the pilgrimage
Our Pilgrimage travels in late August or early September each year and is made up of small groups from all around the UK. Our pilgrims typically join either from Stansted or Manchester airport or travel overland as a group or independently and join the pilgrimage in Lourdes.
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2023 Pilgrimage
Welcome to the Raphael Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2023. Our programme this year has been altered to avoid difficult terrain so we are introducing new visits. We will have the opportunity to attend the international Mass as well as celebrating a Mass at the Grotto and the Ukrainian Church. Sadly, it is still not possible to immerse ourselves in the Baths and instead we have a water ceremony as part of the programme. We are offering a slightly longer programme than hitherto for seven nights taking advantage of flying directly into Lourdes Airport by sharing a charter with the Catholic Association. Our teams of able bodied helpers will not be able to offer care beyond acting as ‘good Samaritans’. We will however, keep a watchful eye but at the same time we will require confidential information with a form to complete giving information about general health, mobility and medications. The theme for the year in 2022 was ‘Go tell the priests’ and the theme for 2023 competes the instruction ‘Go tell the priests to build a chapel here’. This command was given to St Bernadette during the 13th apparition on 2nd March, 1858. |
READ OUR NEWSLETTER - THE RAPHAEL RECORDER
For our 2023 we are delighted to be staying again at the Padoue Hotel which is situated conveniently for access to the Domain and the various popular Lourdes sights and facilities.
The hotel team at the Padoue are very accommodating and help to make the week in Lourdes a comfortable and enjoyable time.
Accommodation is provided on a Full Board basis and all transfers upon arrival in Lourdes are included in the price.
Our Tour Operator Tangney Tours arrange transfers as well as our Wednesday excursion.
In addition to this spiritual and medical support, we have a team of volunteers ably led by our Chief Handmaid - Rachel Booth and Chief Brancardier - Trevor McKean who ensure that our pilgrims are able to get the most out of their time in Lourdes.
If you are interested in joining the pilgrimage this year then we would be delighted to hear from you. You can contact us for more information here.
If you are interested in joining the pilgrimage this year then we would be delighted to hear from you. You can contact us for more information here.
If you would like to join the pilgrimage but find yourself unable to meet the cost, then we may be able to assist through a grant from the Gilbert Thompson Memorial Fund.