LOURDES TRIP
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 After
arriving on Sunday, we celebrated Easter Mass and visited the Grotto,
where Our Lady appeared to the young peasant girl named Bernadette
eighteen times.
On Monday, after relaxing and recovering from the long journey, we went
to the Baths to immerse ourselves in the Holy Water of Lourdes. After
dinner, we took part in the Candlelight Procession. On Tuesday, we
traced the life of St. Bernadette. We visited Boly Mill, her
birthplace, and the Cachot, the one-room town jail where she and her
family lived. It was from this building on February 11, 1858, that
Bernadette, her sister and her friend set out to collect firewood in
the forest by the river, and saw Our Lady for the first time.
On Wednesday, we took a short bus trip Bartres and Hosanna House.
Bartres is the tiny village where Bernadette spent much of her early
life with her foster mother, looking after the house and sheep. The
village and church are virtually unchanged from that time. HCPT-run
Hosanna House is a retreat, pilgrimage and vacation home, where we
celebrated Mass, and relaxed and enjoyed the spectacular view.
Thursday was the HCPT Trust Mass, where thousands of pilgrims from
Great Britain, Ireland, the West Indies, eastern Europe and the USA
celebrate a spirited Mass unlike any other! We also attended the Blessing
of the People, and kicked back for ASCPG Party Night.
On Friday, we traveled about 2 hours by bus to the beautiful mountain
village of Gavarnie for an outdoor Mass, BBQ lunch and shopping. And
finally, we boarded the bus very early on Saturday morning and headed
back home.
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