Lourdes pride for youngsters
YOUNG people from across Leyland, Chorley and Ormskirk have returned from a week of faith, service and friendship with the Archdiocese of Liverpool Youth Pilgrimage to Lourdes, a small town in the Pyrenees.
The Archdiocesan Youth Pilgrimage is the largest youth pilgrimage in the UK, taking approximately 500 young people from across the North West to assist sick pilgrims who travel from the area by plane, coach and Jumbulance, to the place of pilgrimage in France.
The coach of 40 young people left Our Lady and All Saints RC Church, Parbold, early on Thursday, July 21 and arrived in Lourdes the following lunch time, after a 28-hour journey by road and ferry.
While in Lourdes, the young people assisted the sick and sensory impaired pilgrims, by taking them in their wheelchairs to the masses and services, Stations of the Cross, shopping for souvenirs and providing entertainment for them in the evenings with singing and music.
Days were long, starting with breakfast at 7am, and sometimes not duties until 10pm.
One young person commented that the week had given them so much more confidence, allowing them the opportunity to grow and develop, whilst also interacting with the sick pilgrims, who gave such inspiration with their courage despite finishing often being in pain.
As part of the preparation for the pilgrimage, the young people, both individually and as a coach, organised various fundraising events, to help with the cost of the pilgrimage.
You can see more of the week on Twitter @LourdesCoach8