Our Youth in Lourdes
Photo Credit: Mac Diarmada
Photo Credit: Diocese of Meath
Young people from across the Diocese of Meath have always played an integral role in our diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes, supporting the work undertaken by our diocesan Hospitalité, serving as active volunteers who assist sick and elderly pilgrims, and participating in ceremonies. They form a supportive community focused on faith, personal development, and lifelong friendships. Organized through secondary schools in the Diocese, St. Patrick's Classical School, Navan, Eureka Secondary School, Kells, and Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar have provided hands-on care and companionship, enriching the experience for everyone involved.
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Their roles include helping with mobility, accompanying pilgrims to ceremonies, providing company and conversation, and offering emotional and pastoral support. Beyond supporting our sick pilgrims, they participate in liturgies, processions, and candle lighting. During their time in Lourdes, they form strong bonds with fellow volunteers and pilgrims, creating a beautiful sense of community and lasting friendships.
Our Diocesan pilgrimage provides a unique opportunity for young people to experience and deepen their faith in a real, positive, and supportive environment. ​
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For many, Lourdes is a profound and life-shaping experience — a place where faith is deepened, friendships are formed, and a sense of purpose grows. Their presence brings energy, joy, and vitality to the pilgrimage, and their contribution is deeply valued by pilgrims, volunteers, and organisers alike.
Video Credit: Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar
Youth Pilrimage Steps
Young people from across the Diocese of Meath participate in the full pilgrimage programme organised by the Diocese which includes: the opening Mass and the passage through the Grotto, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the blessing of pilgrim helpers and the water gesture at the baths. They assist in the torchlight procession and the Mass of the Anointing of the Sick. During the Blessed Sacrament procession, they accompany our sick pilgrims in procession to the Underground Basilica.
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In addition, a supplementary programme organised for our young people creates a space for prayer and reflection, quiet and solitude, as well as opportunities for conversation, music and song. Some of these activties include:
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THE HIGH STATIONS OF THE CROSS
It's an early start! With reflections and prayers written specifically for the young people, the group begin in darkness, and as they climb the mountainside, stopping at each life-size Station, the sunrise illuminates the crucifixtion scene on the summit. Walking in the footsteps of Jesus on the road to Calvary, they reimagine how Jesus walks with all who suffer even today. They descend ready to assist our sick pilgrims and those in need of assistance at the Mass of Anointing of the Sick.
THE WATER GESTURE​
Drinking and washing are the two actions that pilgrims undertake in Lourdes, at the invitation of the Virgin Mary.
This process began just after 25th February 1858, the day the Virgin Mary showed Saint Bernadette where to dig to find the spring. It is at this spring, which flows at the base of the Grotto, that Our Lady of Lourdes invites us to come and “drink and wash ourselves.” Following in Bernadette's footsteps, our young people gather in prayer at the Prarie where they sing, pray, drink and wash their face with water from the spring.
HOLY HOUR
Our young people take responsibility for leading the entire pilgrimage in worship, song and prayer during the Holy Hour in the Rosary Basilica.
HIKE TO BARTRES
A break from the routine, our young pilgrims make a hike to Bartres, where Bernadette spent the early years of her life tending sheep. Having visited the Church of St. John the Baptist and venerated St. Bernadette's relic, the hike takes them to the Sheep Fold where Bernadette spent those early years tending sheep. Here in the stillness and quiet of the fields in Bartres, the group unite in prayer, walking in the footsteps of Bernadette and the fellow-students who accompanied the pilgrimage in the past.
CITY OF THE POOR
As the pilgrimage draws to a close, the young people visit Cite Saint Pierre, "The City of the Poor". Here in the chapel (a replica of the Sheep Fold in Bartres), the young people gather for a 'Service of Gratitude'. Listening to God's word, praying in thanksgiving and seeking God's intercession, their hands are blessed in gratitude for their days in Lourdes, acknowledging the contribution they made to the many pilgrims they accompanied during the pilgrimage.
CHAPELS OF LIGHT
The last candles to be lit..........for loved ones, those who asked for prayer and for their school communities. They visit the Chapels of Light on the far side of the Gave and here they entrust the Virgin Mary with their intentions, the buring flame prolonging their prayers. It was on 19th February 1858, that Bernadette went to the Grotto for the first time with a candle and it was on 7th April, Easter Wednesday, that the flame of the candle she was holding in her hand licked her fingers without burning them. They cross the Gave to the grotto where their pilgrimage began. Here they bring their final prayers.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Photo Credit: Lourdes Sanctuaire
Photo Credit: Mac Diarmada
Photo Credit: Mac Diarmada
Photo Credit: Mac Diarmada
Photo Credit: Mac Diarmada
Photo Credit: Mac Diarmada
Photo Credit: Mac Diarmada
Photo Credit: Mac Diarmada
Photo Credit: Mac Diarmada
Lourdes Touches Young Hearts
Testimonies
Photo Credit: Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar
Photo Credit: Mohan
For me, Lourdes was a great experience. I got to meet lots of new people. The main religious part of the trip was well organised and the daily activities were also great. I would recommend this trip to next year's students that are hoping to go.
