Raphael Pilgrimage
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The Raphael Pilgrimage is the annual Pilgrimage that takes place every September to the shrine of Our Lady in Lourdes . The Pilgrimage was founded in 1953 by Leonard Cheshire who initially organised four flights in the first year, each filling a Douglas Dakota of sixty seats. The Pilgrimage now consists of around fifty sick pilgrims and and one hundred volunteer helpers and is a completely working pilgrimage in the sense that every volunteer travels expressly to help care for the sick.
The aims of the Pilgrimage were defined in 1987 by Leonard Cheshire:
"To take the sick and disabled to Lourdes, to care for them in every way during the Pilgrimage, and with them to offer prayers for all those who suffer in whatever way."
The Pilgrimage remains as a living memorial to him and strives to fulfil his wishes and aims.
[edit] See Also
Lourdes
Our Lady of Lourdes
Marian apparitions
Bernadette Soubirous
