Lourdes pilgrimages continue - Archbishop launches flood appeal

Hotel Mediterranee - image Bernard Lavery

Pilgrims from more than a dozen dioceses in the UK and Ireland will be visiting Lourdes this month - just weeks after the town was hit by devastating floods. Some of the Mass venues and several of the hotels along the river usually used by the groups are still closed, but organisers have found alternative accommodation for all pilgrims.

Westminster Pilgrimage Director Fr Denis Touw, together with Gerald Daly, Assistant Director and Bernard Lavery, President d'Hospitalite, visited Lourdes ten days after the floods. Gerald said: "It really was a scene of total devastation, much worse than last October. It's incredible the damage water and mud can do. The Mediterranee, Alba and Notre Dame hotels were still flooded. But the emergency services and volunteers have been marvellous - working round the clock to clear things up. The amount of work they have done is startling. And we managed to find 400 new beds for pilgrims in different hotels on the other side of the Gave."

Gerald said that the Underground Basilica and other churches used by Westminster pilgrims may still be closed by the time they arrive, but other venues will be found. "This year's pilgrimage will be a case of deciding where we are on a daily basis," he said.

Westminster has lost more than £10,000 worth of hospital equipment, including air pressure mattresses and wheelchairs. A store by the Beaux Site which was rented by the diocese, was completely washed away. Organisers are trying to source more equipment in time for the trip.

For the people of Lourdes who rely on visitors for their livelihoods, as well as farmers and vineyard owners in the surrounding region, the floods have been a catastrophe which will take years to recover from. Speaking after the monthly Mass for Lourdes pilgrims at Westminster cathedral, Fr Touw said: "The floods have been a massive disaster for Lourdes. During our visit, we met Eric, manager of the Mediterranee. He was really distraught. For the second time in a few months his hotel has been inundated with mud and water. We must remember them all in our prayers."

Archbishop Vincent Nichols has now launched an appeal to help Lourdes recover from the floods. The cost of repairing the damage is expected to run into tens of millions of Euros and the Archbishop has asked that parishes and people give what they can to help.

Donations can be made by cheque payable to WRCDT Lourdes Flood Appeal and sent to: Gerald Daly, Pilgrimage Office, Vaughan House, London, SW1P 1QN. Bank transfers can be made to: HSBC 69 Pall Mall SW1Y 5EY, Account Number 41307649, Sort Code 40-05-20.

Gerald Daly said: "It is planned to present the Sanctuary with the gift of our donations during the Annual Diocesan Pilgrimage 21-27 July."

See earlier report here: www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=22843