Lourdes: where the Ampleforth spirit comes alive.
For generations of Amplefordians, the annual pilgrimage to Lourdes has been far more than a journey. It has been an experience that shapes lives, forms lifelong friendships, and embodies the values at the heart of the Ampleforth community.
Founded by Ampleforth Abbey in the 1950s, the Ampleforth Lourdes Pilgrimage began as a way for monks and students to accompany and serve those in need of assistance. More than seventy years later, it remains one of the Abbey’s most distinctive and inspiring ministries. This summer, over 300 pilgrims travelled to Lourdes, including a particularly strong contingent of Old Amplefordians, parents, students, monks, staff and friends from across the wider Ampleforth family.
The enduring commitment of our alumni is one of the most striking features of the pilgrimage. Many first travelled to Lourdes as students, only to discover an experience that would continue to draw them back year after year. This year alone, over 120 pilgrims were under the age of 30, including a significant number of recent leavers who chose to spend part of their summer serving others alongside friends old and new. Their presence is a powerful testament to the lasting impact that Lourdes has on those who encounter it.
For many Old Amplefordians, returning to Lourdes is an opportunity not only to serve Assisted Pilgrims but also to reconnect with the values and friendships that defined their time at school. It is no coincidence that some of the strongest and most enduring connections within the Ampleforth Society have their roots in Lourdes. There are few places where recent leavers, former pupils from decades ago, current students, parents and monks work side by side in such a spirit of generosity, companionship and shared endeavour.
Parents, too, play a vital role. The pilgrimage offers a unique opportunity for families to experience service together, often seeing one another in a completely different light. It is not uncommon for parents to witness their sons and daughters grow in confidence, maturity and compassion over the course of a single week. Equally, students gain a deeper appreciation of the values that unite generations of the Ampleforth family.
What makes the pilgrimage so transformative is the encounter it provides. Students and young adults find themselves accompanying Assisted Pilgrims whose resilience, humour, faith and generosity of spirit can leave a profound impression. The experience challenges assumptions, broadens perspectives and encourages participants to look beyond themselves. Time and again, pilgrims return home speaking not about what they have given, but about what they have received.
This culture of service is one of the great strengths of Ampleforth. It is a culture that extends well beyond school years and continues throughout life. The remarkable number of young volunteers returning to Lourdes each year demonstrates how powerful that influence can be. In an increasingly fragmented world, Lourdes offers something different: a genuine community built on friendship, service and encounter.
The scale of Ampleforth's contribution to Lourdes is itself extraordinary. Over many decades, the commitment of Ampleforth pilgrims has become so significant that the pilgrimage is recognised in Lourdes on a level comparable to many diocesan pilgrimages. Yet its character remains unique. Few schools or monastic communities can point to such a long-standing tradition that continues to engage successive generations with such enthusiasm and commitment.
A particular highlight of this year's pilgrimage was the outstanding choir, many of whom were or are members of the Schola Cantorum. Through music of exceptional quality and sensitivity, the choir enriched the week's liturgies and helped create moments of great beauty, reflection and prayer. Their contribution exemplified the spirit of excellence and generosity that characterised the pilgrimage as a whole.
At its heart, Lourdes remains a powerful reminder of what makes Ampleforth special. It brings together young and old, alumni and current students, parents and monks, in a shared endeavour that transcends generations. It creates friendships that last a lifetime, strengthens faith, inspires service and connects people to a truly global Ampleforth community.
For countless Old Amplefordians, Lourdes is not simply something they once did while at school. It is part of who they are. And for each new generation, it continues to show why the Ampleforth experience remains something genuinely extraordinary.
