We are very excited to announce that our 37th annual Overland pilgrimage to Lourdes is set to join in the 140th-anniversary celebrations this year. Organiser Patrick Denning, is proud to be able to run the coach trip again this year, allowing pilgrims an alternative route to Lourdes. Although this may be a slightly longer option...

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...

The next World Youth Day is fast approaching and we’d like you to join us for this amazing pilgrimage, to be with hundreds of thousands (possibly millions!) of other young Catholics and see the Pope. When? 31 July – 9 August. Who? This pilgrimage is for those aged between 18-35 years. How many? Just 25...

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....

Digital Pilgrimage  Very soon, more than 600 pilgrims will depart for the Annual Oblate Pilgrimage to Lourdes. We travel from Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. Many of us are travelling for the first time, some are members of our Lourdes Hospitality team, others are travelling as assisted pilgrims and some 100 young people are part...

For as long as most of us can remember the 17th of September finds us making our way to Lourdes as part of the annual Oblate pilgrimage. This year brings with it new pilgrimage dates, 14th – 19th September. This change was brought about by the increasing difficulty in sourcing airlines that are prepared to...