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This year's photos have graciously been provided by Robert Preston, KM.
Greetings from Lourdes!
“This is the work of God, that you believe in the one He sent.” John 6:29
The final full day of this year’s pilgrimage has come to a close. Following our last morning prayer, led by Fr. Philip Tangorra, and breakfast together, we processed to the Chapelle Notre-Dame for our Closing Mass, celebrated by H.E. Cardinal Timothy Dolan. During the Mass, Malades and their Caregivers received their Lourdes Pilgrimage medals, meaningful reminders of their journey and the grace of the week they shared together. It was also announced that Tom and Susan Egan will serve as next year’s Pilgrimage Co-Hosts. During the morning Medical Team breakfast, four pilgrims were also recognized with the Lourdes Pilgrimage Medal of Merit—an honor awarded to volunteers in the medical profession who have served on pilgrimage to Lourdes for three or more years. This year’s recipients were Dr. Robert Carr, Colleen Powers, NP, FNP, Connie Deutmeyer, RN, MSN, and Dr. Charles Herrick, whose faithful service has been a blessing to countless pilgrims.
After Mass, pilgrims participated in the Stations of the Cross, presented by Msgr. Ritchie, Msgr. Caldwell, and Fr. Cavoto. We then returned to our hotels to enjoy our final lunch together before gathering for the second and final set of pilgrim reflections. Following reflections, many pilgrims met one last time with their chaplains in the hotel chapels for continued, more personal moments of prayer and spiritual conversation. There was also a final opportunity to visit The Baths.
The afternoon brought rain, which eased just in time for the evening’s closing festivities. Our closing reception at the Hotel Méditerranée was bittersweet, as we spent one last evening together dining, reminiscing, and reflecting on the experiences of the past week. After dinner, some freshened up while others began our least favorite task—packing. Luggage tags and rolls of duct tape were passed around as we carefully secured our Lourdes Holy Water for the journey home. As always, duct tape proved to be one of the pilgrimage’s most in-demand and mysteriously disappearing items; with only two rolls left, one pilgrim even graciously donated the remainder of theirs to keep things moving.
The final signature event of the pilgrimage, the Closing Festivities, is always one that brings tears. Pilgrimage Co-Hosts Jean and Debbie Brunel thanked everyone for joining them on the American Association’s 38th Pilgrimage to Lourdes.
Our final evening in Lourdes was spent savoring quiet, meaningful moments, packing bags, exchanging last goodbyes, and for many, making one final visit to the Grotto with prayer intentions in hand. Those unhurried moments, marked by gratitude and reflection, offered a fitting close to a transformative week. Now, as pilgrims make their way home, we hold close all that was experienced and shared in Lourdes. Please stay tuned for one final update tomorrow as we reflect back on this year’s pilgrimage.
Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray for Us!
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