Over the six days of Clogher’s virtual pilgrimage a dedicated website was accessed nearly 12,000 times and attracted participants from places as diverse as Australia, the USA, Kuwait and Trinidad & Tobago.

“It’s safe to say that that was a pretty emotional thing that we’ve just done. It’s something I’ll never forget,” says TV vicar after Lourdes immersion.

Among the tens of thousands of Irish who have visited the shrine are President John F Kennedy, Grace Kelly, Brendan Behan and Seamus Heaney.

“It is a time of blessing and grace for our entire diocese.”

Archbishop Brown pays tribute to past students serving the Church including Bishop Donal McKeown and Frs Martin and Eugene O'Hagan and Fr David Delargy.

“I ask why our society in many areas is uncaring," Archbishop Diarmuid Martin.

Archbishop Martin warns that faith does not provide “magic answers" to life's challenges.