"Use this pilgrimage to link heaven and earth inside yourself"

This summer marks the 40th annual Brentwood pilgrimage to Lourdes. A record 253 young people and leaders from the Brentwood Catholic Youth Service spent 17 hours travelling in four coaches in order to support and help pilgrims to Lourdes.

Fr Dominic Howarth says: “In 1978 the first ever Brentwood pilgrim coach left Clacton and travelled at 30mph. There was no air conditioning and it took two days to reach Lourdes. We must thank Fr Bill Nix (right), the first youth chaplain to take young people to Lourdes; his legacy continues!”

At the Grotto Mass, pilgrims and BCYS helpers heard Bishop Alan’s inspirational words: “If we can notice things and people as Mary does, what a transformation that would be – inside of ourselves, heaven will touch earth.”

Play the link below from BCYS about the pilgrimage so far:

We look back at Day 1 of the Summer Lourdes Virtual Pilgrimage 2018. Please let us know if you have any intentions and we will bring them with us to the Grotto Mass tomorrow morning ?? pic.twitter.com/6tMoGHsnro

— BCYS (@BrentwoodCYS) July 24, 2018

Fr Martin O’Connor preached at the opening Mass on the theme of being many parts of the true vine.

Fr Martin O’Connor preaches for our opening Mass for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brentwood pilgrimage on the theme of being many parts of the true vine ?

Posted by Brentwood Catholic Youth Service on Monday, July 23, 2018

Music from the Marian procession.

Beautiful torchlight procession this evening with @BrentwoodRC #BCYSLourdes18 pic.twitter.com/HbpnE7Dv01

— BCYS (@BrentwoodCYS) July 24, 2018

At the Grotto Mass, where Brentwood joined with Liverpool’s pilgrims, Bishop Alan gave a homily talking about the wedding feast at Cana and St Bernadette.