It is with sadness that I have to inform you that due to illness John Cambpell has had to step down from his role as President of the Hospitality. As you all know John has been an incredible servant to our pilgrimage for so many years. Until a couple of years ago he was also Chief Brancardier and has been President of the Hospitality for twenty years. During that time John has been a wonderful smiling presence around the Pilgrimage gently guiding us and encouraging us all. He brought incredible commitment and generosity to all the roles he has taken up in service of the Pilgrimage. Lourdes and our Pilgrimage has been such a part of John’s life that it is hard to imagine him not at the forefront of things in the future. I do hope that in time his health will improve sufficiently for him to be part of the pilgrimage where hopefully we can look after him rather than him looking after us. Please keep John and his wife Vera in your prayers at this difficult time.
Bishop Mark will appoint a new President in the New Year. If members of the Hospitality wish to nominate someone that they think should be considered for this important position please send their name directly to me at St Vincent’s, Tatton St, Knutsford WA16 6HR before 21 December with the reason why you are suggesting the person.
Fr David Long
Pilgrimage Director
Your prayers are requested for the repose of the soul of Kitty Coffey from St Anthony's Parish, Wythenshawe who has died.
Kitty volunteered during the pilgrimage for very many years and worked in the Accueil Notre Dame, usually in the kitchen, where you were always guaranteed a good brew!
May she rest in peace.
It was sad that we were unable to travel to Lourdes for our annual diocesan pilgrimage this year but we offer our thanks to Bishop Mark, the clergy and all who presented the various liturgies and events online during the Virtual Pilgrimage.
We also thank those whose technical skills allowed us to view the full programme of events during the week so that we could enjoy the next best thing to being there.
The 2021 pilgrimage will be our 70th Annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes. Planning is already underway so we look forward to seeing you all again in Lourdes.
It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that after consultation with the Bishop, our chief medical officer and matron and other key members of our planning team it has been decided that due to the Covid 19 pandemic we have had to cancel our 2020 Pilgrimage. At this stage it is impossible to say whether travel to Lourdes would be possible in July but given the present lockdown and need for self-isolation and social distancing it is impossible for us to organise the necessary training of volunteers and assessment of our assisted pilgrims. Our doctors and nurses are at the frontline of caring for the victims of the pandemic and their focus has to be on that enormous responsibility at this time. I will be writing to all those who have already made bookings for this year’s pilgrimage through our Pilgrimage Office offering them a full refund of monies paid. I am sure that this will be a huge disappointment to all of you as it is to me and my team but the safety and welfare of all our pilgrims is our absolute priority. Let us hold all those associated with our pilgrimage in prayer at this time and ask once again for the protection of Our Lady of Lourdes and St Bernadette:
Our Lady of Lourdes: Pray for us
St Bernadette: Pray for us.
Fr David Long
Pilgrimage Director
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www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org.uk/about-us/privacy-notice.
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