In 1883, the Oblates led their first pilgrimage to Lourdes. From 21-24 May, a total of 310 Pilgrims travelled. A report in the Annals of Our Lady of Lourdes gives an account of this pilgrimage which was organised by Father William Ring OMI, and he was joined in his endeavour by many other Oblate priests...

And like that, it was all over! At least, that is what it felt like. The days have gone by so quickly here and this evening, we had our closing ceremony, placed our pilgrimage candle opposite the Grotto, said our goodbyes to our friends – old and new – and began to put our mind...

In the weeks leading up to this pilgrimage, we spoke frequently about how different this pilgrimage was going to be in so many ways. To be sure, not having been in Lourdes with the pilgrimage after an absence of three years, we knew that being back would have a different sense about it. A year...

Our day starts at the Crowned Virgin statue.  Anyone who has even been to Lourdes knows this place. For those who have not, it is a central point, in front of the Basilica of Our Lady of Lourdes, with a statue that faces the Basilica.  By now, all of our groups have arrived. Despite the...

Long lost friends! So many times today, it has been a case of catching up with long lost friends. The reality of the time gap has taken hold today. When we talk, the first phrase can be to refer to, “last year” until we have to stop ourselves and say, no, it wasn’t last year...

If everything had gone as planned, then I would have started writing my first instalment of the pilgrimage blog yesterday, Friday. However, French Air Traffic Control had other plans and so it was that there was no travel yesterday. People are converging on Lourdes from many parts of the Oblate world throughout Britain and Ireland....