From May 18 to 28 a group of Lithuanian military personnel participate in the 66th International Military Pilgrimage to Lourdes, France. The group of approx. 40 will start out by bus, then, in Germany, they will join the group of German and other international military personnel and proceed to destination Lourdes by train reserved for pilgrims.
Lithuanian military personnel have been taking part in the Pilgrimage every year since 1995 to share faith and experience on behalf of Lithuania and the Lithuanian Armed Forces, as well as to launch contacts with international brothers-in-arms. For more than 30 years holy masses have been held as part of National Defence System events, military and civilian personnel travel to the Festival of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Šiluva and other pastoral occasions.
Pilgrimages are an experience that develops spirituality, strengthen moral values, the sense of unity and trust in each other, improve soldiers’ psychological wellbeing, give depth to the meaning military service and international cooperation. During the visit to Lourdes, military personnel pray, join the procession, take part in the Holy Mass and cultural events this way strengthening mutual the fellowship and introducing countries and communities.
It is a unique event that reunites several tens of thousands of troops and their families, as well as civilian personnel working in defence in over 30 countries. This year, approx. 20 thousand active service, reserve and injured servicemembers from over 40 European, North and South American and African countries, including from the defensive battlefield of Ukraine, are planned to join the International Military Pilgrimage.
In 1958, founders of the International Military Pilgrimage to Lourdes military chaplains Fr. Andres Besombes and Fr. Ludwig Steiger invited to seek reconciliation between military personnel of the opposing camps of Word War II.
Related image, credit: Lithuanian Armed Forces
