A group of 211 people travelled from the Raphoe Diocese to Lourdes last week to experience the shrine of Our Lady.
Fr Stephen Gorman, pilgrimage director, in the early hours of Monday morning, 19th May, led 34 young people from 8 different secondary schools of our diocese on pilgrimage to the shrine at Lourdes where our lady appeared to little Bernadette Soubirous. They were accompanied by 10 youth leaders. In total 211 people travelled from the Raphoe diocese which included 18 assisted pilgrims, 34 youth, 63 pilgrimage staff, 9 priests, and 87 pilgrims.
Fr Gorman, pilgrimage director, said that it was a great honour and privilege for him to return this year, as Raphoe diocesan pilgrimage director, taking assisted pilgrims, who are the “royalty” of Lourdes. His prayer for all the pilgrims was that “they would open their hearts and souls to our lady Mary and bring to Mary all that is going on in their lives.”
Monsignor Kevin Gillespie, diocesan administrator, was spiritual director of the pilgrimage. He was joined by Bishop Emeritus Philip Boyce along with the priests of the diocese: Archdeacon Willie Mc Menamin, Canon Dinny Mc Gettigan, Fr Michael Mc Keever, Fr Johnny Moore, Fr Brendan Ward, and Fr Anthony Hartnett.
The 18 assisted pilgrims were cared for by Professor Ken Mulpeter, Dr Godfrey Aleong, and Dr Kathy Gallagher, and were assisted by a wonderful team of medical staff.
Dominic Carr led 10 youth leaders with the 34 youth from all over the county. They all had a wonderful time, established new friendships, and they were overwhelmed by their unique experience of the beautiful shrine to our lady. They supported the care of the assisted pilgrims with whom they established a great bond.
Everyone takes something home from Lourdes and this is not confined to Lourdes water, candles, or blessed religious objects. Every pilgrim brings a unique life experience to Lourdes and every pilgrim consequently has a unique experience of Lourdes that cannot be put into words. The experience of the eucharistic procession, the torch light procession, mass at the grotto, the water gesture, or just spending some quiet time alone with our lady in front of the shrine in the quietness of night, makes Lourdes a special place to find healing and strength to deal with all the many challenges we face in life.
After closing mass on Thursday, Fr Gorman commended all the youth while they were on pilgrimage, and how they showed great care and compassion to the assisted pilgrims. They were a fantastic group of young men and women and it’s hoped, with the will of God, they will have taken many graces and blessings from their experience. Fr Gorman also gave a heartfelt thanks to all the staff who contributed so much to making it possible to care for the assisted pilgrims and youth members and for making their time on the pilgrimage a very heartwarming experience.
The assisted pilgrims enjoyed a party and a sing song in the Accueil Notre Dame along with the staff on their final night in Lourdes. Monsignor Kevin Gillespie thanked Fr Gorman after the closing mass for all his hard work and dedication to the pilgrimage and for all the time and effort that he put into making it such a wonderful experience for all involved.
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