Cath Morgan, Pilgrimage Director.

This years pilgrimage was as usual, a great success both spiritually and socially. Most of our pilgrims travelled by air, on two flights, with three coaches including the youth coach arriving in Lourdes by Friday evening to bring the total number of Pilgrims to about 400. This number included 70 young pilgrims the biggest number for many years. There was a balanced programme of services put together by the planning committee and ably overseen by Fr. Manny and Fr. Andrew. Bishop Patrick was once again a driving force mixing and conversing with all the Pilgrims. The Diocese was lucky to have such a great number of clergy with us, including two newly ordained Deacons and the newly ordained Priest Fr. Andrew Allman. Thanks go to Bishop Patrick and all the Clergy for attending to our spiritual needs, to Anna and Sean and all the youth who did such a sterling job, to our Doctors, Nurses and Carers without whose expertise the Pilgrimage could not function, our Sick Pilgrims and all the Pilgrims who made 2005 a memorable one. Dates for next year are, Friday July 21st to Friday July 28th. Start saving now and let’s make 2006 even bigger and better.