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on pilgrimage-holiday in Lourdes with HCPT
on pilgrimage-holiday in Lourdes with HCPT
MONDAY
After months of preparation and training meetings, Group 170 are back in Lourdes for our 2025 Pilgrimage.
We met our coach verrry early in Southampton when it was still dark! It took a while to load all of our luggage and for the little stars to say goodbye to their families and then we were off... It was still dark!
By the time we got to Stanstead airport it was light, but also raining. Although we had lots of luggage, it didn't seem to take too long to check in and going through security was very quick. Our flight was a bit delayed, so we played card games and flew paper aeroplanes until it was time to board. It was the first time on a plane for some of the little stars - it was very exciting!
The flight was smooth and we landed safely in Lourdes - and so did all our luggage! We had another coach ride to our hotel, where the lovely staff had late lunch ready for us.
After lunch we spent some time unpacking our suitcases and sorting out our rooms before heading outside. The sun was unexpectedly shining as we made our way to the Grotto - at last we felt we had properly arrived in Lourdes! We walked through the Grotto to touch the smooth rocks and feel the water running over some of them and then gathered together to listen to Fr PJ, who led us in prayers to say thank you for our safe arrival.
Then we went onto the meadow to sit in the sun and play games. Some of us played football and Zoomer, some of us went for a walkabout, and some of us chilled in the sun. Before we knew it, it was time to go back to the hotel where the little stars got ready for bed. We had our dinner, listened to a very funny bedtime story and said our bedtime prayers. Everyone was very tired and glad to get into bed.
We are looking forward to some more adventures tomorrow - after a good night's sleep! Good night, God bless.
TUESDAY
After a good night's sleep, we had a yummy breakfast - there was lots to choose from, including cheese and doughnuts, although not at the same time!
This morning we visited the Old Town of Lourdes; it was raining when we left, (boo!), but we had plenty of blue and yellow umbrellas, and waterproof coats and trousers to keep us dry! Our youth helper friends joined us to help us with pushing wheelchairs, pulling trollies, and carrying brollies - as well as getting to know all the little stars.
We saw the old mill, where Bernadette's family lived and worked, and the single room of the old prison where they had to move to when they fell into poverty. We also visited the parish church of Lourdes, where the font that Bernadette was baptised in is still in use. We stopped off for a café visit on the way back to the hotel.
After lunch, we went to the HCPT Welcome liturgy and then had our group photo outside the Rosary Basilica. After that, we went to the HCPT play-base where we had lots of fun, having our faces painted and colouring candle holders.
We had Mass, before spending some team-time in our rooms and having dinner. After dinner, instead of going to bed, we went to watch the Torch Light procession. We carried (battery operated) candles, and glow sticks and found a good spot to watch hundreds of people carrying candles and lights as a statue of the Virgin Mary was processed to the Rosary Basilica. It was very pretty and looked like a river of light flowing through the Domain.
It was very late when we left the procession, so we went straight back to our hotel and into bed! I wonder what adventures we will have tomorrow...
WEDNESDAY
We all had a lie in today because we didn't need to have breakfast in our hotel. Instead of heading to the restaurant, we went to Café Royal for our café breakfast, where we could have anything we wanted from the menu for our breakfast! A variety of dishes were selected, including spaghetti bolognese, tuna salad, lasagne, and ice cream!
After breakfast we went across the road to catch the Little Train which took us on a tour of Lourdes. We passed the castle and the funicular railway, and saw the snow topped mountains in the distance. We enjoyed waving to everyone we passed and some of them even waved back!
When we got back to the train stop, our Salesian youth helper friends joined us again to get to know our little stars as well as pull trollies and push wheelchairs.
We visited the Grotto, which was very busy but sooo quiet. We all joined in with being quiet as we walked through, touched the rocks which have been worn smooth, and felt the special water that trickles down from the mountains.
After being so thoughtful and peaceful, we moved to the meadow to let off steam! Our Salesian friends played games with the little stars, with tennis and football skills being very popular.
It was soon time to go back to our hotel to have lunch and regroup before heading to the HCPT shop to buy some souvineers. After spending our pocket money we set out for the meadow to play some more games, but it started raining which meant a change of plan... We headed for another café where we all had a drink - including some rather impressive milk shakes!
We celebrated our Regional Mass at St Joseph's Chapel with our friends from Brighton and West Indies. We shared our musical instruments with the other groups so we could accompany the West Indies' musicians. We sang some beautiful hymns, listened to the Gospel, and heard Canon PJ'S lovely homily. Group 170's little stars led the bidding prayers, with some help from the big stars! When Mass was over, the youth helpers led us in singing our favourite song - Rise and Shine!
After Mass, it was time to head back to the hotel where we had dinner, listened to a funny story called Oi Frog, and said a bedtime prayer before going to bed to recharge our energy reserves ready for Trust Mass tomorrow... Maybe we will see you there...
THURSDAY
We had an early start today and managed to be ready to leave by 8am! We had a short walk to the underground Basilica church where one of the highlights of the week takes place - the HCPT Trust Mass!
Thanks to our early start, we got our customary front row pews. We did have to wait quite a long time before Mass began, but the time soon passed as we were sooo busy having our faces painted with the Group 170 logo, having our hair styled, choosing our musical instruments, swapping badges, sneakily pegging other pilgrims, and visiting the toilets! The theme of this year's pilgrimage is 'Angels Among Us', and we also made paper angels to hang on trees of light near the altar.
Before we knew it, Mass had started! We watched the Bishops and Priests process to the altar and waved to Fr PJ when we spotted him. The Mass was beautiful, with lots of colour and movement as we sang some of our favourite songs and listened to scripture readings and a homily focused on the angels we find among us every day. At the end we all loved joining in with HCPT's all time favourite, 'Rise and Shine'! Did you see us on the livestream, or spot us on the YouTube recording? https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GwoLMD5UB0A
After Mass, we had a delicious lunch at the hotel, before walking to the pick up point to get on the coach to the animal park. The weather was amazing and we had a brilliant afternoon. We saw enormous pelicans and tiny monkeys, sleek otters and fat marmots, pink flamingoes and nosey meerkats. We loved watching the otters through the underwater viewing window and some of us were brave and went in with the goats to feed them. The best part was seeing the three bears, which came very close to us! One of them was having great fun swimming in their rocky pool and splashing water everywhere.
We also enjoyed a café stop in the animal park, where we all chose an ice cream or lolly and sat in the sun to enjoy them before visiting the fabulous gift shop. We got back on the coach with assorted animals, including a monkey, an otter and at least three bears...
We got back to the hotel and had time to have dinner, and bath and shower before bed. We can't believe that tomorrow will be our last full day in Lourdes! I wonder what fun we have...
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
