It’s been over 50 years since the first official Welsh National Pilgrimage set off for Lourdes.

Since then, many thousands of pilgrims have faithfully made their way to the small town of Lourdes in the foothills of the Pyrenees, following the request of Our Lady to St. Bernadette in 1858 to ‘come prayer, penance and procession’.

Always pointing us towards Jesus Christ, her Son, Our Lady of Lourdes calls us to prayer, penance, the Eucharist and life in the Church. As a result, Lourdes is a place of healing, both spiritual and physical. From the very beginning, even while the Apparitions were still taking place, those who were sick or suffering from infirmities of one kind or another come to the Grotto.

Since then, many changes have taken place both in Lourdes and equally within our Pilgrimage, but those who are sick have remained at the heart of its mission.

Our own Pilgrimage has faced many challenges over the years, most notably in modes of transport, but always with its focus on the service of those who are sick and helping them to experience the peace and love of Lourdes.