Lourdes 2026
Bishop Deenihan accompanied 400 pilgrims to Lourdes from across the Diocese of Meath from 8th - 12th September 2026. The pilgrimage was supported by members of the diocesan Hospitalité and students from St. Patrick's Classical School, Navan, Eureka Secondary School, Kells, and Scoil Mhuire, Mullingar.
Our pilgrimage to Lourdes is one of the most significant pastoral events in our annual diocesan calendar, with hundreds of members of our community of faith visiting the Grotto together each year. Travelling to Lourdes is a wonderful experience full of fun, companionship, faith, friendship and laughter. Each person on our pilgrimage brings distinctive gifts and graces with them, benefitting those they meet during the week.
Pilgrims participated in a daily programme of events which included a number of Masses and liturgies in different settings, with different themes. The pilgrimage opens with Mass at the grotto offered by Bishop Deenihan. The student pilgrims lead a Holy Hour in the Rosary Basilica for diocesan pilgrims. Pilgrims participate in the Eucharistic Procession and the Candlelight Procession during the week. There were opportunities to walk and pray the Stations of the Cross and participate in the Service of Reconciliation.
A particularly moving moment in the pilgrimage was the water gesture and the diocesan visit to the baths. On day three, Bishop Deenihan celebrated Mass and blessed the pilrimage staff. Day four the pilgrimage celebrated Mass with the Anointing of the Sick.
While on pilgrimage the intentions of the people of the Diocese and the needs of our Diocese were remembered during all liturgies.
Fr. Joseph Gallagher VG, Pilgrimage director expressed his gratitude to the many parishes across the diocese who support the pilgrimage financially and by their prayers. Fr. Gallagher also commended members of staff and the youth who showed great care and compassion to the assisted pilgrims. They were a fantastic group of young men and women and it's hoped, with the will of God, they will have taken many graces and blessings from their experience.
In addition to supporting our assisted pilgrims, student pilgrims hiked to Bartrés where Bernadette spent some of her early years. The group visited the local church of St. John theBaptists where they venerated the relic of St. Bernadette. They later visited the 'Sheep Fold' where Bernadette looked after sheep.
The students rose early on the fourth day to pray the Stations of the Cross, arriving at the summit, the twelfth station for sunrise. The pilgrimage concluded for the students with a visit to the City of the Poor for the 'Blessing of Hands' in gratitude for the various ways they used their hands during the pilgrimage.
Everyone takes something home from Lourdes and this is not confined to Lourdes water, candles, or blessed religious objects. Every pilgrim brings a unique life experience to Lourdes and every pilgrim consequently has a unique experience of Lourdes that cannot be put into words. The experience of the eucharistic procession, the torch light procession, mass at the grotto, the water gesture, or just spending some quiet time alone with our lady in front of the shrine in the quietness of night, makes Lourdes a special place to find healing and strength to deal with all the many challenges we face in life.
Testimonies
Going on the Lourdes Pilgrimage as a volunteer with St Pat's was an unforgettable trip. Before going, I knew it was a great opportunity, but I didn't realise how much it would mean to me and was not what I expected. It was so lovely to meet new people, make friends with the Eureka and CBS and help out whenever I could. For me, the best part was seeing how much the little things could mean to someone else. Like having a chat or helping them out whenever they needed. The atmosphere in Lourdes was nothing I’ve ever experienced, it was so relaxed and there was a great sense of friendship and community with everyone on the pilgrimage. It’s definitely something I will never forget and would recommend anyone to go if given the opportunity.
(Charlie - St. Pat's)
My pilgrimage to Lourdes was a really rewarding and memorable experience. One of the best parts was getting to mix with the St Pat’s lads and the Eureka girls. It was great making new friends and spending time with everyone throughout the trip.
Working with the elderly and helping with the chariots was very rewarding. It gave me a different perspective and made me realise how meaningful even small acts of help can be. The Grotto was also a really special place, and the atmosphere there was something I’ll never forget.
I was quite nervous about doing the baths at first, but I ended up really enjoying it and was glad I decided to do them. We were also very lucky with the weather, which made the whole experience even better.
The only part I struggled with was the early mornings, as getting up so early every day was tough. However, I really enjoyed the Stations of the Cross and found them very meaningful. Overall, Lourdes was an experience I’ll never forget and I’m really glad I got the chance to go.