Michael
Volunteering in Lourdes was an experience that I’ll never forget and is one of the highlights of my school life. I felt honoured to be selected and to get the opportunity to assist people who I would’ve never met before. I believe that the pilgrimage helped strengthen my faith and practice compassion as often as I can. The spirit of community and shared purpose among volunteers made the experience even more memorable. I would recommend any student to go in the future.
Cian
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My time in Lourdes opened my eyes about myself and others. While trying to do as much listening as possible over the few days, I learnt so much about other people's perspectives and how lucky we were to be able to help out wherever possible. There was something about Lourdes and the community that would make you want to revisit every year and I certainly would love to return on the pilgrimage again.​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​Orán
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I was lucky to be picked to go to Lourdes this year and I had the best time. We spent lots of time helping the pilgrims which was a very rewarding feeling. My favourite part of the trip was the candle procession where we all had candles and we walked around the cathedral. It was very beautiful to see all the lights from the candles in the dark. I would recommend this trip to anyone who was thinking about going as everyone on the trip had a great time!
Jay
The Lourdes Pilgrimage 2025 was an experience I will never forget.This Pilgrimage granted me great self satisfaction as I helped those who needed assistance day in and day out making their Pilgrimage possible and for some aiding them to continue life long traditions of visiting Lourdes.This Pilgrimage also gave me great comfort as I remembered past family members and people close to me who may be struggling at this time through prayer.
Max
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​Lourdes was special to me because I met loads of new people both local and not local. I made new friends with fellow students who I would have never properly talked to before, making many memories I’ll never forget. It was tough using the chariots but chatting to people along the way made it better.
The early mornings were tough going but the masses were lovely. I’d like to thank St. Patrick’s Classical School and the Meath Diocesan for giving me a trip and memories I’ll never forget.
Padhraic
Lourdes was an experience full of gratitude, peace and hope. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting all the pilgrims and hearing their stories. Visiting the grotto was very peaceful and sitting in silent prayer along with countless pilgrims was a powerful and memorable moment. It was a trip that I will never forget and will cherish forever.
Jack
I have to say out of all my school trips Lourdes was definitely my favourite. I went to Paris, Munich and did the Camino with the school. Even though we worked hard on Lourdes it was very rewarding. I met so many new people with all different stories and advice for me. A few people knew my passed away grandparents. As the most common question asked was where are your family from. It was a nice little touch knowing they knew them. During the evening we had dinners and sang songs with Eureka and Mullingar CBS which also let us socialise among new people our own age. But the main thing I took was that we can also help elderly people even though they might seem nervous around teenagers because of the bad reputation we get. Just when helping them make sure to assure them and be as friendly as possible.
Luke
Lourdes was a pleasure to be able to experience. If given the chance, I’d recommend for anyone to go and see it for themselves and I would like to go again at some point myself. By far, the best part was helping others to complete the pilgrimage and having chats with them. It seemed like a simple job to us, but it went a long way for everyone that we helped. It brought a real sense of fulfilment.
Hugh
Lourdes was a brilliant experience and I would definitely go back again.
Liam
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​On the 9th of september I went on the Lourdes trip feeling quite uncomfortable and nervous. I kept worrying that I wouldn’t enjoy it and even started to wonder if it was really worth going. I was overthinking what the next few days would be like. However as soon as we arrived in Lourde, my opinion changed almost instantly. The place was absolutely beautiful and peaceful and the sight of the lighted church surrounded by a wide open area was breathtaking. The atmosphere was really nice and soothing
As the trip went on, I started to relax and enjoy myself. I met lots of new people and even though I didn’t know them at first it didn’t take long before we were talking laughing and sharing stories. I began to feel more comfortable and confident and the trip became something truly memorable. Spending time with new friends exploring such a meaningful place and taking part in different activities made me realise how important it is to step out of my comfort zone. In the end, the Lourdes trip turned out to be a wonderful experience that I’ll never forget
Alan​​​​​​​​​​​​
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I thoroughly enjoyed the pilgrimage. I got great satisfaction from helping others and I feel like I grew as a person. I also feel like I grew spiritually. I feel like I got closer to God and to prayer than I ever have in my life. I also feel like it gave me a new outlook on life. I feel like I am much more positive and more grateful for what I have. I didn’t fully believe the stories that people tell about connecting with God and feeling him speaking to you, before I went, but now I fully understand it. It really is an amazing place.
Ava.
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​I enjoyed the pilgrimage. Personally, I found it spiritually enlightening and although you might feel tired doing certain things or you may not necessarily think it’s for you, the more you take part the more you enjoy the pilgrimage.
Rihanna.
I really enjoyed my trip to Lourdes as it gave me a new perspective on life. On the pilgrimage I got a great sense of community as we were all there to help one another. I loved every conversation I had with the people there and felt it gave me lots of experience. I also got time to reflect on my own life and experience. The peacefulness in Lourdes was instrumental in helping me to reflect.
Katherine.
