Lourdes Lives: Bill Meyhew

19 July 2008

2008 is the 150th anniversary of the apparition of the Virgin Mary to 14 year-old Bernadette Soubirous in Lourdes. Many people from the Clifton Diocese have experienced Lourdes since then and to celebrate cliftondiocese.com brings you a series of podcasts about the world famous shrine. Available every Saturday, our podcasts tells the stories of people in and around the Clifton Diocese who have been to Lourdes.

This week we visit the busy and popular St Bonaventure's Social Club in Bishopston, Bristol. We had a chat with Bill Meyhew about his amazing visits to Lourdes in the convivial surroundings of St Bon's. Listen to and download our podcast in the multimedia panel on the right.

Last week we talked with Sue Jotcham one of the directors of the St James Priory Project which is doing some much, right in the heart of Bristol. The project has recently launched a very important appeal to restore what is the oldest building in Bristol.

We met Father James Finan, the Assistant Priest at Holy Rood in Swindon. He is an HCPT - The Pilgrimage Trust Chaplain and has only been to Lourdes a few times. You can listen to him during his last visit in our report from March.

It was an ecumencial story before then, as we talked with Reverend Elspeth Desmond from St Peter's in Filton.

Before Elspeth we met with Sister Philippe who works in St Angela's residential home in Bristol.

Sister Phillippe's colleague Sister Marie-Louise also spoke as part of Lourdes Lives.

The two sisters will also be talking about Lourdes tomorrow (6 July) on BBC radio. They are part of 'Sunday Starts' on BBC Radio Bristol and BBC Somerset. You can listen to the interview on the programme that runs from 6.00 am to 10.00 am, this and every Sunday.

How to listen to BBC Radio Bristol:
Bristol and South Gloucestershire - 94.9 FM
Bath - 104.6 FM
North Somerset and Weston-super-Mare - 103.6 FM

Also on 1548 MW, DAB Digital Radio and online. You can listen again online for a week.

Steve Young told us his story of Lourdes the previous week. cliftondiocese.com had introduced you to Steve earlier that week following his appearance on BBC Radio Bristol and BBC Somerset's 'Sunday Starts'. That interview, with presenter Trevor Fry, is what we bring you as Steve's 'Lourdes Lives'.

We've heard from Paul and Sarah. They told their powerful story to BBC Radio Bristol and BBC Somerset's Trevor Fry. The interview comes from 'Sunday Starts' which aired on 25 May.

Thanks to Trevor and 'Sunday Starts' producer Alex Lewis for passing on the two interviews to cliftondiocese.com. To mark the special anniversary of Lourdes 'Sunday Starts' is running an occasional series featuring people from around Bristol and Somerset telling their stories of Lourdes and talking about what the place means to them.

Enjoy our fascinating podcasts by downloading them from the multimedia panel on the right.

Previously we heard Jean Young. Jean has some amazing experience with HCPT - The Pilgrimage Trust. Freddy - Jean's young grandson - also makes his thoughts known in the podcast.

Deacon Kevin Moloney from the Cathedral parish has given us his story.

Ian McNiff the Director of the Clifton Diocese Department for Schools and Colleges is a frequent and experienced pilgrim to Lourdes. He's also shared his thoughts with us.

Father Tom Finnegan the Parish Priest at Filton's St Teresa of the Child Jesus has told his story.

We've also enjoyed hearing from Amelia Dunford the pastoral assistant at Bristol's St Patrick's church in Redfield.

Our previous podcast was with Father Richard McKay the Parish Priest of St Nicholas of Tolentino in Easton, Bristol.

We've also heard Deacon Peter Hinchey from St Augustine of Canterbury parish in Downend, Bristol. Deacon Peter must be of the most knowledgeable people about Lourdes in the diocese - he’s been 53 times!

Previously we featured Monsignor Bill Saunders from the Archdiocese of Southwark. He’s the Director of the Catholic Association of which the Clifton Diocese is part.

We also spoke with Canon Alan Finley, the Dean of Cheltenham who has a unique point of view on his visits to Lourdes. Having served as an army chaplain, he talks about the uniformed and the servicemen he’s met at the French shrine.

Our first Lourdes Lives episode featured a conversation with Taunton parishioner Doug Lowe who is a volunteer with HCPT - The Pilgrimage Trust. He tells us about what Lourdes means to the children he takes to the place in France that attracts six million visitors each year.

You can also listen to podcasts from the Catholic Communications Network (CCN) in the multimedia panel on the right. You can listen to Father Martin Moran, Chaplain at the sanctuary of Lourdes, Right Reverend Robert Ladds, Anglican Bishop of Whitby, Father Graeme Rowlands, Society of Mary and Richard King of the HCPT - The Pilgrimage Trust.

The Clifton Diocese Lourdes Pilgrimage is led by Bishop Declan and takes place in August.

A handy new book entitled ‘Every Pilgrim’s Guide to Lourdes’ is out now. It combines a mix of practical information for travellers, the history and background of the places featured, plus devotional commentary, prayers and readings appropriate for pilgrims today. Lourdes is universally known throughout the Catholic world and many hundreds of pilgrimage groups visit each year from Britain and Ireland. This new volume gives a detailed A-Z guide to all the places and events in Lourdes that pilgrims will want to experience, tells the engaging story of Bernadette, includes a section of prayers and readings and features other places of interest nearby for extra days out.

‘Every Pilgrim’s Guide to Lourdes’ is written by Sally Martin who together with her husband, John, has played a key part in the annual pilgrimage to Lourdes from Ampleforth for many years. Sally frequently gives talks on Lourdes to local churches and women’s groups.

‘Every Pilgrim’s Guide to Lourdes’ (ISBN 1-85311-627-0) is published by Canterbury Press and priced at £9.99.

cliftondiocese.com has several copies to give away. To be in with the chance of winning a copy, please let us know you Lourdes memories by completing the form below. We’ll publish some in our Lourdes Lives series. Pamela Perry, a Salisbury parishioner has sent us her Lourdes story - why not share yours?