Well done to our Sixth year volunteers, Toby Keating, Finn Tierney, Abbie Mai Delaney, Isabella Kenny and Amy Doyle, who have just returned from a safe and enjoyable trip to Lourdes. Prior to the trip, the volunteers spent Monday evening, 31 August, at a Blessing of Hands ceremony in Belvedere College. This mass and information session gave the students a flavour of what to expect on the pilgrimage. Toby read during the ceremony, while Finn led the school candle procession.
Accompanied by their teacher, Ms Elaine Lyons, the volunteers set off for Lourdes on Thursday, 3 September. After a long and busy day helping pilgrims in the airport, the students arrived in Lourdes and enjoyed a walking tour with other students, visiting the Basilica, the Accueil, the souvenir shops, the famous ice cream parlour and, of course, the grotto.
On Friday morning, the students were up early for wheelchair training and met their assigned pilgrims on our assigned ward. This morning's mass was at the grotto in the sweltering 35-degree heat. Afterwards, some students went souvenir shopping with their pilgrims, while others sat in the sun spending quality time with their pilgrims.
That afternoon, our volunteers assisted with the stewarding of two events - the Water Gesture and the Eucharistic Procession during which Toby carried the diocese flag.
That evening, students attended their first prairie with Fr Paul. This is always a lovely time of reflection at the end of a busy day. As a group, they discussed the surprises of the day, the challenges ahead and mingled with the rest of the school groups at a fun quiz.
On Saturday, students attended two beautiful sacramental services - Confession and Anointing of the Sick – with their pilgrims and spent the rest of our morning chatting with these incredible people.
At the Anointing of the Sick ceremony, stewarding duties allowed all five students to carry flags for the procession. Toby and Finn shared the Dublin diocese flag, while each of the girls held the individual flag of three of the parishes represented in Lourdes.
The students then met Fr Liam Rigney, the new parish priest in Wicklow, and enjoyed telling him about our school and local community. We wish him well in his new role.
A trip to the top of the Rosary Basilica afforded students a beautiful view over this special place while also learning that the gold crown at the top of the basilica was a gift from the people of Ireland in 1924.
On Sunday morning, students attended morning prayer with Fr Paul, by the river. They had been carrying a stone all week, signifying their worries and fears and this morning threw their cares away into the water following a beautiful reconciliation service on Saturday night.
At Sunday’s Youth Mass, Toby and Finn carried a flag, while Abbie, Isabella and Amy brought their pilgrims over. This mass is a celebration of the young people, like our students, who work so hard here in Lourdes. Afterwards, the students spent quality time with their pilgrims, some shopping while others walked through the grotto. Many crepes were also enjoyed today!
After lunch, there was a picnic for the assisted pilgrims. The students worked hard stewarding this event, and then also got the opportunity to perform for the pilgrims. Amy even did some Irish dancing!
Tonight's torchlight procession, which is always the highlight of a trip to Lourdes, was beautiful. As stewards, the volunteers had to ensure the safety of the thousands of people in attendance and keep the paths clear for the procession. The Dublin Diocese and a group from Belgium were leading the procession tonight. Ms Lyons, alongside the teacher from St Killian's Community College in Bray, held the lights while leading the procession and spending the service standing on the altar next to the statue of the Virgin Mary. Ms Lyons enjoyed an incredible view, looking out into the sea of people and candles.
The students enjoyed a very prayerful and reflective evening, attending prairie with Fr Paul and embarking on a late-night tour of the domain. They walked through the grotto, under the night sky in complete silence, and had the opportunity to light candles for their loved ones at home.
On Monday morning, the students brought their pilgrims to the basilica for a pilgrimage photo and then to the Stations of the Cross.
After lunch, they were stewarding for the Farewell Mass and final passage through the grotto. Finn, Abbie and Isabella were on flag duty in the sweltering heat, as the entire pilgrimage passed through the grotto. A tough gig, but they all did it with a smile on their faces. Afterwards, everyone did their last-minute holy water collections and souvenir shopping.
On their final night, students went out for dinner together and shared cherished memories and favourite stories they had heard from their incredible assisted pilgrims all week. The pilgrim party included lots of singing and dancing with these wonderful people.
Students performed at prairie on the theme of "thanksgiving", starting their performance with some sign language they had learned throughout the week. They each read a short passage about how thankful they are for this trip and concluded with a rousing rendition of "Don't Stop Believing ".
Finally, the students lit our school candle, praying for our entire school community. They visited the grotto for the final time and the night ended with a goodbye party with the 29 other school groups, with lots of singing and dancing.
On Tuesday, Abbie and Finn very kindly volunteered to work the early shift at the Accueil in order to help the pilgrims onto their buses for their flights and to clean up the hospital wards afterwards. Toby, Amy and Isabella joined them later and everyone worked extremely hard at the busy airport. We ensured pilgrims were reunited with their bags and their loved ones back in Dublin airport. A very chaotic last day on the job.
Thanks so much to Ms Lyons, Amy, Abbie Mai, Isabella, Toby and Finn for all their hard work all week. They have gone above and beyond whatever duty that has been asked of them. Their jobs have been made even harder in such hot weather, but there have been no complaints. They've all made dear friendships, with their assisted pilgrims especially, and have done the school and their families proud. Well done!
