Monday, 13 February 2012

On Saturday, 11th February 2012, thousands of Lourdes pilgrims braved the sub-zero temperature to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and the World Day of Prayer for the Sick. The day marks the anniversary of the first apparition of Our Lady to St Bernadette in 1858.

Among the pilgrims were Canon Anthony Kay VG, who has been director of the Diocesan Pilgrmage to Lourdes for the last seven years, Fr Michael Jones, who this year has taken over the responsibiliy as director of the pilgrimage, Fr Philip Brady, Director of Liturgy and Music for this year's pilgrimage, and Patrick O'Dowd, Executive Director of the pilgrimage. They were in Lourdes, together with other pilgrimage directors, to finalise details of this years' pilgrimage.

Bishop Jacques Perrier, Bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes, was principal celebrant at the International Mass in the St Pius X Basilica.

After the Mass, Fr Horacio Britto, Rector of the Shirne at Lourdes, read an account of the First Apparition of Our Blessed Lady to Bernadette at Lourdes followed by the Bishop, Mgr Jacques Perrier, praying the Angelus at the Groto.

It was then announced, By Mgr Robert Le Gall, Archbishop and Metropolian of Tolouse, that the Holy Father had accepted the resignation of Bishop Jacques, who has reached the retirement age, and appointed Bishop Nicolas Brouwet, Auxiliary Bishop of Nanterre, as the new Bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes. He will be received as Bishop in the St Pius X Basilica during Mass on Sunday, March 25, 2012.

Details of the Salford Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes (31st July - 7th August), which will be led by Bishop Terence, will be published shortly on this website and in all our parishes.