Fr Pat Sherlock, Chaplain at Salesian College, Farnborough, describes the recent visit to Lourdes, where they assisted in the pilgrimage for children with disabilities.

Once again the Year 12 students from Salesian College Farnborough spent Easter Week in Lourdes helping with the HCPT Pilgrimage for children with disabilities. Accompanied by the head, deputy head, chaplain and several other members of the teaching and support staff, they experienced the joy of loving service and the inspiration of being part of a youthful Church operating at full power.

This year for the first time the party travelled by air, on two flights from Heathrow to Toulouse, instead of by train. This meant that some arrived in time for the Easter Sunday Mass in the Saint Bernadette Basilica to welcome the first pilgrims. The others celebrated Mass with Fr Brendan McGuinness in the College Chapel before they set off. All had arrived in time for a first visit to the Grotto on Easter Sunday evening.

From Monday on, the students and staff were fully engaged in their dual role of assisting with the smooth running of the pilgrimage and being directly involved with children in the family groups. After each meal in their hotel they were given their tasks for the next few hours, including organising games and parties, leading prayers and singing outside the baths, welcoming groups visiting Hosanna House, providing musical support for group and regional Masses, pushing wheelchairs, distributing newsletters to hotels and stewarding at processions and coach parks. In addition, several of the staff spent long hours personally assisting pilgrims at the baths, a role not open to the students. In their less busy moments some were able to visit places associated with the life of Saint Bernadette, climb the tower of the Chateau Fort, explore the City Saint-Pierre, make a private visit to the Grotto, or even enjoy an ice-cream.

The theme for the HCPT Pilgrimage, chosen by the West Country Region, was "Come to the Water". As the Region does not have its own youth group, Salesian College and Alton Convent were privileged to be asked to supply most members of the choir for the major liturgical events, and to provide liturgical movement during the Trust Mass on the Thursday morning. These services involved many hours of rehearsal, both in England and during the first part of the week in Lourdes.

Fr Pat Sherlock SDB

Chaplain