Page 11 - Bugle Autumn 2024

64th INTERNATIONAL MILITARY PILGRIMAGE IN LOURDES
Over the late May Bank Holiday weekend, 12 personnel from 1st and 2nd Battalions The Rifles joined 350 members of the UK Contingent to the 64th International Military Pilgrimage in Lourdes, in the French Pyrenees.
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 there each year. In 1958 French authorities invited members of the German military to join them in pilgrimage, 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. The groups from 1 and 2 RIFLES were accompanied by their chaplains, Fr John Moriarty and Fr Kevin Dow.
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.
with over 20,000 people carrying candles, forming a procession over 1 km long before gathering in the main square
The procession is a traditional element of the Lourdes Pilgrimage, and was a 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.” 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.
The weekend included many opportunities for the pilgrims to meet in social settings. Uniform was worn throughout, making it easier to recognise service people from other nationalities (although swapping badges, headdress and even uniforms was a popular way of connecting with colleagues from around the world).
We returned to our units tired, but grateful for the opportunity to participate in the pilgrimage and hoping to go again next year. It was 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.
Padre John Moriarty
1 RIFLES
RIFLES The Bugle 11