Pupils from Dumfriesshire’s Roman Catholic schools became pilgrims with a visit to Scotland’s National Shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes – Carfin Grotto.
They were at the site as it was chosen by the Missions of Notre-Dame of Lourdes as the only venue in Scotland to host the touring blessed relics of Saint Bernadette.
Usually held in France, they are on a first-ever visit to Scotland, England and Wales during September and October.
And it offers a special once in a lifetime opportunity for people of all ages and backgrounds to experience “the special gifts and charisms of Lourdes” in a church or cathedral near them.
The relics of one of the world’s most popular saints, spent a week at Carfin Grotto Sanctuary near Motherwell from September 24 to Saturday, October 1 and attracted pilgrims from across Scotland and the UK.
One day was designated to the Schools of the Archdiocese of Glasgow and the Galloway Diocese.
And that saw pupils from St Joseph’s College, St Andrew’s Primary and St Teresa’s Primary in Dumfries, as well as from St Columba’s Primary in Annan, making the journey to Carfin, taking part in a procession with their banners and helping with the liturgies.
They joined in the Liturgy of Water, venerated the relics, and celebrated outdoor Mass at the Lourdes Grotto Schools of the Archdiocese of Glasgow and the Galloway Diocese and a number of the region’s priests – including the Reverend Fathers Gerald Donnelly, Jim Hayes and William McFadden – concelebrated the Mass.
