lourdes pilgrimage
Can you support us?
Please come along to our cake sales and pray for our young volunteers. If you are able to make a financial contribution we would be most greatful.
You can do this by donating directly into the parish bank account (if you choose this option then please email the office so that we can allocate the money correctly).
Lourdes is a small town in the foothills of the French Pyrenees. It was here in 1858 that the little shepherd girl Bernadette Soubirous encountered Mary, Mother of God, in the grotto of Massabielle by the Gave de Pau river. It was here that Mary revealed herself to the world as the Immaculate Conception and asked Bernadette that a church be built and that people come in procession. It is to this place that we are invited to follow in the footsteps of the tens of millions of pilgrims who have come in procession for more than 150 years to meet with Mary at the Grotto, to be refreshed in body and soul by the waters of its spring, and to be led to her Son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Saviour.
The last pilgrimage took place in July 2025.
You can view snippets of the pilgrimage on our parish youtube page. (Thankyou to Reggie for the content).
If you are a young adult / adult looking for ways to be involved in the pilgrimage please read the information below and get in contact with Siobhan.
How can young people be involved?
There are various roles that young people can take on:
Hotel RedCap (age 16-20) –
Hotel Redcaps are Hospitalité members whose duties are typically situated between the various Lourdes hotels and the Domain (the Sanctuary surrounding the Grotto). The Hotel Redcap duties can vary, depending on the requirements of pilgrimage. They can include working for the Domain Authorities in an official capacity, taking part in processions and carrying banners, socialising with the assisted pilgrims and helping them by pushing their wheelchairs, or taking part in liturgies during services and Masses.
Ceremonies RedCap (age 16-20)-
The Ceremonies Team serves in a stewardship role, ensuring the smooth and reverent running of every service and Mass throughout the pilgrimage. As a Ceremonies Redcap, you’ll have the privilege of helping make each celebration as welcoming, prayerful, and joyful as possible for all our pilgrims. You will also play a vital part in supporting the domain during key daily events.
Children’s RedCaps
Our Redlings are the youngest members of the pilgrimage and there are opportunities for Redcaps to work with these children during the week. If you are interested in working with children of primary school age in the future, this could be a great opportunity for you.
St Frai RedCap (age 16-20) –
As with Hotel pilgrims, St Frai assisted pilgrims also require Redcap assistance to travel to and from the St Frai accommodation that hosts the sick during the Pilgrimage. However, for logistical reasons, coupled with the fact that the St Frai operate to a slightly different Pilgrimage timetable and a shift-based work schedule, the Hotel Redcap teams are unable to provide the required service. Therefore, a dedicated team of Redcaps are assigned to work in the St Frai.
Red Cap Team Leader (age 18+ with at least two years experience working on the pilgrimage) –
On arrival in Lourdes, Redcaps are allocated a Team and a Team Leader. Team Leaders have a variety of responsibilities including allocating duties, liaising with Group Leaders and Pilgrimage Management and supporting the assisted pilgrims entrusted to them.
Team Leaders must be over the age of 18, have volunteered as a redcap for a minimum for 2 Westminster Pilgrimages and have a recommendation from a Group or Team Leader. The role of a Team Leader also extends into preparation, planning and development of the Pilgrimage.
St Frai Helper (age 18+) –
If you are over 18, your help would be very much appreciated as a St Frai Helper. Some of our sick pilgrims in most need of support and medical care stay in a hospital-like building called the Accueil St Frai in the centre of Lourdes. It is well-equipped for their care, and they are looked after by a team of doctors, nurses and volunteer St Frai Helpers. The role of a St Frai Helper is to support the nurses and provide the sort of care for which you don’t need a medical qualification. This includes helping the pilgrims get up and ready in the morning; making large amounts of tea; cleaning the wards; taking the pilgrims to various pilgrimage events; shopping and socialising with them and other helpers; and putting them to bed at night. The timetable is shared across two shifts so there is enough time to rest, make your own pilgrimage, spend time with your
groups and make new friends.
All our helpers work in small teams guided by experienced team leaders. Although plenty of people come back year after year, at least half the people in your team will, like you, be working in the St Frai for the first time. We run training sessions for all helpers before the pilgrimage and ensure that you are happy and supported in everything you do. Helping in the St Frai is an extremely moving and rewarding experience and provides a wonderful opportunity for you to give care and company to our pilgrims and make a huge difference in their lives.
Interested in a career in Medicine?
We warmly welcome any students who are considering a career in Medicine. We have a limited number of places allowing you to shadow our friendly St Frai doctors and nurses during part of your time in Lourdes. Not only will you get a taster of “Pilgrimage Medicine”, but we will also provide ongoing mentorship as you embark on a career serving the sick.
Doctors and Nurses are also invited to assist with the pilgrimage.
Redlings (0-11)
The Redlings are the youngest members of the Diocesan Hospitalité. They range in age from 0 – 10 years old and provide a unique ministry to the Pilgrimage. During the week in Lourdes, the Redlings follow a program of spiritual learning, participation during Masses and Services and spending time with the assisted pilgrims.
Reds (12-15)
The Reds are the pilgrimages Redcaps in training. This group is for young people aged 11– 15 years old and aims to provide spiritual input and opportunities to become more involved with working with the Assisted Pilgrims and supporting the pilgrimage organisation.
In the past the group of young adults from our parish travelled to Lourdes to work as RedCaps with the Diocese pilgrimage with funding from the Jubilee Trust, the SVP, the Catenians, the Jack Petchey foundation, the Alistair Roberts Memorial Fund and our own fundraising events supported by members of the parish and school and the wider community through donations of raffle prizes. The young people found this experience rewarding and moving and we know that the assisted pilgrims were extremely grateful for their presence and hard work. If you are over 16 and would like to be a RedCap please contact Siobhan.
The dates for the 2026 trip are 17th-24th July.
