The rest of Sunday

Well… we had this great idea at the start of the week that the Redshirts could write an article each day. It sounded like a really good idea at the time, and it was. The only problem today, however, is that they’re all tired (again) and they’ve gone to bed.

Fair enough, if you ask me!

We will get back to having the young people write articles, but we know that lots of people are checking this, so tonight… I’m gonna do it. My name’s Jack, by the way. I am one of the Redshirt leaders.

Speaking as a leader, it’s been a brilliant week so far and it’s such a joy to be in Lourdes with these wonderful young people. They are generous, caring, funny, intelligent, kind and so fascinating to get to know.

So… what’s happened today?

We started the day with a Mass in the Cote Grote (I think that’s how you spell that, but I’m not 100% sure!). The Redshirts were given the task of leading the singing of a communion reflection. ‘Taste and See’. It went very well indeed.

Two of the Redshirts carried the banner for Mass...

Some of the Redshirts sitting in Mass...

After Mass we were asked to mark the way so that A&B pilgrims could visit the grotto… We were happy to do so. Afterwards we were able to visit the grotto ourselves…

A 'Red Carpet' at the grotto where Mary appeared to Bernadette...

[N.B. You can see that in the above picture, Bishop Kieran has been 'pegged'... this is a Lourdes tradition!]

In the afternoon, after a hearty lunch at the hotel, we had our third Ministry Session (Catechesis. Sort of!) with Ruth and Tobias. The session was on the subject of Eucharist, and it gave us a great deal to think about.

Ruth and Tobias leading a session

Small Group discussion under the trees on the Prairie...

After a bit of time in small groups we went into the Blessed Sacrament Procession. Have a look at the photo in the article below. It was in the underground basillica, which is one of the most interesting places in Lourdes. It can hold about 15,000 people… or about 64 Redshirts.

After dinner we gave the Redshirts some free time. We ended the day with a night prayer on the Prairie, led by Deirdre Leach and Ray. Deirdre told us about her Chaplaincy work in prisons in Surrey, and about how she had promised the prisoners that she would pray the Rosary for them in Lourdes. She did so… with us. And it was lovely.