Press Release September 7th
2,000 take part in Archdiocese Pilgrimage to Lourdes
Almost 2,000 people are leaving Dublin for Lourdes today (Tuesday 7th) to take part in the 61st Pilgrimage from the Archdiocese of Dublin which runs until Sunday.
The annual September pilgrimage is one of the biggest events in the Dublin Diocesan calendar and is led by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, with priests of the Diocese and hundreds of volunteers.
Nearly 180 sick pilgrims are taking part this year, supported by over 500 volunteers, made up of nurses and doctors, male and female helpers, known as handmaids and brancardiers, and a team of chaplains.
A further 200 young people also assist in the care of the sick pilgrims and many of these are from secondary schools and colleges from around the Diocese. The balance of the pilgrimage is made up of Parish Groups and individuals from every corner of the Diocese.
Crosscare, the social care agency of the Diocese will once again be sending representatives to Lourdes along with the Diocesan Office for Evangelisation. Music for the pilgrimage will be led by the Dublin Lourdes choir.
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said was an important annual event in the life of the Archdiocese of Dublin. He said it was a moment of prayer and the sick who travel are the centre of the pilgrimage and “the centre of our prayers”.
Pilgrimage Director, Fr. John Gilligan said that the spirit of the Lourdes pilgrimage continued to resonate with all those who travel, and those praying for the sick and volunteers at home. “Lourdes remains a special place of Pilgrimage for our Diocese. All of us who participate, in whatever small way, are humbled and enlightened by the spirit of solidarity of the pilgrimage,” said Fr. Gilligan. “Every year, I am heartened by the huge level of commitment made by so many people who make the pilgrimage a success; but I think all who take part would agree that they come away from the experience enriched in themselves.”
The theme for this years pilgrimage is “with Bernadette we make the sign of the cross” All those taking part in this years Dublin pilgrimage will receive a special “Cross for the pocket” to mark and remember their time there.
- Updates and homilies from the pilgrimage will be available this week on dublindiocese.ie
- Further information on the Lourdes Pilgrimage at www.lourdes.dublindiocese.ie
- Photos of the first groups of pilgrims leaving Dublin airport for Lourdes this morning are available from John Mc Elroy photos. Mob:087 2416985
- Communications Office 01 -8360723 e mail communications@dublindiocese.ie web dublindiocese.ie
