Blessing of School Bags, Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Drogheda

What to Expect

The Blessing of School Bags takes place at the 10.30am Family Mass in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Drogheda on Sunday 30 August 2026. It is aimed at Junior Infants starting school for the first time, but the parish has said other pupils are welcome to bring their bags too, so older children in the family are not left out.

The blessing is a short rite inside the ordinary Sunday Family Mass rather than a separate service. Children bring their new school bag with them, hold it up or bring it forward at the appointed point, and the priest blesses the bags and the children who will carry them. It falls on the last Sunday of the school holidays, with Louth primary schools going back at the start of September, so it functions as the parish’s marker for the new school year. The 10.30am is the designated Family Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes, which usually means shorter readings and more involvement from children.

Good to Know

• Sunday 30 August 2026 at the 10.30am Family Mass
• Venue: Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Hardman’s Gardens, Drogheda
• Free, no booking, all welcome
• Junior Infants are the main focus but other pupils may bring their bags
• Other Sunday Masses at Our Lady of Lourdes: 9am and 12 noon, with a Saturday vigil at 7pm
• Sunday Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at Our Lady of Lourdes runs 1pm to 4pm, except on the first Sunday of the month
• Parish office: 041 983 8537, office@sppd.ie; Our Lady of Lourdes Sacristy 041 983 1973
• The parish’s Diocesan Theology programme starts on 26 September for anyone wanting to go further

Getting There

Our Lady of Lourdes Church is at Hardman’s Gardens on the north side of Drogheda, a short distance from the town centre and within walking distance of West Street. Local bus services run nearby and there is on-street parking around the church, which is busiest immediately before the 10.30am Mass, so allow a few extra minutes on the day.