Major changes at Lourdes welcomed

Large donation made from a single donor to embellish the entire Grotto area and to make it a place of silence and prayer.

Directors of Irish diocesan pilgrimages to Lourdes have welcomed major changes coming to the Marian shrine before the end of the year following a large donation from a single donor to embellish the entire Grotto area and to make it a place of silence and prayer.

Speaking to The Irish Catholic this week, Fr Martin Noone, Director of the Dublin Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes, said:  “The sacred space around the grotto is often destroyed by traffic accessing the baths so anything to bring about silence and respect in that central area will obviously be a hugely positive development.”

Also welcoming the developments, Fr Kevin Fay, Director of the Kilmore Pilgrimage told this paper “the construction of a new bridge is essential to help pilgrims accessing the baths and grotto area and this will hopefully enhance and encourage the silence and respect there”.