Page 55 - 1RHA 2024

1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
Lourdes Pilgrimage Revd (Major) PJ O’Driscoll
With a theme of Let Us Go In Procession, the 64th Inter- national Military Pilgrimage (IMP) to Lourdes took place from 23 to 27 May 2024. A UK contingent of 350 per- sonnel from across the Whole Force, under the leadership of The Right Reverand Paul Mason, Roman Catholic Bishop of the Armed Forces, gathered with around 15,000 service personnel from more than 40 nations for a long weekend of pilgrimage, prayer and fel- lowship.
Lourdes has been a place of pilgrimage since 1858 when a young peasant girl called Bernadette Soubirous witnessed several appa- ritions of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. Mary gave Bernadette a message of prayer, repentance, and pilgrimage. 3.5 million pil- grims come each year to be open to experience an encounter with themselves, with others, and with God.
The IMP grew out of a desire for Franco-German reconciliation following World War II. In 1958 the pilgrimage was extended to the Armed Forces of other nations to promote reconciliation and peace. The cornerstones of the IMP are fraternity, peace, and hope. Through a series of national and international events and services, as well as time spent in social and sporting activities, the IMP pilgrim can’t fail but be moved by this place of comradeship, love, and hope.
Ten soldiers from 1RHA travelled with Fr O’Driscoll. For many it was their first contact with the structures of the Roman Catholic Church. There were many different enjoyable moments experi- enced by all, as they were able to attend the opening and closing ceremony where all 40 nations march (not to a British style) into a major underground arena. The candlelight procession, a great evening where Capt Steel RA led the traditional prayer of the Rosary. The American Service personnel lead us at the Mass at the Grotto alongside the Irish Defence Force. They all were privi-
leged to be invited to visit Hosana House where a barbeque was laid on and they were valued ambassadors meeting the Bishop of Forces (RC) and those with disabilities that had been supported to attend. All had great fun listening to the Military bands from the other Nations which created a party atmosphere in the evening where new friends were made when exchanging insignia/badges with other international forces and many came away making firm international friends for the future. Overall, a spiritually uplifting event that has already had a number of enquiries for next year.
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