Dominican Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2009

For the past few years, the Dominicans who minister in England and Scotland have been leading an annual pilgrimage to the shrine of Lourdes. Godzdogz has posts from the 2008 Pilgrimage, and the 2007 Pilgrimage. Pope Benedict XVI has said that "the Year for Priests that we are celebrating is a precious opportunity to deepen our knowledge of the value of the mission of priests in the Church and in the world". So, Godzdogz will present photos from the 2009 pilgrimage that show aspects of priestly life and ministry. These will be interspersed with quotations from Pope Benedict's speeches concerning this year for priests.

To become priests in the Church means to enter into the self-donation of Christ through the Sacrament of Orders and to enter with all of one's being. Jesus gave his life for all, but in a special way he consecrated himself for those the Father had given to him, that they may be consecrated in truth, that is in him, and could speak and act in his name, represent him, continue his saving actions: breaking the Bread of life and remitting sins.

Priests assembled in the Underground Basilica for the start of Sunday Mass

fr Tony Rattigan OP presides at the Eucharist


fr Tim Calvert OP proclaims the Gospel of Christ


fr Bruno Clifton OP preaching


A priest hearing confession in Lourdes

The Eucharistic Celebration is the greatest and highest act of prayer, and constitutes the centre and the source from which even the other forms receive "nourishment": the Liturgy of the Hours, Eucharistic adoration, Lectio divina, the Holy Rosary, meditation. All these expressions of prayer, which have their centre in the Eucharist, fulfil the words of Jesus in the priest's day and in all his life: "I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep" (Jn 10: 14-15).

fr Leon Pereira leads the Prayer of the Faithful during Mass


fr John Farrell OP invites pilgrims to discover the Rosary and to entrust our lives to God's providence and the workings of His grace


The Blessed Sacrament is carried in procession every day in Lourdes


A bishop blesses the sick with the Blessed Sacrament


A Carmelite friar prays the Liturgy of the Hours


The priest who prays a lot, and who prays well, is progressively drawn out of himself and evermore united to Jesus the Good Shepherd and the Servant of the Brethren.

Priests and laity together make up the one priestly people and in virtue of their ministry priests live in the midst of the lay faithful, “that they may lead everyone to the unity of charity, ‘loving one another with mutual affection; and outdoing one another in sharing honour’ (Rom 12:10)

Dominican friars and lay pilgrims lead the Rosary Procession

In today’s world, as in the troubled times of the Curé of Ars, the lives and activity of priests need to be distinguished by a determined witness to the Gospel. As Pope Paul VI rightly noted, “modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses'.

All Christians are called to be a light in the world, shining the truth of Christ, by word and example, into the darkness of our fallen world.


An expedition to the Lac d'Estaing was part of the pilgrimage this year and some climbed the steep mountain that circles the lake


Daily recreation was an important part of the pilgrimage, allowing friars and pilgrims to mingle and chat informally




fr John O'Connor OP, the Pilgrimage Director, offers his thanks to one of our many helpers on the pilgrimage

Because he belongs to Christ, the priest is radically at the service of all people: he is the minister of their salvation, their happiness and their authentic liberation, developing, in this gradual assumption of Christ's will, in prayer, in "being heart to heart" with him.

fr Dermot Morrin OP administers the sacrament of the sick


fr Leon Pereira OP with some of the group


Dominican friars with other priests and religious at the close of the torch-lit procession


Friars and pilgrims pray the Stations of the Cross together, uniting themselves to the Lord in His passion, death and resurrection


The Provincial blesses the pilgrimage candle, which burns in the shrine at Lourdes as a sign of the prayers and hopes of all the pilgrims


fr John Farrell OP greets Dominican sisters, on pilgrimage from the Philippines and Japan

May the Word of the Lord always dwell within you, renew in your hearts the light, love and peace that God alone can give, and make you capable of witnessing and proclaiming the Gospel, source of communion and love.

We have been called to share the light of Christ with others...

It is always and only the Lord who sows in human hearts. Only after the abundant and generous sowing of the word of God can one progress further along the paths of companionship and education, of formation and discernment. All this is linked to that tiny seed, the mysterious gift of divine Providence which releases from within an extraordinary force. In fact, it is the Word of God who brings about in himself what he says and desires.

Might God be calling you to serve Him as a priest or religious? Visit our Vocations page.