Lourdes Pilgrimage:
21st to 28th August 2026
Diocesan Annual Pilgrimage to Lourdes2026: 21st - 28th August 2026
You are warmly invited to join us as we journey through our Pilgrimage in Lourdes. The place where Our Lady appeared to Saint Bernadette Soubirous and where countless pilgrims have encountered Christ’s healing love.
The Timeless Spiritual Significance of Lourdes
From 2026, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes begins a new three-year spiritual journey inspired by the Gospel according to Saint Luke. These three years invite pilgrims to walk with Mary through her faith, her hope and her praise. The year 2026 stands at the threshold of the Annunciation, where it all began.
Prayer Intentions:
If you would like Fr Eugene to take your intentions to Lourdes to lay at the Grotto of Massabielle please email your intentions to lourdes@cliftondiocese.com (Please mark the email ‘LOURDES INTENTION’)
If you would like Fr Eugene to light a candle for you in Lourdes, please email the intention to lourdes@cliftondiocese.com (Please mark the email ‘LOURDES CANDLE’ ~ Please include how many candles @ £10 and your name on Dona) you can pay for the candle 10euros / £10 via this link Dona
WELCOME FROM BISHOP PETER COLLINS
Welcome to the 2026 Catholic Association Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Lourdes. The CA gathers together the diocesan pilgrimages, together with our associated groups, in an expression of our shared communion in the fullness of faith, hope and charity.
The Lourdes Sanctuaire has provided a three-year thematic cycle to guide our structured prayerful reflection:
2026 presents the Annunciation: “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you” (Luke 1:28). We are invited to focus on our spirit of welcome, on our willingness to listen, and on the offering of our own ‘fiat’ in union with the Blessed Virgin Mary.
2027 will present the Visitation: “In those days Mary set out and went with haste” (Luke 1:39). Next year the focus will be on humble service, on joyful charity, and on a generous outreach to others - especially to the stranger.
2028 will present the Magnificat: “His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation” (Luke 1:50). The trilogy is completed with praise, gratitude, and the great ‘song’ of the soul that acknowledges God’s glorious wonders.
We rejoice this year in celebrating the 125th Anniversary of the Catholic Association. Our measurement of time provides a crucial tool in the complex work of negotiating our way through life. My own diocese of East Anglia is currently celebrating its own Golden Jubilee of foundation. Every segment of our life’s journey should be treasured, and we must strive to properly recognise and to fully understand the import of every significant moment. This insight is especially relevant when we endeavour to undertake a spiritual pilgrimage.
In order to make sense of the present moment we must be aware of our past, appreciative of how our inheritance has been moulded and then entrusted to our care. Having reflected on the past we are immediately charged with the responsibility of preparing for the future. In every age, our faith demands that we address the great mission of evangelisation. Every moment of human history, every moment of our lives, holds a bond of connectivity across the expanse of time because every moment of time is impacted by eternity.
Whenever I visit Lourdes, I gain the impression that time has passed so swiftly since my last visit. I am sure we all have had that feeling. I believe there is a blessing to be found in this experience, for it speaks of the imprint of God’s abiding grace that transcends time and space. Let us rejoice as we gather within the Sanctuary of Lourdes and commit ourselves once again to the enduring spirit of service and companionship that is so fruitfully fostered within the Catholic Association Pilgrimage. Let us pray for one another, remembering especially our assisted pilgrims and those who provide all necessary care and support.
As we shelter under the canopy of Our Lady ‘s protection let us entrust ourselves afresh to her powerful intercession.
Our Lady of Lourdes – Pray for Us. Saint Bernadette – Pray for Us.
SATURDAY 22nd AUGUST: (Our Lady, Mother and Queen) Opening Mass in the Bernadette Church (Carmel)
Daily Reflections from Fr Nick King SJ
Well done – you have made it to Lourdes! And if you have never been here before, you may be wondering what it is all about. Well – you will soon find out. Happily enough, today celebrates the Queenship of Our Lady, just a week after the Assumption. And what do the readings tell us? That God is in charge, and that therefore “the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light”. Clearly, Our Lady St Mary has something to do with that; and that becomes very clear as we listen to today’s gospel, the story of the Annunciation to Mary: the main point is that God has a plan, and that Mary “has found favour with God”, as part of that plan. But that will only work if Mary agrees, so we listen with immense joy as Mary says, “Look! I am the Lord’s slave-girl”. What is God’s plan for you during this time in Lourdes? And how are you going to respond?
Today's Mass Order of Service:Order of Service - Saturday 22nd August 2026
All pictures copywrite Clifton Diocese with thanks to Angela Parry for many of the images.
Welcome to Lourdes - Mgr Liam Slattery
Bishop Peter Collins - Opening Mass Homily
SUNDAY 23rd AUGUST: International Mass, Basilica of St Pius X, 21st Sunday in Ordinary time
Daily Reflections from Fr Nick King SJ
Today, as on every Sunday, we celebrate with the entire Church that astonishingly good news of the Resurrection. Now sometimes English-speaking pilgrims decide they do not like the International Mass; but I should like to suggest that you attend it, because that mass carries the powerful message of the Church as belonging to all the world: that is what “Catholic” means. And so the message of today’s readings has the prophet Ezekiel told (as perhaps we are being told today) that God has “made you a watchman for the house of Israel”. Then the second reading has the Romans being told that the only thing that really matters is that they should be loving. And that is not a bad programme for us who have so recently arrived in Lourdes. Then the gospel underlines that message: “where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there in their midst”. So, I suggest that you journey prayerfully through that mass, with all your fellow-pilgrims, of all nationalities, today and for the rest of this week, always remembering that the Lord is there in our midst.
