As I write, pilgrims from across the Archdiocese of Birmingham are in Lourdes on our annual diocesan pilgrimage. And, for the first time in about 25 years, I am not with them.

It feels a little odd putting that in writing. But it all sunk in on departure day, when realised I didn’t need to head to Birmingham International Airport.

This annual Pilgrimage has been a real highlight of my music ministry diary over the years. And leading pilgrims in song and prayer in that special place has been a blessing and a privilege.

Part of the ethos of our ministry, though, is to not hang on too long. To let go gracefully and to try to handover well.

To that end, I have handed on the reigns to the gifted young musician who was with me on last year’s pilgrimage, and with whom I have collaborated in planning the music for this year’s pilgrimage, even though I won’t be there in-person.

Time to hand it on

So, what’s next?

Well, “there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” { Ecclesiastes 3:1 } And the work and ministry of CJM MUSIC is necessarily evolving. After almost 30 years, there are some things that it is time to lay down, and new mantles to be taken up.

The focus for us in this current season is FORMATION.

More than ever, I want to help to raise-up others and to hand on the skills, knowledge and experience gained in these 30 years of full time ministry.

The Teach Us To Pray CPD programme for schools is our current priority. Especially with the forthcoming publication of the Prayer and Liturgy Directory in mind.

This modular video course is a practical and accessible guide to prayer and liturgy in the context of a Catholic School. And we are grateful to have just received a grant to help with the current costs of completing this first module and making a start on the next. (You can learn more here.)

So, this year, while our beloved pilgrims are in Lourdes, we will be filming and editing to complete module one of this programme.

I won’t be there in person, but I will, as always be united in prayer. And I will take a moment to look back over more than two decades of precious pilgrimage memories under the loving, prayerful gaze of Our Lady of Lourdes.

---

We’d love to hear from you in the comments below…