How to go on Pilgrimage in a Lockdown

Since the 1950s the monks of Ampleforth Abbey have led and accompanied a Pilgrimage to Lourdes every year, until now. Over the course of 2020 and 2021 the Ampleforth Lourdes Hospitalité sought ways to bring together this Pilgrimage family of Monks, Old Amplefordians, College Staff, Oblates, Assisted Pilgrims and friends of Ampleforth in new and digital ways. Whilst there has been great sadness due to not being in Lourdes together, this community has grown stronger and more inclusive by reaching out to each other, culminating in two Virtual Pilgrimages over the last 18 months.

Every week up to 40 households have met on a Monday night via Zoom to pray the Rosary; there has been weekly Lectio Divina and the very popular “Thirsty Thursdays” every month, bringing together up to 90 people all around the globe for a short reflection from a Chaplain and plenty of time to catch up online.

There was a special Mass on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, celebrated by Fr Edward from the Upper Chaplaincy, with 100 households tuning in. Fr Abbot celebrated Mass for us in March, live from the Abbey Church, with 300 people viewing in addition to the normal virtual congregation. Younger members of the Pilgrimage volunteered to help those less technically savvy to become Zoom and YouTube experts over the last 18 months. There was a team of helpers who spent 2020 reaching out to those Pilgrimage members and Assisted Pilgrims who have been at the most risk of isolation at the height of lockdown; checking in, praying together, and ensuring they know how important they are to our Ampleforth Pilgrimage family.

In 2020 we ran a lockdown fundraiser “A Pilgrimage for Pilgrimage”, where Hospitalité members collectively wheeled, walked, cycled, swam and ran the distance to Lourdes from their own homes. In the end we “made it” to Fatima… and back! This raised over £15,000 for future Pilgrimages and enabled us to make donations

to the Acceuil Marie-St Frai in Lourdes, as well as to the monastic community at Ampleforth to help with Live Streaming equipment. Congratulations to our top fundraiser David Craig (H66), who singlehandedly raised a third of our total!

From 16 - 23 July 2021 the Pilgrimage ran online for the second time, with a wide range of activities bringing together over 250 individuals and families for Mass, praying the Rosary, Lectio Divina, children’s activities, talks and the ever-popular Ward Party and Café Society. The week was devised and delivered by the Virtual Pilgrimage Working Party: Diana Williams, Fr Ambrose, Tim McKeever (C13), Nik Birkett, Emma Craig, Philip Westmacott (O71), Ros Wood and Hamilton Grantham (H93).

The week opened with a beautiful Mass from the Abbey Church, celebrated by Fr Ambrose, and a powerful opening talk from Fr Abbot. Many members of the monastic community and other Pilgrimage Chaplains worked alongside Pilgrimage members to enable a virtual Torchlight Procession, daily Mass, Stations of the Cross, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and a whole host of activities. There was beautiful music throughout the week provided by talented members of the Pilgrimage including Tim McKeever (C13), Mary-Clare Ridge (A11) and Mark Pickthall (B73).

We were blessed this year with a Live Streamed Mass for the Ampleforth Pilgrimage from the Grotto celebrated by Mgr Xavier d’Arodes, ViceRector of Lourdes, with Paul Williams (T69) representing the Pilgrimage as our candle was lit and Mass offered for all our intentions.

It was very evident from the start of our Virtual Pilgrimage this year that the longing to be back in Lourdes is now stronger than ever. Please pray hard that we will be able to return in 2022.