Summer 2020 - Pilgrimages Update

20th May 2020

We are now very sorry to have to let you know that our pilgrimage to Taizé will not be taking place this year.
We have been advised that it is not possible to continue with planning for the trip, due to the ongoing international travel restrictions and proposed quarantines, Government guidance, and the uncertainties about when restrictions will be lifted. Therefore we have decided that it is best to cancel the pilgrimage for this year.
We know that this will be a great disappointment to all our young pilgrims, as it is to the Taizé leadership team. We are sure that all will completely understand how important it is to keep our pilgrims and their families completely safe.

20th March 2020

We are very sad to have to let you know that the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes will not be taking place this year. 

We have been advised that it is not possible to continue with planning for the trip, due to the ongoing travel restrictions, the Government guidance, and the uncertainties about when restrictions will be lifted. Therefore Bishop Duffy has decided that it is best to cancel the pilgrimage for this year.

I know that this will be a great disappointment to all our young pilgrims, as it is to me and our leaders, and also I am sure that everyone will completely understand how important it is to keep our pilgrims, and the elderly and vulnerable people we would serve when in Lourdes, completely safe.

An email has been sent to all young people and their parents with further information.               
From the Diocesan Office:
In view of the current situation, at present and into the period ahead, and taking into consideration that the Sanctuary at Lourdes has been closed for the first time in its history, due to Covid-19 the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes for 2020 is cancelled. Bishop Duffy appreciates that this will be a sad decision for many, but in the circumstances, it is the only sensible one to take. He expresses his thanks to the Director, Brian Armitage and to the Spiritual Director, Canon Noel McGahan, together with the Lourdes Pilgrimage Executive Committee for their work on this year’s preparations. Please God, and with the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes, we can look forward to resuming our journey to the Shrine of Mary once again in 2021.


14th March 2020

We are continuing to prepare and work towards both our Lourdes and Taizé pilgrimages taking place this summer.

We continue to liaise with our travel agent and tour operators and are keeping up to date with travel advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the French Government.

The current guidelines from the Church, in line with that of the Health Authorities may mean that some of our planned preparation meetings may not take place.

​We will update young people and parents via email if there are any significant developments in regard to our pilgrimages this summer.


5th March 2020
Yet again, we have been overwhelmed by the number of applications we have received for our summer pilgrimages to Lourdes and Taizé. 
Due to various factors, the size of our pilgrimage groups are limited. Unfortunately this means that many will be left disappointed in not being offered a place.
A waiting list is in operation for both pilgrimages, and if places become available we will contact individuals with the offer of a place.

An email was sent today to all those who submitted an Expression of Interest form. If this email does not make it's way directly into your inbox, please check your spam/junk folder as your email server may have filtered it there.

Questions/enquiries can be made via email to [email protected].