This year’s Diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes was a wonderful experience in this special year - 150 years since Our Lady appeared to Bernadette.
It is 50 years since I first went to Lourdes as a young woman with my mother. At that time, Middlesbrough and Leeds pilgrims travelled together by train. The first parish priest of Our Lady’s Church in York, Fr Edward Ward, had a great devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes and he began a savings scheme about 18 months before the pilgrimage was due to take place in May 1958. The train journey, as you can imagine, was quite long in those days and we sat up in our seats all through the night on the French train, trying to fall asleep. However, it was interesting seeing the countryside, especially as we drew closer to Lourdes.
I went to see how I could help in the St Frai hospital and ended up peeling vegetables in the kitchens. I remember a friend of mine being in trouble one year from a French nun because she was peeling potatoes, taking too much skin off them!
In the early morning, we could hear the footsteps of people rushing down the road on their way to the Grotto.
I have spent many happy times in Lourdes since then and this year was no exception. The Blessed Sacrament Procession comes to mind, when Bishop Terence passed immediately in front of us carrying the Blessed Sacrament, whilst he was blessing the sick. Another occasion was the International Mass when so many people from nations all over the world came together. The military were also impressive in their uniforms coming from so many countries and marching in torrential rain.
I would like to say thank you to all the organisers of our pilgrimage - your work is greatly appreciated.
Margaret Snowdon
