By Pat Murphy

 

A New Year dawns – 2026.

 

How can it be over a quarter of a century since we were worried about Millennium bugs finding their way into our computers?

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New Year is a time of making plans, new resolutions, and looking forward. I think it’s also a time to look back and reflect not just over the last year, but years gone by. Happy memories, memories of family and friends no longer with us, but also plans of going forward.

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2025 was a pilgrimage year, a holy year, a Jubilee Year. I was privileged to make a couple of special pilgrimages. One in the summer to Lourdes with the Liverpool pilgrimage; to meet up with friends old and new, not just from our own archdiocese but around UK. It’s always a lovely week, travelling to the little town in France that our Blessed Lady chose to appear to the young Bernadette 18 times. Another busy week, mixing with pilgrims who visit Lourdes with their own private intentions, and come away fulfilled in their own spiritual way. We were once again blessed with lovely weather, and a good number of our clergy from Liverpool joined us, including two Archbishops. I think we impressed Archbishop John on his first pilgrimage with us, with a good Liverpool pilgrimage: prayerful, spiritual and enjoyable.

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Once we returned from Lourdes, it was full steam ahead arranging our pilgrimage to Rome. 45 intrepid travellers left Crosby in the early hours of a November morning to travel to the airport. Timings all fell perfectly into place, and by 4pm the same day we were starting our pilgrimage celebrating Mass in the church of St Joachim, only 15 minutes from walk from St Peter’s.

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Our group worked, prayed and socialised together for six days. It certainly was a pilgrimage - early mornings, lots of walking, visits to many churches - but we enjoyed many meals together, as well as late-night drinks and discussions. The highlights of our pilgrimage? Well too many to mention. Of course, we entered the four Basilicas through the Holy doors. As a group, we also made the special Jubilee walk, up the Via della Conciliazione carrying a Jubilee Cross. I felt privileged to carry the cross for part of our procession, although I was relieved to pass it on the next pilgrim as it was heavy! Once arriving in St Peter’s Square, we were fast tracked into the Basilica, and then to pray at the tomb of St Peter. We had about 45 minutes to visit and tour the Basilica. Again, I was delighted to take “first timers” to Rome on a quick walk around St Peter’s. Michelangelo’s Pieta, the Blessed Sacrament Altar, and the bronze St Peter. So little time and so much to see!

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One reflection - a visit on our first day to the church of the 12 Apostles. A number of pilgrims had asked about visiting the Catacombs in Rome. We had a full itinerary, and making time would have been difficult. This church has a mini catacomb, and contain the relics of St Philip and St James. Some of our pilgrims suddenly realised that they were standing at the tomb of men who knew and walked with Jesus – food for reflection. Often, it takes others to remind you of our great wealth of Christianity.

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I have vivid memories as a young student helping organise my parish pilgrimage to Rome for the 1970 Holy Year. 50 years on, it was an honour to do the same and visit and pray in a city I love.