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...
