For those travelling to Lourdes with us this Summer, please see below for details of key dates and pre-trip meeting.

PLEASE NOTE:

  • This years’ pilgrimage is now open to all those in schools years 10 and above
  • We would ask that those who travel with us have been double vaccinated and received a booster vaccination, where eligible. (If for any reason you are medically exempt from receiving the COVID-19 vaccination and wish to travel, please contact us directly).

Please do bear with us as we plan this trip whilst there are so many changes, restrictions and uncertainty around travel. 

 

 

Please read this page carefully before applying.

 

 

The BCYS Summer Lourdes Pilgrimage is one of our most popular annual events and is always heavily oversubscribed, with around 250 young pilgrims and volunteer leaders travelling.

 

 

The week is spent travelling alongside the main Diocesan pilgrimage as we assist the elderly and infirm, particularly those in wheelchairs, to get to Masses and services, visiting the shops and cafes of the beautiful French town, as well as joining them for social time together, as for many pilgrims, it is one of the few times they are able to leave their house.

 

For those travelling with the BCYS, the week will also include a retreat, reconciliation service, the chance to visit the baths, a trip to the stunning mountain town of Gavarnie (part of a UNESCO World Heritage site), social nights and party as well as experiencing the Lourdes Torchlight Procession and Blessed Sacrament Procession.

 

 

The pilgrimage is open to all those in school year 10 – 13, with all those of school leaver age (18+) invited to join us as young leaders (subject to attending a training weekend, see details below).

 

 

This year’s pilgrimage will be leaving Brentwood on Saturday 23rd July and returning on Saturday 30th July.

Exact timings will be confirmed in early 2022.

 

 

IMPORTANT TRAVEL INFORMATION

 

We ask that all those attending have received both COVID-19 vaccinations and booster, where eligible.

Due to Brexit, individuals with a British passport will need to apply for a Visa to travel to France.

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will now be replaced by the GHIC which will also need to be obtained by the individual before travelling.

 

Please bear with us as we investigate and confirm all details around Visas, COVID passports, costs, etc.

 

 

* * *

 

 

LEADERS (Age 18+, having left school)

To serve as a leader in Lourdes it is compulsory to attend the Leaders Training weekend which will take place on both Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd July at Walsingham House. Please arrive for 10:00am on Saturday 2nd July, accomodation and all meals will be provided for the weekend.

 

SCHOOL YEAR 13

For those who have not travelled with us before, the year 13s in our group in Lourdes have traditionally had a slightly larger role to play in the pilgrimage – we recognise that most of you will be 18 when we travel and will hopefully carry on to become leaders at future events, and we want to nurture and encourage this with you! This has meant being involved with things such as assisting Fr Bob Hamill, who travels with a group of adults with additional needs, as well as a bigger role in accompanying the main adult pilgrimage, or taking on stewarding and marshalling the larger events in Lourdes, among others.

So that we can meet you, you can meet each other and we can give you a little more information and opportunity to ask questions about this role, we would like to invite you to Walsingham House at Abbotswick on Sunday 3rd July from 1pm. We will have lunch and refreshments for you, and would then invite you to stay and your parents to join us for the whole group pre-trip meeting at 2:30pm.

 

SCHOOL YEARS 10 – 13

Sunday 3rd July

Pre-Trip Information Meeting

2:30pm at Walsingham House at Abbotswick, Navestockside, Nr Brentwood, CM14 5SH

All of those who are travelling, plus their parents/guardians are warmly invited to this pre-trip meeting where you will meet the groups you will be spending time with in Lourdes, find out your room shares, coach travel allocations and collect your polo shirts and hoodies for the week.

For parents, there will be an opportunity for you to hear more about the trip from Gabriella Skinner (Events and Pilgrimages Coordinator), Claire Bailey (Director of Youth Ministry) and Fr Dominic, and ask any questions or bring up any concerns you might have.

Whilst we are in Lourdes we will also have a medical team accompany us, so if there are any concerns particularly around health or wellbeing which you wish to discuss with them then they will be more than willing to give you that opportunity.

 

 

 

Please save these dates.

 

 

If you have any questions or concerns please speak to us as soon as possible, by emailing [email protected].

 

 

 

SELECTION PROCESS

Applications will be open from 24th October and places will then be confirmed in the first week of February.

The first 125 places will be offered to those from school years 10—12.

Up to 25 places will be offered to those in school year 13.

Places will be allocated to ensure as many parishes and schools as possible from the diocese are represented. 

Where we receive a large number from one school or parish, places will be allocated on a “first come, first served” basis.

THIS EVENT IS ALWAYS HUGELY OVERSUBSCRIBED, SO WE DO ENCOURAGE BOOKING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.