University College Cork
Sun 17 Nov 2024
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I hope that whatever you are seeking you may find some steps here that will lead you to know the God of Love in your life. You are welcome to walk with us on our social media channels, too.
Bishop Fintan Gavin
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Parish groups, individuals and anyone with a desire to be part of this faith journey is welcome to partake. An annual collection in the parishes of the diocese is used to assist needy people with travel expenses and subsidises the expenses of required medica, professional help as well as voluntary carers for the sick.
People who need assistance are accommodated in a special hospital on the grounds of the shrine and this is staffed during the pilgrimage by people from Cork & Ross who volunteer to assist the pilgrims. The helpers and the able-bodied pilgrims stay in the hotels in the town - which are also near the Grotto. People are encouraged to join the Diocesan Pilgrimage as helpers, nurses and doctors to assist pilgrims in Lourdes. Contact:
The Diocesan Coordinators of the Pilgrimage to Lourdes are Fr. Charlie Kiely, Fr Damian O'Mahony and Fr. Marius O’Reilly. They are appointed by the bishop and work alongside a dedicated team of volunteer lay people.
You can find out more information about Lourdes at
The Lourdes School Helper Group with Bishop Fintan Gavin and Lourdes Youth Leaders Fr. Marius O'Reilly and Sheila KelleherThe day opened with an opportunity for the group to get to know one another and the Lourdes pilgrimage youth group leaders, Fr Marius O'Reilly and Sheila Kelleher.
Fr Marius led the group through the story of Lourdes and St. Bernadette. Sheila spoke on what it means to serve as a youth helper on the pilgrimage and what their involvement will mean.
Photo taken at Lourdes in 1972 (full image in post)
One of the established traditions with pilgrims who travel to the Marian Shrine in Lourdes, France, is to have a photo taken outside the basilica.
There must be many such photos in homes across Ireland!
This photo of the Cork and Ross Pilgrimage to Lourdes was taken in 1972. It was taken by Photo Viron -- a local firm who still take photos as Lourdes. (Click Read more to see the full photo.)
This year's pilgrimage to Lourdes is from Sept 19th to 24th. A similar mix of people will travel also this year: people who are sick, their family members and helpers, professional carers, young adult helpers as well as able-bodied pilgrims who join from across the diocese.
Learn about Lourdes on Thursday 20thA special Information Evening will take place for those aged 18 to 25 that are interested in travelling with the Diocese of Cork and Ross to Lourdes (Sept 19th to 24th) as a Young Adult Helper.
The meeting will take place on
This is a fantastic opportunity for young adults to assist pilgrims in need and deepen their faith by experiencing the unique spirituality of Lourdes.
For more information, please contact Sheila Kelleher at
Cork and Ross Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2024
The Diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes this year will take place from Friday 19th September to Wednesday 24th September under the patronage of Bishop Fintan Gavin.
The flights are from Cork to Lourdes. There is a choice of hotels from €939 pps and there will be a full Pilgrimage Programme.
Bookings are now open with Joe Walsh Tours on (01) 2410 800 for anyone wishing to travel as a pilgrim.
Volunteers are also required: Doctors, Nurses, Care Assistants and Helpers (Adults and Young Adults aged between 18-25 years).
A special Reunion Mass for those who travelled to Lourdes last September will be on Friday, February 28th at 7.30pm in the Church of the Incarnation, Frankfield, followed by a social afterwards.
This will officially launch this year’s pilgrimage, and all are invited and welcome to attend this Mass.
For general enquiries about the pilgrimage contact (085) 2525 040 or email:
Here Bishop Fintan invites everyone "to create in Cork and Ross something of what people experience in Lourdes".
Invitation to visit St. Bernadette's relicsSt. Bernadette witnessed eighteen apparitions of Our Lady at Lourdes in 1858 and countless millions of people have visited Lourdes since.
This visit of St. Bernadette’s relics will afford to the many people who can’t go to Lourdes an opportunity to be close to St. Bernadette and to Our Lady of Lourdes.
People will be able to venerate the relics at the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne, Cork, and at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Clonakilty.
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Thank you and God bless Read More