The pilgrimage to Lourdes has truly had a lasting impact on me. I had the opportunity to witness true resilience in those sick on the pilgrimage, determined to finish it, and also experienced the care and compassion from all the volunteers, who showed up everyday with a smile on their face to help others. I also thoroughly enjoyed taking part in various mass services, especially singing as part of the choir at the Holy Hour mass. I met some truly amazing people over the few days all thanks to the opportunities afforded to me on the pilgrimage.
Grainne.
When I first thought of going to Lourdes, I wasn’t sure what to expect but I had a very good time in Lourdes. I enjoyed meeting all of the people we were helping and I feel it was a place to get closer to people I already knew. It was really cool to see everyone come out with a candle and walk together at the candle procession. It was amazing to see all the people coming that had so much hope that they would find a miracle in Lourdes and meeting people like Theresa who said she already found her miracle when she was little and continues to come back every year. It was really nice to see everyone helping each other even though you mightn’t even speak the same language.
Anna.
I though the trip to Lourdes was an amazing experience. The best part for me was just being a help to others, hearing all their story’s and making them smile. Lourdes showed me the beauty of kindness, and the power of simply just being there for someone. I enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere and the sense of community in Lourdes.
I really enjoyed being able to experience Lourdes for the first time together with all the girls, I have made new friendships and made lots of memories with them!
I thought the teachers were an amazing support to all of us, as being in Lourdes can bring out lots of emotions but the teachers were always there to give guidance and their positive attitudes really made the experience so much more memorable.
Overall I had an amazing time!!
Katie.
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I really enjoyed my trip to Lourdes. It was an amazing experience for me. The people there were so friendly and I felt so proud of myself for being there to help people in need. As the saying goes, "a little can go a long way". I was also very surprised with how close I got with the lads from school over just 4 days. We became good friends. Overall, my experience in Lourdes was fantastic.
Caleb
The trip to Lourdes was one of if not the best trips I went on in my life. The people I went with and met along the way were very nice and friendly and made the trip very enjoyable. I was happy to have the privilege to help people in need and get to talk to them. Overall the trip was an amazing experience and I would definitely go again.
TJ Ennis
My time in Lourdes will most definitely go down as one of the most memorable experiences in my life and by far one of the best trips I've ever gone on. From the amazing people we met and the amazing community, I am so honoured to have been a part of. The feeling there is really unexplainable, in a wonderful way. From being stunned and almost star struck by the amazing basilicas and especially the grotto which I found has been the most peaceful and touching place I've ever been to. It was also fantastic how well all the lads connected from just 4 days away. I can definitely say I will have some lifelong friends and memories. Honestly, it was such a great experience, and I’d definitely do it all over again.
Charlie
My time in Lourdes was an extraordinary one. From helping people to becoming even closer to the lads from my school in a short amount of time was truly incredible, Lourdes has shaped me a lot. The memories made there are unforgettable. Coming back to Ireland was tough because the time we had in Lourdes was nothing short of excellent. Being able to come back to Ireland and tell these stories to my parents and friends were great. Although the time has gone by the memories will last forever. Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.
David
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience being part of the youth group for the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes. I found it to be truly rewarding helping members of my local community as they completed their pilgrimage. As I am completing my Leaving Cert in the coming year I found my time in Lourdes extremely beneficial, as a time to focus my mind and a chance to escape the stress of regular school life.
Shane
The Lourdes trip was without a doubt a highlight of my secondary school experience. I enjoyed it immensely and it was both a massive learning experience and an unforgettable trip. Not many things blend different aspects of life the way this did and I would go again in a heartbeat.
Oisín​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Myself and nine other lads went as youth helpers on this year's Meath Diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes. I really enjoyed the whole experience of the trip because it was a nice way to give back for all the great things that I have in my life. Some of the work that we did as a group over there was assisting elderly and more feeble people with getting around Lourdes far easier from A to B.
The way we did this was by collecting chariots and wheelchairs from the local hospital, and then bringing them around to all the different hotels where all the different pilgrims were staying in Lourdes.
I also really enjoyed the other daily activities that we took part in on the pilgrimage. These included the hike to Bartres on one of the days, this was where St. Bernadette hiked herself all those years ago to see a wet nurse in her infancy and again in her early teens to be a shepherdess.
I also got lovely confessions on one of the days over there to say sorry for all my sins. I took part in lots more activities, one that stood out to me the most was when I volunteered to sing in the Holy Hour choir along with 2 other CBS Mullingar boys and 3 girls from Eureka in Kells and 4 or 5 boys from St. Pats in Navan. Overall, I really enjoyed getting to know some of the Pats boys and Eureka girls, while I was on the trip. They were all really nice and friendly to chat to throughout the trip. I really enjoyed the trip so much that I would really recommend it to any future boys and girls that get the wonderful opportunity to go on the pilgrimage.
Oisín
Photo Credit: Mac Diarmada
Photo Credit: Mac Diarmada
Photo Credit: Mac Diarmada
Photo Credit: Diocese of Meath
Photo Credit: Mac Diarmada
Photo Credit: Mohan