beauty of God’s presence to ask for assistance for our earthly pilgrim journey. Holy Hour and Anointing of the Sick - Homily, Fr Chris Yule Anointing Liturgy - Homily Photo Gallery - Holy Hour Photo Gallery - Marian Procession
Tuesday 31 May 2022 Lourdes Pilgrimage Day Three Expand Tuesday – Mass celebrating the work of the Lourdes Hospitalite and Young People on our Pilgrimage On this Feast of the Visitation of our Lady to Elizabeth, our Mass gives thanks for all those who care for sick pilgrims in Lourdes, and for the wider corporal works of mercy. The Lourdes Hospitalite is a work that takes place throughout the year and reflects generous service for sick pilgrims. We also recognise the strong tradition over many years of those who have given of their time freely as healthcare workers on our pilgrimages and the many volunteers who have accompanied sick pilgrims. Our Diocesan pilgrimage has also nurtured many young lives and we pray for the work of the Kenelm Youth Trust, for our schools and chaplaincies who are with us on Pilgrimage this year and for all young people in the Church: that we may recognise the youthfulness of our calling and see in our young pilgrims a sign of hope for the Church’s present and future. Photo Gallery - Hospitalite and Stations of the Cross
Wednesday 1 June 2022 Lourdes Pilgrimage Day Four Expand Wednesday – International Mass Archdiocese of Birmingham was privileged to lead today's International Mass - celebrated by Bishop David Evans. International Mass Homily - Bishop David Evans International Mass - Homily Photo Gallery - International Mass Photo Gallery - Lac de Lourdes: Accueil Pilgrims and BGN Photo Gallery - Youth Vigil
Thursday 2 June 2022 Lourdes Pilgrimage Day Five Expand Thursday morning – Reconciliation Service Having lived these days of pilgrimage, perhaps time to settle into the rhythms of prayer, to witness the action of God at work in so many lives around us, we are invited to come before the Lord in honesty as we are offered the gift of forgiveness. It is not easy for anybody to go to Confession, but in this act of God’s mercy, we know that we are not alone. The priests and bishops who are with us on pilgrimage (who also know what it is to go to Confession) are instruments of God’s mercy and wish to support you in coming before the Lord and leaving our burdens with the Lord, hearing the words ‘Through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace and I absolve you from your sins…’ If you trust in God’s goodness, and want to get the most out of what this pilgrimage week offers, be confident and be encouraged to go to Confession and celebrate the mercy of God as it is offered to you. Photo gallery – Reconciliation Service Thursday afternoon – Closing Mass Already, we have reached the conclusion of our pilgrimage and we reflect on all that we have experienced through the grace of God and with our fellow pilgrims this week. The Great Feast of Pentecost is ahead of us as we return home this weekend. As with any experience of ‘going away’ on pilgrimage or retreat, the returning home is as important: taking back to the ordinary routines of our life all that we have known here and transforming some of the situations that we might find challenging. It is quite normal that something of ourselves will remain here in Lourdes and something of Lourdes will return home with us. Thank God for his many blessings and for all that you have received on this pilgrimage. Come Holy Spirit! Closing Mass homily- Bishop David McGough Homily - Closing Mass Photo Gallery - Closing Mass