Recently, our Foundation Learning Senior Tutor, Mollie Swadkins, and College Chaplain, Kath Edmond accompanied some of our students to visit the Relics of St Bernadette at Liverpool Cathedral.

The Relics of St Bernadette have travelled on pilgrimage to England, Scotland and Wales for the very first time.  This is a once in a lifetime event giving people of all ages the opportunity to experience the charisms of Lourdes.

At the Cathedral, Mollie led a reflection focussing on how St Bernadette impacts the lives of all those who go on pilgrimage from our Archdiocese, especially young people.

So who is St Bernadette?

St Bernadette was born in 1844 in France. She was born into a very poor family and was one of 8 children. Her ambition in life was to inspire generations of people to journey in faith on pilgrimage to Lourdes.

At the young age of 14, Bernadette had a series of Apparitions that took place in a cave on the outskirts of Lourdes where the Virgin Mary visited her eighteen times. During these miraculous encounters, Bernadette became the friend and confidante of Our Lady, The mother of Jesus.

In 1866, the Apparitions of Lourdes were authenticated. In that same year, Bernadette left Lourdes to live within a community of the Sisters of Charity of Nevers and fulfilled her religious vocation. She sadly passed away in 1879, was proclaimed blessed in 1925 and became a saint in 1933.

How can I apply to Lourdes?

This week, the application forms for the Liverpool Archdiocese Youth Pilgrimage to Lourdes opened. It is a special year as it’s 100 years since the Liverpool Archdiocese first visited Lourdes. Although this is not a college led trip, there are many students from Carmel College that join the pilgrimage each year. If you would like any more information about it, you can speak to our Chaplain, Kath, or Mollie in Foundation Learning who is also a staff member on the pilgrimage.

You can apply online for Lourdes here – Lourdes 2023 Application. You can read about Mollie’s 2022 Pilgrimage to Lourdes here – News – Lourdes Pilgrimage 2022