Armed Forces personnel from forty nations gather in Lourdes

Over the late May Bank Holiday weekend, 350 members of our Armed Forces Community travelled to Lourdes, in the French Pyrenees, for the 64th International Military Pilgrimage.

In 1858 Bernadette Soubirous, a young girl living in poverty, experienced visions of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, by the river in Lourdes, and since then it has been a significant place of pilgrimage, cared for by the Catholic Church. Today, several million people travel to Lourdes each year. In 1958 French authorities invited members of the German military to join them in pilgrimage to Lourdes, and this started the tradition of the annual military pilgrimage. This year, over 16,000 service people attended, representing the armed forces of 40 nations.

The UK contingent comprised members of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, the Army, the Royal Air Force, Cadet Forces, civil servants, veterans and supporters. They were supported by chaplains from all of the services and from a broad range of Christian traditions, including the Chaplain General, The Reverend Canon Michael Parker KHC CF and The Right Reverend Paul Mason, Roman Catholic Bishop of the Forces.

“It has been over twenty years since I last visited Lourdes for the International Military Pilgrimage. The energy and enthusiasm of the pilgrims is as strong today as it was then. For those who have never experienced the IMP, it is truly moving to encounter over 15,000 service personnel from across the world being open to faith and spirituality,” said the Chaplain General.

We were blessed too, to have the Band of the Royal Regiment of The Fusiliers with us, who led the UK contingent when parading to events, enriched the church services with their music, and entertained crowds at a variety of events.

The programme provided opportunities to gather and reflect on our own lives, to come together as a community and to build relationships with others from around the world. We held church services as a UK contingent, joined other English speaking nations for Mass in the Grotto and gathered with all nations for opening and closing ceremonies and the torch-light procession. The torch-light procession, a traditional element of the Lourdes Pilgrimage, was memorable occasion, with over 20,000 people carrying candles, forming a procession over 1 km long before gathering in the main square.

In his message to those gathered, Pope Francis wrote “The pilgrimage is also a faith experience that helps us discover the beauty of walking together, supporting each other and reaching out to others.”1 Pilgrims came from a wide range of religious and non-religious backgrounds and all experienced this walking together, building relationships with others from around the world, with very different experiences of life, but able to support each other on the journey.

We returned to the UK tired, but grateful for the opportunity to participate in the pilgrimage. It offers a unique opportunity to meet military colleagues, of all ranks, from around the world and to establish new relationships and understanding, representing the best of the British Forces on a world stage.

Written by Fr John Moriarty CF
Chaplain 1st BN The Rifles