Summary from Fr. Pat:

Faith — Fun — Family

These three words come to me as I thank God, Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Bernadette for our wonderful Parish Pilgrimage to Lourdes. We were blessed in every way from the start at Dublin Airport to returning there last Tuesday. Arriving in Lourdes, after our meal in La Solitude Hotel, we went down to the Grotto where as a group we greeted Mary.

The next morning we had Mass at the Grotto with the Cashel & Emily Archdiocese. For those who were in Lourdes for the first time, Carmel (our excellent guide) brought us on a tour of the places associated with Bernadette – the Boly Mill, the Cachet, the Parish Church, followed by a relaxing cuppa of Barry’s Tea!

We very quickly became a caring group, helping and being there for each other, with plenty of laughter and fun. On Saturday we took a bus to Bartres where we had a very special Mass with the Sacrament of the Sick.

As a group, we took part in a torchlight procession. The next day it was the International Mass in the Underground
Basilica, where we joined over 25,000 fellow pilgrims. We prayed the lovely sculptured Way of the Cross and Way of the Resurrection. Some of the more energetic of us also journeyed with Jesus on the Upper Stations of the Cross as well.

As a group, we attended the Blessing of the Sick. It was marvelous to see the sick being wheeled by so many young people. It made me grateful for my own health.
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Monday, our last day, we had Mass in the Sheepfold in the City of the Poor. Some went to Gavarnie for an afternoon in brilliant sunshine and sight-seeing. On our final evening we went to say goodbye (or au revoir) to Our Lady, putting all your petitions at her feet and lighting our Candle, so that, as we left, the light of our candle would continue our prayers as we came home. We had such a large candle that it needed a trolley to bring it from the hotel to the Grotto. Pat McManus - image (23)

I am sure that our group of 21 have many memories of the days that we journeyed together – for me it was the faith and joy we shared, the care for each other – we really were a family. My thanks to each member of the group for making our Pilgrimage so special for me.