John Aburn reports on a wonderful and inspiring visit enjoyed by 50 Pilgrims of Hope from the Diocese of Portsmouth.

Fifty happy Pilgrims of Hope, led by Bishop Philip, gathered early at Heathrow Airport on Day One to begin the Jubilee Year Pilgrimage to Lourdes. The Pilgrimage itself began with the Opening Mass and, after dinner, some of the pilgrims made their way down to the Sanctuary to view the Torchlight Procession and to make a first visit to the Grotto.

Day Two began with Morning Prayer and a Votive Mass of Our Lady.  Our pilgrims then headed to the Domain for the annual group photograph, after which the day was spent visiting the baths for the Water Gesture (either the simplified version or full immersion) and the traditional walking tour of the town.  This included visiting the Cachot, the Cemetery where the Soubirous family are interred, the Parish Church and the Bowley Mill where St Bernadette was born.  After a Holy Half Hour with Vespers and Benediction, dinner followed and then the pilgrims took part in the Torchlight Procession at which Bishop Philip was invited to vest and walk behind the image of Our Lady.

Day Three of the pilgrimage began with Morning Prayer, after which some of our pilgrims received the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Today's Mass was the International Mass in the Underground Basilica of St Pius X.  After lunch, over half of the group boarded a coach and headed up to Gavarnie for our traditional mid-pilgrimage afternoon excursion. After dinner, some pilgrims stayed in the hotel to watch a recent documentary by EWTN on some of the miracles attributed to Lourdes, whilst others made the most of the pleasant weather and visited the Domain.

Day Four was the last full day and began with Morning Prayer and Votive Mass of Our Lady.  The group then split into two to make the Stations of the Cross.  After lunch, there was time at leisure to visit to the Grotto and collect some of the water from the Spring, as well as to visit the Baths and receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  After that, the group gathered for the Blessing and Lighting of the Pilgrimage Candle as well as individual candles, joining in a Blessed Sacrament Procession (curtailed due to the excessive heat) and then enjoyed the traditional last night social evening in the hotel.

Our pilgrims had the morning of Day Five left to enjoy this wonderful place before returning home in the evening.

Many thanks to John for his report and the Pilgrim Support Team for the photographs.