Thousands head to Lourdes to mark centenary year of Liverpool Archdiocesan Pilgrimage

Group photo from the first Liverpool to Lourdes pilgrimage which took place in 1923

In July, 1,500 people from the Archdiocese of Liverpool will be heading to Lourdes in a historic year which marks 100 years since the first pilgrimage from Liverpool.

The Archdiocese of Liverpool is the first diocese in England to reach this milestone. Since 1923, hundreds of thousands of people from across the archdiocese have made the journey over to the south of France every year, with the exception of during World War II and the Covid-19 pandemic.

The pilgrimage will begin on Friday 21 July and will be led by The Most Reverend Malcolm McMahon OP, Archbishop of Liverpool. Hundreds of pilgrims along with volunteers and medical staff will travel by air on special flights from Liverpool John Lennon airport. A Jumbulance - a specially adapted and fully accessible coach will travel across land with seven assisted pilgrims.

300 young people will be taking part in the Liverpool Youth Pilgrimage to Lourdes travelling by coach from Chorley, Knowsley, the Isle of Man, Leyland, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton, Warrington, Widnes and Wigan. Seven coaches will be leaving from points across the Archdiocese in the early hours of Thursday 20 July to begin the 24 hour journey.

Whilst in Lourdes and immediately following this arduous journey, the young pilgrims will get up as early as 4.30am to work in the hospital, while others follow them down to assist the pilgrims to the different places of devotion and at Mass.

Father Des Seddon, director of the Pilgrimage, said: "The Lourdes pilgrimage is special every year for the people of the archdiocese, but this year it will have much more significance as we reach this historic milestone. We are very much looking forward to being in Lourdes and celebrating with pilgrims, some who have been for several years and those who are new to Lourdes."

Fr Grant Maddock, trustee of the Liverpool Archdiocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage association and one of the lead organisers said, "This year we have a strong focus on living the pilgrimage through the lens of the assisted pilgrims, we have made some changes to make the pilgrimage much more varied for them. We wanted to do this to put them back at the heart of the pilgrimage.

"We are delighted that the Jumbulance will be travelling to Lourdes with us this year, allowing more assisted pilgrims to join us."

LINK

Archdiocese of Liverpool: www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/