​​What an amazing summer it has been. The weather has been glorious, although some would say that it has been too hot. It is the first time I can remember that Wimbledon wasn’t rained off. I absolutely love tennis and was glued to the television for two weeks, which was wonderful. 

After our Walsingham pilgrimage, it was time to prepare for Lourdes. The annual Liverpool pilgrimage to Our Lady’s shrine at Lourdes has always been my favourite and I enjoy every minute of it. Apart from the hustle and bustle of meeting friends old and new, there is the quiet time spent at the grotto saying the Rosary or just talking to Our Lady. There, we lit candles for family and friends, and for all those who asked us to. 

Mary is such a good listener. We had Mass every day and the music group were fantastic as usual. It was lovely meeting Archbishop John Sherrington too, and I am already looking forward to next year’s pilgrimage. 

Most of our foundations have closed for the summer holidays, so I have no news to share. I expect many of you will be going on holiday somewhere warm and sunny. I hope you have a good time wherever you go, and I look forward to seeing you in September. 

God bless everyone, 

Maureen Finnegan, 
Archdiocesan vice-president