Lourdes Redshirt Invitation from J&L
Two of our parishioners went to Lourdes as Redshirts last summer. Now that applications are open for 2026, here’s their testimony.
Last year, me and my brother headed to Lourdes as apart of Redshirts, and I know you must be wondering why we would want to spend part of summer praying in a church all day? Well its much more than that. As a redshirt you get to visit Holy places for instance the grotto where Mary appeared to St Bernadette, reflect on what it means to be a Catholic, helping pilgrims and most importantly focus on strengthening your relationship with God. The best part is you get to do this with other teenagers your age which really changed the way we look at our faith.
Service with a Purpose
Being a "Redshirt" (a youth volunteer) means being the hands and feet of the pilgrimage. Our days were busy and varied — one of us had the privilege of holding the white umbrella for the Priest during procession, whilst the other even joined the choir to help lead the music.
But it wasn’t all tasks and schedules. There were moments of deep reflection, like when we gathered during Mass to pray for those who were dying. It was in those moments, praying together as a group, that we felt a real connection to God and to each other. You realize very quickly that your help truly matters to the pilgrims who have travelled so far to be there.
Not Your Typical "Church Trip"
To the other students in the parish, we want you to know: Lourdes is fun.
One of the best parts was meeting people who were just like us -cool, trendy, and easy to talk to - but who also loved their faith. We spent our free time exploring local historic sites, hanging out late into the evening (we were even given free time to roam around the town) and we even had a massive party at the end of the week to celebrate. We went in as strangers and came out as a tight-knit group of friends.
A Note to Parents
If you’re wondering if this is the right experience for your child, we can confirm from our own: it sticks with you. They told us at the beginning of the week that Lourdes would change us, and it truly did. We’ve come home with a deeper faith and a real desire to stay involved.
We aren't just "going through the motions" at Mass anymore—we’re practicing our faith because we want to. We’re already counting down the days until we go back this year!
Join Us This Year!
We would love to have more people from our parish join the Redshirts this summer. If you want to make new friends, explore a beautiful part of France, and experience faith in action, come along.
A Note from Fr Jonathan - “OK, they’ve talked me into it, what do I need to do?”
If you would like to go - and we hope you will want to - register at https://www.abdiocese.org.uk/lourdes/apply. As a parish we also recognise the difference that a youth trip to Lourdes makes and there are small bursaries available to help offset the cost. J&L also did some fundraising of their own in 2025.