2,000 leave Dublin on country’s largest Pilgrimage to Lourdes
2,000 pilgrims and sick left Dublin this morning (Friday 7th) in what has now become one of the largest Pilgrimage’s in Ireland. The theme of this year’s pilgrimage is “With Bernadette praying the Rosary”.
The annual Archdiocese of Dublin pilgrimage to Lourdes is led by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, with priests of the Diocese, and hundreds of volunteers.
Today 640 volunteers, 56 nurses, 8 doctors and 180 sick people are on their way to Lourdes on two flights from Dublin airport. 153 young people from 21 secondary schools across the Diocese are travelling as helpers to assist in the care of the sick pilgrims. Representatives from Crosscare, the social care agency of the Archdiocese will once again travel to Lourdes along with representatives from the Diocesan Office for Evangelisation and Ecumenism. Music for the pilgrimage will be led by the Dublin Lourdes choir.
This is the third year that all pilgrims travelling to Lourdes are invited to pray with Bernadette. The rosary is a simple, accessible prayer and it is believed that Bernadette prayed this every day. For each of the four days of the pilgrimage, the four sets of mysteries of the Rosary will guide the pilgrimage.
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said it was his hope that the days of the Pilgrimage would be days of rest and healing, of consolation and renewal in faith. He said they prayed that the sick would “experience in these days the healing power of Jesus, in the Mass, in the Sacrament of the Sick and in our prayer together.”
Archbishop Martin said also “we pray for those in our times who have difficulty in believing, especially many young people. May their sincere searching for meaning and truth and hope in their lives be a gate opening their hearts to the mystery of God.”
Pilgrimage director Fr John Gilligan acknowledged the hard work of all those involved in preparations for the pilgrimage over the past 12 months and in particular, those who journey and assist with the large numbers of sick people. He said, “Each year I am heartened by the huge level of commitment given by so many who strive to make the pilgrimage a success. Lourdes remains a special place of Pilgrimage for the Diocese. All who participate are humbled and enlightened by the spirit of solidarity of the pilgrimage.”
All Dublin parishes will remember the Pilgrims in Masses in the Archdiocese this Sunday.
Ends
Note: Updates and homilies from the pilgrimage will be available on www.dublindiocese.ie. And www.lourdes.dublindiocese.ie
- Photographs of the departure of pilgrims from Dublin airport this morning are available from John Mc Elroy Photos at 087 2416985.
- Updates from the pilgrimage will be available throughout the week on www.dublindiocese.ie and social media.
- Further information: Diocesean Communications office 01 8360723
