What began as part of Debbie Reynolds’ role within the diocesan Catholic Youth Service, the Lourdes Youth Pilgrimage soon developed into a remarkable 33-year journey, becoming an integral part of both her life and her family’s story.

Debbie started working for the Youth Service in 1992, with the pilgrimage playing a key part of her work.

Reflecting on the early days, she said: “I have incredibly fond memories of working for the youth service. I worked closely with Fr John Seddon and Fr Philip Inch on the Lourdes pilgrimage, while Sr Gertrude managed the finances.

“They introduced a number of changes that are still in place today - the commitment of prioritising the sick pilgrims- the VIPs; having the commitment of preparation meetings in the build up to the pilgrimage and having curfew restrictions in place to ensure nobody was ever too tired to assist the pilgrims.”

Among her many memories, one stands out with particular humour: “In 1994, I ordered green t-shirts for the pilgrimage. But when they arrived, everyone insisted they were blue! In the summer heat of Lourdes, they showed every bit of sweat. The following year, we returned to the yellow shirts we still use today - they were always seen as a ray of sunshine. It’s safe to say I’ve never quite lived down the ‘was it blue or green?’ debate!”

At the time, nine coaches alongside a minibus from Speke which driven entirely by a youth worker, made the 26-hour journey. At the time, the sick pilgrims travelled by train or jumbulance – a specially designed coach-ambulance that transports sick and disabled people. It was rare to travel by plane.

Debbie’s own family story soon became intertwined with the pilgrimage: “My husband Pete and I joined the pilgrimage in 1991 on the north Sefton coach. I was staff until 1995 when I was on maternity leave, but Pete continued going.

“In 1997, I got a new job with the archdiocese and Fr Philip invited Pete and I, along with our 2 ½ year old daughter Beth, to go back on the pilgrimage – thankfully she was a very good sleeper so was great on the long coach journey – I was very fortunate for that.”

Debbie moved around different youth coaches and established new staff teams. Then in 2003, Fr Stephen Pritchard – the youth director at the time, asked Debbie and Dennis Jones to set up a new youth coach from Sefton– coach 7.

Debbie added: “The coach served the youth from the Formby and Crosby area, but we very much used to integrate with others from across the archdiocese. Our local parishes  funded coaches so our youth could travel together across the archdiocese to go to the monthly Animate Youth Alive Mass and we used that as a basis for our preparation meetings.”

Debbie remembers her time on the pilgrimage so fondly, “There was always so much laughter and you really do build your own little Lourdes family. You could go a year without seeing people, but when you met up in Lourdes, it’s like you’ve never been away from each other.

“A Joyful memory for me is meeting the train when the sick pilgrims arrive in Lourdes – groups were on the platform singing and dancing as the train embarked and there was so much excitement about the week ahead.

“Even as a young mum, I’ve never experienced tiredness like it with the early mornings that the pilgrimage brings, but the joy certainly outweighed that.”

The one standout moment for Debbie over the three decades was when daughter Beth made her first Holy communion there.

“I felt so proud seeing our little dot of a daughter walk up to Archbishop Patrick Kelly at the altar and 500 young people cheering her on. That’s a memory that will stay with me for a lifetime.”

The last time that Debbie went to Lourdes was 2024, as an independent pilgrim. “When you’re a staff member or coach leader you don’t have the time to explore much, but this year I was able to appreciate the town of Lourdes and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

“Pete last went in 2025 as a staff member on coach 9. We won’t be on the pilgrimage this year, but we very much will support the pilgrimage from afar, we will be following it from home and enjoy reminiscing as a family on our joyful memories.”

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