Oblate News

Lourdes 2017 – Online Participation

This year on the 17th of September Oblate groups will leave from Dublin, Manchester, Jersey and London in answer to the call of Our Lady. Fr. Paschal and his intrepid group will leave London by bus on the 15th. Also members of the Oblate Youth Service and other workers will arrive on the 15th to begin final preparations to welcome this years pilgrims. With us also will be those whom we will carry in our hearts – our own families and friends and the many who will have said to us “think of me when you are in Lourdes – pray for me at the grotto!”

Lourdes is many things. It is a place of encounter: where we can discover Christ walking with us, offering peace, hope and love. It is a place of prayer: much vocal, much more in the silence of hearts hardly daring to utter the prayer or seek the consolation; and for all the comfort of God’s word, heard in the depths of their heart, is waiting. It is a place of healing – a healing that can bring peace, acceptance and new life.   But above all it is place of Our Lady, of Mary our mother, who reaches out to all, embraces all and leads them to her Son.

A number of events that the pilgrimage is due to participate in will be available online via Lourdes TV. The times are given in local Irish/British time:

4 PM Tuesday September 19th – Blessed Sacrament Procession

10 PM Tuesday September 19th – Night Mass and Adoration at the Grotto

8.45 AM Wednesday September 20th – Pilgrimage Mass at the Grotto

Click on the image below for live images from Lourdes

Alternatively visit:

  https://www.lourdes-france.org/en/tv-lourdes

Lourdes is a place where all people are important, but where special attention is paid to those who are sick, infirm or troubled in their hearts: those who have such a special place in the hearts of Mary and Jesus.   Our helpers and pilgrimage workers are the face and hands of God working amongst us, giving generously and cheerfully of their time and talents.   

Our prayer for all who will share in the pilgrimage physically or in spirit is that the days Lourdes will be a time of special grace and blessing.   May we be open to seeing the face of God in each other, and may we find joy, healing, strength, comfort and hope.

• Fr. Lorcan & Fr. Vincent