IHCPT was registered as a charity in 1973. It is a lay organisation, administered by a Board of Trustees and is under the patronage of the Bishops of Ireland. Bishop Dermot O'Mahony, Titular Bishop of Tiava and Emeritus Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Dublin, is president of IHCPT. A frequent pilgrim with IHCPT in Lourdes in recent years, because of his availablity Bishop Dermot has attended trustees meetings and has contributed significantly to the various national meetings that take place in ireland.

Since 1997 Bishop O'Mahony has invited another member of the Irish Bishops' Conference to accompany the Easter pilgrimage. Archbishop Sean Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, Bishop Eamonn Walsh, Titular Bishop of Elmham and Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin, Bishop Anthony Anthony Farquhar, Titular Bishop of Ermiana and Auxiliary Bishop of Down and Connor, Bishop Christopher Jones, Bishop of Elphin, and Bishop William Murphy, Bishop of Kerry, have joined the pilgrimage. Bishop John McAlrevery, Bishop of Dromore, travelled for many years as a group chaplain.

Each year the visiting bishop has been the principal celebrant at the IHCPT Benefactors' Mass. This is the mass that is celebrated in St Bernadette's Basilica in Lourdes and is the one occassion that all of the Irish groups in Lourdes come together as one big family. The visiting bishop is the principal celebrant and is joined by Bishop O'Mahony and the priests of the Irish Trust. The Bishops have attended the celebration of Reconciliation, and have been celebrated the IHCPT mass at the Grotto in recent years. The bishops also concelebrate with the bishops and priests of HCPT for their celebrations and have also attended the various celebrations at the Domaine.

Another impartant contribution that the bishops give during the week in Lourdes is been available to meet groups from their own pastoral area, joining various groups for their masses and meeting the various pilgrims in the cafes and hotels of Lourdes.

A programme of visits is scheduled for the week in Lourdes. Generally the bishops are invited to visit the groups with young children and the groups that bring young adults with disability. The visiting bishop also visits the groups from their area. With the chairperson of the Trust and the National Chaplain the bishops also meet groups in the various cafes and hotels in Lourdes. A quick cup of coffee, an ice cream, a chance meeting on the road is often a great opportunity to say hello.

In Ireland IHCPT is delighted to have the support of the diocesan bishops and the local church. Through the many chaplains who travel with groups there is great support for the work that is a year round activity for every group.

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