The visit of St. Bernadette’s relics to Plymouth Cathedral

The relics of St. Bernadette are coming from Lourdes to the UK for a national tour of dioceses during September and October. The relics will arrive in Plymouth Cathedral on Friday 9th September (1:00 p.m.) and will stay until Saturday 10th at 1:00 p.m. The itinerary during the 2-day visit is as follows:

Friday 9th September
• 1:00 p.m. The relics will arrive at the Cathedral (from Portsmouth)
• 1:30 p.m. Welcome Liturgy involving pupils from Plymouth CAST schools
• p.m. Opportunity for veneration of or procession past the Relics / private prayer
• p.m. Story of St Bernadette animation (c. 10 mins) in Cathedral every half hour
• 6:00 p.m. Lourdes Liturgy (animation, water, candlelit procession) in the Cathedral
• 8:30 p.m. Compline (Night Prayer) and Adoration
• 10:00 p.m. Cathedral closes

Saturday 10th September
• 6:00 a.m. Cathedral reopens
• a.m. Opportunity for veneration of or procession past the Relics / private prayer
• a.m. Story of St Bernadette animation (c. 10 mins) in Cathedral every half hour
• 10:30 a.m. Mass with Anointing in the Cathedral and Farewell
• 12:00 noon Relics depart for Clifton Cathedral

In 1858, Our Lady revealed her message to Bernadette Soubirous, a 14-year-old girl, at the Grotto at Massabielle in 18 apparitions. Over five months, Our Lady asked Bernadette to pray the Rosary with her and revealed herself as the ‘Immaculate Conception’. She instructed Bernadette to ‘go tell the priests that people should come here [to the Grotto] in procession and build a chapel’.
As we welcome the relics of St Bernadette to the United Kingdom we are also reminded of the special significance of Lourdes as a place of pilgrimage and of love, where people of all ages serve and care for the sick and the most vulnerable in our society. Our own diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes usually take place during August, but unfortunately this has not been possible due to the pandemic. We are hopeful that the pilgrimage will resume in 2023.

Additional Resources

21/08/2022, Canon Mark – Cathedral Dean, speaks to Angela Kalwaites (BBC Radio Devon) on the forthcoming visit of the Relics of St Bernadette