Music Group - History

The Liverpool Lourdes Music Group was first established in 1978 and had the pleasure of celebrating their 30th Anniversary in 2008, coinciding with the 150th Jubilee of the apparitions at Lourdes. The group, more fondly known as LMG, has been led by a number of clergy and lay people, with the current Director of Music being Fr Grant Maddock of the Parish of Christ the King  & Our Lady in Wavertree.  In 2008, 44 young musicians and singers were able to travel to Lourdes as part of the Music Group, bringing the total number of people who have travelled with LMG and as such are lifelong members, to over 200!

The group has the honour of repeatedly being invited by the Archbishop of Liverpool to prepare and lead the music during the Liverpool Archdiocesan pilgrimage which totals over 2000 people. Many of these are elderly, sick or disabled and spend their time in Lourdes staying in the local St Frai Hospital. The performance areas in Lourdes are truly magnificent, for example the Underground Basilica can hold up to 25,000 people and for some of our young musicians to perform, often solos, is a truly unforgettable experience.

Having sung all day, usually a selection of choral and religious music, the group then spend a few nights during the week performing in local hotels; whether songs from musicals, Beatles’ numbers or often a selection of specially written pieces. This is to entertain the other pilgrims in Lourdes, many of whom have spent the day working in the hospital or aiding those in wheelchairs to experience the sights of Lourdes. We also ensure that all of the young people spend at least one morning/afternoon helping in the hospital, alongside the volunteers who travel to Lourdes each year to keep St Frai running smoothly. This is often a very humbling experience as many of the patients in the hospital, both young and old and often terminally ill, have a real zest for life.