At the end of a busy day of flights, trains and buses, the Diocese of Westminster has descended upon Lourdes for our annual pilgrimage.
After three years affected by covid, this year sees a return to full strength with anywhere from 600 to 1,000 pilgrims making the journey from our diocese, including Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Bishop John Sherrington.
The excitement was tangible, especially among those who have been coming to Lourdes for many years but were kept away by the pandemic.
Among that number is Daniel Yara, a Redcap team leader, who has been coming to Lourdes since 2007. As we made the journey from the airport he shared why Lourdes is such a special place: ‘This is
always the best week of the year and I can’t wait for it to begin. I keep coming back because Lourdes has become integral to my life. It’s a place of joy. I love seeing the joy of other people, and I find such joy in serving! It certainly strengthens my faith every year and provides peace for this week and for when I return to London.
Tomorrow the pilgrimage will officially begin, with stations of the cross in the morning and the opening the Mass in the afternoon. Many people from our diocese are not able to travel for a variety of reasons and we hold all of you in our prayers, and ask that in turn you will pray for us.
