On Wednesday 5th November 2025, Bishop Ralph celebrated Mass at the end of the Conference of Lourdes Pilgrimage Directors of Great Britain at St. Peter-in-Chains, Doncaster. On his last day as Pilgrimage Director, Alex Prior said a few words on behalf of Bishop Ralph, to recognise the exceptional service given to the Church in this diocese by the three Youth Co-Ordinators who have organised the Hallam Youth section of the pilgrimage for the last 15 years. Alistair Weir (All Saints Catholic High School), James Tucker (The McAuley Catholic High School) and John Slade (St Pius X Catholic High School) helped the late Sr Marie Lavin organise Hallam Youth and were then appointed by Bishop John in 2010 as Youth Co-Ordinators.
Each year, Hallam Youth comprises of over 170 people, which is truly remarkable for any diocese, but even more remarkable for a diocese of our size. In his remarks, to Pilgrimage Directors gathered from England, Wales & Scotland, Alex commented that all too often the huge amount of background work that it put in by those leading Youth Teams to Lourdes can go unrecognised but that he was delighted to say that the work of Alistair, James & John was being recognised that night as they had each been awarded the Benemerenti Medal.
He thanked Alistair, James and John on behalf of everyone in the Diocese for the incredible work they’ve done with Hallam Youth, and for creating such an exceptional pilgrimage experience for our young people, and building and sustaining the interaction within the pilgrimage between Youth Helper and Assisted Pilgrim, which makes the diocesan pilgrimage so wonderful.
Before inviting Bishop Ralph to present the Benemerenti Medals, Alex concluded by saying that often we think about these medals being awarded to people of advanced years, in recognition of their exceptional service for the Church, but that the origins of the award is that it was given to the Swiss Guard in recognition of their service, and continues to be awarded to this day in their late 40’s and early 50’s, so it was fitting that Alistair, James and John receive their medals at this time, with huge thanks and in recognition of what they have achieved to-date.
A different Papal award was conferred on Sunday 23rd November at St Vincent’s Church, Sheffield. Bishop Ralph announced that Pope Leo XIV had awarded Dr Russell Brynes a Papal Knighthood, making him a Knight of the Order of St Sylvester. This is in recognition of Dr Russell’s huge contribution to the Diocesan Lourdes pilgrimage. Dr Russell first travelled on the diocesan pilgrimage in May 1995 and has travelled on every pilgrimage since then. He was the Pilgrimage Medical Director for many years, and helped and supported other medical professionals through the British Lourdes Medical Association (previously known as the Lourdes Medical Association) and served as their Chair. He also regularly assisted the Diocese of Paisley Lourdes Pilgrimage when they didn’t have a doctor, and were present in Lourdes at the same time as our pilgrimage. At the end of October, Bishop Ralph appointed Dr Russell as the new Lourdes Pilgrimage Director for the Diocese.
In addition to his voluntary work in the diocesan pilgrimage, Dr Russell is Chair of the Parish Council at St Vincent’s, Sheffield, and an active member of the SVP. He is also a director of the St Francis Catholic Multi-Academy Trust.
Dr Russell is now, Dr Russell Brynes, KSS.
Congratulations to all the recipients for these well-deserved awards, and for everything they have done for our Diocese. Alex Prior