(James - CBS)
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Travelling to Lourdes was one of the best experiences of my entire life. It brought all the girls so much closer, even though I’ve known the girls for almost 6 years I saw a new side of them on this trip. Going into the trip, we didn’t quite know what to expect, but it exceeded all my expectations. It was such a rewarding trip, even just the small things like telling the pilgrims about yourself, asking about them, going for ice cream and bringing them to and from Mass made the trip what it was. It also really immersed me in my faith, it brought me closer to God, and I felt very spiritual while in Lourdes. Although we had a rough start and I was unwell during the trip, it was one of the best trips of my life, and I’m honoured to have been chosen to attend. Appreciate your time in Lourdes while you’re there!! So, take a moment while you’re out there to look around and appreciate it.
(Bláithín - Eureka)
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From traveling to Lourdes as a youth volunteer, I found it an amazing opportunity and feel so grateful I got to be part of such an eye-opening experience. From Dublin airport to the closing Mass, it was all full of laughter, joy and some tears... Lourdes gave me an opportunity to be vulnerable and put myself out there for new experiences and opportunity’s while finding myself in ways I never knew I could. From bonding with those who travelled with us, to helping those in need, and seeing how faith, love and friendship can bring us all together. Reflecting on Lourdes I feel so fulfilled and glad I got to set my priorities straight going into a stressful year ahead and look forward to traveling to Lourdes again someday. If I was to give advice to students traveling to Lourdes in the future, I would tell to take this opportunity with open arms, be vulnerable and say YES to every opportunity. (also bring a deck of cards).
(Molly - Eureka)
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The pilgrimage to Lourdes was an unforgettable experience for me, and it’s something that I am very proud to have been part of. From an organisational perspective I don’t think it could have run any smoother. I would like to thank Fr. Derek Darby for his particular role in the youth programme. The stations of the cross at dawn and the hike we did as a group are the two activities that really stood out to me from the youth programme. I really enjoyed chatting to the pilgrims, especially those who we helped in the airport and down to the grotto and back, and they were very grateful for our work. I would like to also thank Bishop Tom Deenihan for his generosity and his engagement with us.
(Connor - St. Pat's)
As I look back on it now and reminisce, I truly believe that applying for this pilgrimage was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Lourdes was so much more than I had anticipated. Not only did I grow in my faith, but I also brought back with me a deeply spiritual satisfaction. Plenty of core memories were made, so many in fact, that I could practically recreate the whole pilgrimage in my mind! I remember the feeling of walking down each avenue and basking in the sun. I can still recall the serenity that washed over me when I first prayed at the grotto. But within each recollection there was always a sense of inward peace – of a kind that I had never felt before. I absolutely loved participating in the prayers, Masses and processions. Sometimes, these also required hymns from the students and was an excellent opportunity to showcase our musicality. Apart from the religious aspects, the highlight for me was the pilgrims. The chats I had while assisting them were always pleasant. Each person had their own unique story to tell, and it was a pleasure having been able to talk to so many.
(Kyle Yao - St. Pat's)
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I thoroughly enjoyed my experience of travelling to Lourdes. I didn’t know what to expect before I went but now looking back, I will always remember my trip to Lourdes. It is the most special place ever. It was the most amazing trip and made me see life in a totally different way, it made me appreciate being able to travel there by foot and be healthy enough to enjoy my time there with the pilgrims, my teachers and new friends that I made. The experience I had in Lourdes is hard to even put into worlds, from seeing the grotto in real life and feeling the goosebumps the first time I seen it, to all the special Masses, the amazing chats I had with the pilgrims and the genuine bonds I made with a lot of them. The Stations of the Cross, the Holy Hour, the candlelight procession, the baths, and the walk to Bartrès it was all breathtaking and memories I will cherish forever. When I came home, I was trying to explain what a special and touching time Lourdes had on me, but it was so hard to put into words how amazing and life changing the trip was. The bishop and priests were so welcoming, kind and caring and I really felt appreciated by them and all the pilgrims. I was so honoured to serve at Mass one of the mornings and get to be the first girls to ever serve Mass in Lourdes. The baths were an experience like no other and would recommend them to anyone who’s travelling to Lourdes in the future. From helping and being with the pilgrims it made me think of my late Nana and Granny who travelled to Lourdes in the past and made me so overjoyed that I could walk in their footsteps. I definitely will be back.
(Lauren - Eureka)
