Archbishop Vincent Nichols marks start of Diocese of Westminster’s 21st annual Lourdes Pilgrimage
posted on 27 July 2010
Lourdes 2010
Over 900 pilgrims are taking part in the Diocese of Westminster’s 21st annual pilgrimage to Lourdes, which started on Monday 26 July and continues to Saturday 31 July 2010.
In his Homily for the opening Mass for the diocesan pilgrimage, which was celebrated in the Rosary Basilica in Lourdes on Monday 26 July, Archbishop Vincent Nichols drew attention to three key aspects of the pilgrimage ; companionship, service to others and prayer. He also asked pilgrims to pray for the success of the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the United Kingdom in September 2010.
“To understand a pilgrimage we can do worse than having a good look round this Rosary Basilica and you can see what a great community of people this is. An important part of the pilgrimage is companionship, time when we sense that we are a family together and where we have the space to get to know each other - people who perhaps we didn’t travel with, who we don’t know or who don’t go to our parish.”
“As we look around here we see such a family. And as we look round here, we see willing service and people helping each other. As these days go by, it is part of our pilgrimage to look out for the needs of others and be generous and attentive in our response.”
“And as you look around this basilica then you see a people that prays. This is a family, a family that serves one another, a family that prays and each of us have come with the intentions we have been asked for in our prayers and to that list I would like to add one more: that during these days, we pray earnestly for the success of the visit of Pope Benedict to the United Kingdom in September.”
Redcaps – Young People caring for the sick
This year, some 40 people who are very ill have travelled to Lourdes, being supported by 100 nurses and hospital volunteers. They are also being helped by 200 young people. Throughout the week, young diocesan pilgrims, who call themselves ‘Redcaps’, will be assisting pilgrims who are sick, wheelchair bound or need assistance in any other way.
One of the Redcaps, Christina Baker from St Dominic’s School in Harrow-on-the-Hill, said: “I thought it would be nice to come to Lourdes so that I could do something for others. My family have been before, although I haven’t, and I have always really wanted to come here. By the end of the pilgrimage, I just want to be able to say that I helped somebody. I hope that coming to Lourdes will make me calmer and more patient and that it will help me to grow as a person, even when I am back home in London.” Follow the pilgrimage on the web and on Twitter.
Follow the pilgrimage online
Friends and families of pilgrims can keep in touch with the pilgrimage via the diocesan website and on Twitter.
Extracts from Archbishop Vincent Nichols’ homily at the opening Mass:
“This afternoon we stand at the beginning of our pilgrimage in Lourdes. Welcome to those who are back for the umpteenth time and a very special welcome to those, young and old, who are here for the first time.
Our pilgrimage begins when we leave home, and we’ve all come by different roads and rails and airplanes. But in a way the more important part starts here – the inner pilgrimage. This pilgrimage is a response to God; to get to know him, to love him and serve him more wholeheartedly and more deeply.
To understand a pilgrimage we can do worse than having a good look round this Rosary Basilica and you can see what a great community of people this is. An important part of the pilgrimage is companionship, time when we sense that we are a family together and where we have the space to get to know each other - people who perhaps we didn’t travel with, who we don’t know or who don’t go to our parish.
As we look around here we see such a family. And as we look round here, we see willing service and people helping each other. As these days go by, it is part of our pilgrimage to look out for the needs of others and be generous and attentive in our response.
And as you look around this basilica then you see a people that prays. This is a family, a family that serves one another, a family that prays and each of us have come with the intentions we have been asked for in our prayers and to that list I would like to add one more: that during these days, we pray earnestly for the success of the visit of Pope Benedict to the United Kingdom in September.
We have already learnt that the theme of the pilgrimage this year is the ‘Sign of the Cross’. It is a so familiar sign – a sign that we make many times every day. But this week we approach that sign and all it stands for to grow in our understanding of its meaning, of our accepting of its meaning in our hearts and the care with which we make the sign of the cross.
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Our pathway and our pilgrimage here will be led by Mary. Come, listen, look. We come into this community; we are embraced by the people around us. Here we look and see witnesses of love in action, and every time you see an act of kindness, offer a prayer of thanks to God that such a kindness has been given. And we see and we take part in a community of prayer.
If we come, look and listen then will lead each other, where Mary has gathered us, deeper into the mysteries of faith in these days. “
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