Today's Mass Order of Service: Order of Service - Sunday 23rd August 2026
Day 2 Update - Mgr Liam Slattery
Deacon/Seminarian Martyn Jones introduction
A walkthrough the Basilica of Saint Pius X during the International Mass.
Situated at the heart of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, the Basilica of Saint Pius X is one of the most impressive religious buildings in the Marian town. Almost entirely underground, this immense basilica can accommodate around 25,000 pilgrims during major celebrations.
Consecrated in 1958, its unique curved concrete ceiling resembles an upside-down boat, allowing the huge open space without interior pillars blocking the view
Built to mark the centenary of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to Saint Bernadette Soubirous, it is distinguished as much by its history and spiritual purpose as by the technical feats required for its construction.
Unlike the other religious buildings visible from the esplanade, it was built underground in order to provide a space large enough to accommodate the crowds of pilgrims.
It is used in particular for major international celebrations, when several thousand worshippers from all over the world gather in Lourdes.
The music in this video is by Pater Manuel: http://www.patermanuel.com
Monday 24th AUGUST: Diocesan Mass in the Chapel of St Joseph
Daily Reflections from Fr Nick King SJ
Today the Church celebrates the feast of Bartholomew, very likely the same as Nathanael, who is mentioned in today’s gospel. We know almost nothing about him, except that according to that gospel he was one of the earliest to be called to follow Jesus as a disciple. Somehow Jesus recognises him and says, “here is an Israelite in whom there is no guile”. And, we do not quite know why, Nathanael is overwhelmed, the more so when Jesus explains that “before Philip saw you, I saw you under the fig-tree”. We have no idea what this means, but something has gone home, and Philip is utterly convinced that Jesus is the real thing, for he mutters in astonishment: “Rabbi – you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel”. We simply stand back and applaud; for it is clearly a correct diagnosis of who Jesus is. We hardly understand what he is saying, but he has got there and has recognised who he is talking to. We might, each of us, while we are here in Lourdes this week, look out for those occasional moments of recognition, and discover what is really going on in life. That can happen in Lourdes.
Today's Mass Order of Service:Order of Service - Monday 24th August 2026
Day 3 Homily - Mgr Liam Slattery
Day 3 - Update - Mgr Liam Slattery
Tuesday 25th AUGUST: Mass of the Anointing and Torchlight Procession
Daily Reflections from Fr Nick King SJ
One of the things that we learn at Lourdes is that God is very close to us, whatever our situation; and that this is especially true if things seem really bad. So in today’s first reading, the prophet Elijah is utterly fed up and just wants to die (have you ever felt like that?); and God feeds him and sends him happily on his way. Then in the gospel Jesus is told about Simon’s mother-in-law, who has a fever, which in a world without antibiotics is a threat to life, actually dares to touch her and effortlessly “lifts her up”. Have you seen this happen in Lourdes?
Today's Mass Order of Service:Order of Service - Tuesday 25th August 2026
Day 4 Homily - Bishop Paul Hendricks
Day 4 - Anointing of the Sick
Day 4 Mgr Liam talks with CA Chair, Chris Page
Day 4 Mgr Liam and Fr Eugene Campbell
Day 4 Reflection by Vicky Gaiger
Wednesday 26th AUGUST: Grotto Mass and Reconciliation
Daily Reflections from Fr Nick King SJ
Today, and perhaps this is always the case in Lourdes, we have an awful lot going on. We have our precious and privileged mass in the Grotto, where the boy Samuel is being taught how to pray, and that he must say: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening”. In the gospel we hear that astonishing prayer from the dying thief: “Jesus remember me, when you come into your kingdom”. Then later on we shall have our great gift of the Service of Reconciliation, and the opportunity for the sacrament of confession. What does all this say to you today?
Today's Mass Order of Service:Order of Service - Wednesday 26th August 2026
Day 5 Homily - Mgr Liam Slattery
Day 5 -Gospel - Dcn Martyn Jones
Day 5 Mgr Liam talks with Fr Stephen Corrigan
Day 5 Mgr Liam - Update
Day 5 Deacon Martyn Jones - Update
Thursday 27th AUGUST: Water Gesture, Lighting the Diocesan Candle and Thanksgiving Mass
Daily Reflections from Fr Nick King SJ
If Lourdes has done its bit, and if we have responded appropriately, then one thing that we should be noticing is a powerful impetus towards gratitude. Sometimes, that can feel a bit “over the top”, like David in today’s first reading, dancing energetically before the Lord, and Elziabeth expressing her gratitude for Mary’s coming to visit her. That gratitude is something that the children are teaching us today in their lively dancing and singing. Are you being invited to gratitude today? What are you grateful for about this time in Lourdes?
Today's Mass Order of Service:Order of Service - Thursday 27th August 2026