Congratulations to Stephen O’Driscoll (Our Lady Assumption) and Emily Crompton (St John Vianney), who got engaged during our centenary pilgrimage to Lourdes recently.

The pair, who are on the Saint Bernadette team, have been together for nearly six years and met in Lourdes. Emily has been going on the youth pilgrimage since 2015 on coach six, while Stephen started in 2017 on coach one, before moving over to six.

They have been going to Lourdes together since, and as it was such a special place for the pair of them, Stephen could think of no better place to pop the question.

He said: “I came up with the idea to propose in Lourdes because it was the place that really changed me as a person spiritually and emotionally.

“From the first sight of the domain and the grotto to the atmosphere, I was hooked.

“I loved the place from first sight, and I always knew something special would happen there.”

He also added the fact that it was the archdiocese’s centenary year was the icing on the cake for him.

“Since the start, it has been a very special place for the two of us,” he said.

“So, I thought why not propose in a place that means so much to us, so it will be something we can cherish forever.

“It honestly feels amazing to say we got engaged in such a special place, also with it being the centenary pilgrimage, I feel like we’ve made history!

“It was even crazy to have Archbishop Malcolm shout our names out at the anointing Mass. We felt like royalty for a couple of days.

“I’m so happy Emily said yes. I don’t know what I would do without her. She’s my world.”

Stephen proposed while they were lighting the candles in the grotto.

Reacting to what had happened, Emily said: “As we were lighting our candle at the grotto, I was already emotional, as it’s one of the most important parts of the week in Lourdes.

“After praying, I turned to see him on one knee, which made me cry even more. I just hugged him while he was still on his knee, leading him to ask me if I’d let him stand up!

“I cried happy tears and did my happy dance!”

While there are no plans for a wedding just yet, both said they hope there could be a nod to Lourdes on their special day.

Stephen said: “I was thinking probably of having a couple of Lourdes hymns in there. We’re even thinking of having a few priests at the wedding!

“After we get married, we’re thinking of going back to Lourdes to get a blessing from the archbishop.”

While Emily added: “There are many hymns that I love from going to Lourdes with the Youth, and hopefully we will have our friends from Lourdes there on our special day.”

Everyone at the archdiocese sends their congratulations to Stephen and Emily and wishes them a lifetime of happiness.