St Chad's Liturgy and Sacraments Homilies and Pastoral Letters Mass Times Prayers Sacraments Events Events Calendar Events Work with schools Schools Get involved Altar Servers Music St Chad's Cathedral Association Volunteers Latest News Liturgy and Newsletters The Cathedral Plan your visit St Chad - Fast Facts The History of St Chad's The Relics of St Chad Pugin Cathedral Bells Latest News St Chad's hosts the annual Blessing of Hands Mass A moving Blessing of Hands Mass has taken place at St Chad’s Cathedral in preparation for next week’s Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes. Yesterday, Sunday 17 May, hundreds of people attended the Diocesan Mother Church to have their hands blessed for whatever ministry they may be involved in. Various groups were represented and will be joining children and young adults from our schools, parishes and youth groups, to serve in Lourdes during the half-term holiday. The annual Diocesan Pilgrimage runs from Monday 25 to Saturday 30 May, under the leadership of His Grace, Archbishop Bernard Longley and Bishops David Evans, Timothy Menezes and Richard Walker. Around 600 pilgrims are set to travel on the Diocesan Pilgrimage. Also joining our pilgrimage family this year will be representatives of Stella Maris, (Apostleship of the Sea). The theme for 2026 is "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee" and marks the start of a three-year journey with Mary. The Sanctuary of Lourdes invites us on a spiritual pilgrimage, a journey to the heart of the Virgin Mary’s story. We’ll go step by step, guided by the Gospel of Luke. Bishop David Evans was principal celebrant at Sunday’s Mass and Canon David Hartley delivered the Homily: How often do you hear the words The Lord be with you? Its' hard not to respond! They are not just a formality, they express a deep truth about the way in which the Lord is deeply present in our spirits, and they have a history. They are a way of greeting with more than just a greeting from ourself ‘Hi - its me!’ Look at this meeting from the Book of Ruth (2.4) “behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, “The LORD be with you!” And they answered, “The LORD bless you.” This good man comes from a holy city ‘The house of Bread’ with a greeting from God himself, and the priest beginning Mass or another time of prayer is saying to you and us all The Lord is with you- he wants to be with you- he is fulfilling his specific promise to be with you to the ends of the earth and the end of time. He is here. And he is going ahead of us… Read Homily in full The schedule for this year’s Pilgrimage is now available on our website. Please do follow the Lourdes Pilgrimage on our website and by using the hashtag #Brum2Lourdes on social media. Reflection from Bishop Timothy Menezes, published in the diocesan e-newsletter on Thursday 14 May This Sunday the annual Blessing of Hands Mass takes place at St Chad’s Cathedral, a prelude to the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes during the half-term Spring Bank Holiday week. For the past school year, many of our Sixth Form students have been busy fundraising for the life-changing experience of prayer, service of sick pilgrims and much enjoyment in the Shrine of Our Lady in the south of France. Thank you if you have been able to sponsor their fundraising pursuits! Several hundred people from the Archdiocese travel to Lourdes during this half-term week each year and it is open to everybody. Pilgrims who travel to Lourdes with illness of body or mind or those who live with disability are the focus of Lourdes. The Blessing of Hands Mass recognises that it is in the caring hands of pilgrims, young people, volunteer carers and healthcare professionals who give freely of their time for the half-term week that the miracles of Lourdes are made known. Please pray for all those preparing to travel to Lourdes. Why not consider coming with us one year? Photo Gallery Watch the Mass Manage Cookie Preferences