This month, 1,200 people from across the Archdiocese of Liverpool will be travelling to Lourdes in a historic year which marks the first pilgrimage since the declaration of the Jack Traynor miracle.
Since 1923, hundreds of thousands of people from across the archdiocese have made the journey over to the south of France every year, with the exception of during World War II and the Covid-19 pandemic.
The pilgrimage will begin on Thursday 24 July and will be led by The Most Reverend John Sherrington who was installed as the Archbishop of Liverpool in May. Hundreds of pilgrims along with volunteers and medical staff will travel by air on special flights from Liverpool John Lennon airport. A jumbulance- a specially adapted and fully accessible coach will travel across land with seven assisted pilgrims.
Over 200 young people will be taking part in the pilgrimage, travelling by coach from Knowsley, Lancashire, Isle of Man, Ormskirk, Wigan, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton, Warrington and Widnes. Seven coaches will be leaving from points across the archdiocese in the early hours of Wednesday 23 July to begin the twenty-four hour journey.
Whilst in Lourdes, the young pilgrims will get up as early as 4:30am to work in the hospital and assist pilgrims to different places of devotion.
In December 2024, the case of John (Jack) Traynor was officially announced as a miracle. Jack was a pilgrim on the archdiocese's first official pilgrimage to Lourdes in 1923 and was cured dramatically of epilepsy, paralysis of the right arm and paraplegia during the pilgrimage. It is the 71st official miracle to have happened in Lourdes and the first person from England to be recognised.
Father Grant Maddock, pilgrimage director, said: “The Lourdes pilgrimage is a truly special occasion for the Archdiocese of Liverpool – it is a week filled with joy, hope and prayer.
“This year’s pilgrimage will have much more significance, not only is it the Jubilee Year, but it is also the first pilgrimage since the declaration of the miracle of Jack Traynor. We are delighted that members of Jack’s family will be joining us for the pilgrimage, and we will be remembering Jack throughout the week.
“As always, our assisted pilgrims are at the heart of our pilgrimage. This year, we have introduced additional activities for them such as providing them with the opportunity to see Vision- the musical story of Lourdes.
“Everyone from across the archdiocese is very much looking forward to the first pilgrimage being led by Archbishop John Sherrington.”
