Friday 29 May 2026

The Annunciation

Closing Mass

This morning the Closing Mass of the Pilgrimage was held at St Bernadette (Grotto) and celebrated by Bishop David Evans.

Once again our young pilgrims welcomed everyone into Mass, sharing prayer cards and tiny replicas of Our Lady.

This is the last Mass of the Pilgrimage and the last time pilgrims all gathered together. Some have already started their journey home, with the three coaches - carrying most of our young pilgrims - leaving Lourdes this evening.

Judging by the many comments people are sharing with each other it has been a blessed and fruitful pilgrimage. Although it has been very hot all week pilgrims have embraced the daily programme and made the most of this spiritual journey.

Our young pilgrims once again played a key role in today's Mass, offering prayerful reflections, supporting our Assisted Pilgrims, helping clergy at Holy Communion, and generally being on hand to serve. They are to be congratulated on their work this week, as are all who have volunteered.

Archbishop Bernard Longley gave today's Homily and opened with:

Nothing will be impossible to God

It’s hard to believe that this is our last day together in Lourdes - and although a part of us is looking forward to seeing our homes again, yet we also feel some sadness at the thought of leaving Lourdes and saying goodbye to one another for the time being. It has been a memorable pilgrimage - not least because of the exceptional weather - and as we say au revoir to Lourdes we want to thank our Lady for the welcome we have received here and for all the friends, new and old, with whom we have shared these precious days.

We have shared many experiences during the last five days, and we have stored up many memories - the things we will be able to recall over the coming years. Such memories and experiences help us to make sense of our daily lives once we have returned home.

Read Homily in full

During today's Mass long service awards of five and 10 years were handed out to those who have come on pilgrimage to Lourdes by Archbishop Bernard and Bishop David. Two altar servers were also awarded for their long service under the Guild of St Stephen (international organisation of Altar Servers) and two of our nurses were handed special awards for the continued care they provide.

Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray for Us.

St Bernadette, Pray for Us.

The Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes is open to everybody. Please consider joining us in future years. You will be most welcome.

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