Bath Jesuit’s Lourdes Honour

21 July 2010

A Jesuit priest who comes from Bath has been made a ‘Chaplain of Honour’ by the Bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes.

Father Nick King SJ is one of three members of the Catholic Association receiving the honour in recognition of their promotion of the ‘Message of Lourdes and pilgrimage to the Grotto’, from Right Reverend Jacques Perrier.

Father Tony Lester, O.Carm and Monsignor William Saunders of Southwark Archdiocese joined Father Nick in becoming ‘Chaplains of Honour’

The announcement was made earlier this month by the President of the Catholic Association Hospitalité, Colette Sharrock.

The citation makes reference to the three priests' work in promoting Lourdes and its spirituality by their preaching, writings, retreat-inputs, and their service of the sick.

All three have committed themselves to Lourdes and the Catholic Association for a number of years. Fathers Tony and Nick work in the Lourdes Accueil (hospital) each year. Monsignor William has been Pilgrimage Director of the Catholic Association for a number of years.

Chaplains of Honour were first appointed in 1909 by the then local ordinary Bishop Schoepfer to recognise priests who for the most part are not resident in Lourdes but who nevertheless contribute to the Shrine's pastoral life and outreach.

Chaplains of Honour are presented with a distinctive insignia - a cross with Marian symbols - which Fathers Lester, Saunders and King will receive at a celebration of Mass at the Grotto on 23 August.

You can hear Father Nick in our podcast recorded in Lourdes a couple of year's ago.  Typically we met him on duty in the hospital.