Lourdes Centenary: Passing on the Flame of Faith
Thursday 8th August 2024This summer, hundreds of pilgrims from across our diocese travelled to Lourdes to mark the centenary of this much-loved pilgrimage.
Over the past 100 years, our diocesan pilgrimage has become a vital part of faith life in our parishes and schools, as well as a cherished tradition that has been passed down through generations of families.
As our diocese prepared to walk in the footsteps of thousands of pilgrims of decades before, pilgrimage director for the Salford Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes, Fr Gerard Fieldhouse-Byrne, urged pilgrims to hear and embrace Our Lady’s invitation: to “open our hearts and minds to her son, Jesus Christ, Our Saviour.”
Throughout the week, pilgrims took part in a range of prayerful activities, from daily Mass and liturgies, powerful processions, opportunities for reconciliation, private prayer, and more.
But throughout the liturgies, a common thread of love and service united all pilgrims as they came together in shared faith and friendship. Volunteers and aspiring volunteers epitomised the joy and hope that can be found in our Christian call to love and to serve, as each and every pilgrim played a vital role in helping one another to encounter and experience the unique blessings and charisms of this most remarkable place of pilgrimage; teaching one another in this beautiful tradition and passing on the flame of faith to a new generation.
Underpinning all of this was the much-felt presence of Our Lady, constantly bringing – as promised – each pilgrim ever closer to her son.
As our pilgrimage drew to a close, Bishop John reminded pilgrims not to forget this most powerful presence of Our Lady in our lives on our return home.
He said: “One of our main focuses this centenary pilgrimage has been the idea that Our Lady came to listen to us, so that she can get to know us well, and be an intercessor for us to Her Son, and I think that’s such an important of pilgrimage to Lourdes.
“And so, I encourage you: Follow in the footsteps of St Bernadette and talk to Our Lady, let her listen to you, let her get to know you, so she can draw you ever closer to her son, our Saviour.”
Tagged | Bishop John | Diocese | Lourdes | Pilgrimage
