yaab

During Lourdes 2011, the Redshirts issued three newsletters for the rest of the pilgrimage. We have been asked to put them on the web.

So, here you go…

Sunday Newsletter

Tuesday Newsletter

Thursday Newsletter

The lovely people at Photo Lacaze have given us copies of all the photos they took of Redshirts during the week. Here ya go…

The Red Carpet on Sunday

(by Sarah Chegwin, Lottie Wheeler and Jack Regan)

Yesterday we started with Mass. It was a good red carpet, welcoming people to the Mass. It was a hot day which made things a bit more challenging. After Mass, we ate lunch followed by a few things in the afternoon. Some of us helped out with music for the reconciliation service, others prepared for the Redshirts talk later in the week. After this, we took part in the Blessed Sacrament procession. This involved singing for some. Others carried banners and flags, while most of us followed the procession.

After dinner yesterday we had a ministry session. It was deep. It was about temptation. I think that most people got a lot out of it. After it was over we had a night prayer and went to bed.

This morning, some of us got up before 5am so that we could lead the rest of the pilgrimage in the High Stations. We were able to watch the sun rise and also to climb up the big hill toward the top.

During the morning, most of us went to Mass with Fr. Ian Byrne, but some of us went to the City of the Poor to help the family group with music for their Mass.

Sarah, how are you finding Lourdes? I love it. The Red Carpets have been a highlight for me so far.

Lottie, how are you finding Lourdes? It’s really good. We are getting a lot out of it even though we’re really tired. We are doing so much. It feels really good to see all of the sick pilgrims around.

At the City of the Poor with the Family Group

..no reports today but a good few photos. Enjoy

We are all having a fantastic time in Lourdes, meeting all the pilgrims, singing until our jaws hurt and catching up on the hours of sleep we lost on the coach.

Thank you to all of the parents who supplied us with the food for the journey. We never went hungry!

I hope you are having a great time back home. You are all in our prayers.

Claudia Bergin and Sophie O’Shea.

The Redshirt banner greeting pilgrims at the Train Station today...

Here are two different reports of the first few days written by some of the young members of the Lourdes Youth Service Group:

—

Our trip so far!

Bright and early at nine o’clock on Wednesday morning, all the redshirts gathered at St Bernadettes church in Crawley for a highly anticipated forth going mass. The first step onto the coach sent shivers up my spine like an electric current filled with adrenaline as I felt something big was about to happen.

The first full day

Waking up to the morning rays after a refreshing sleep in our new beds, we staggered down too many stairs to the garden, where we had morning prayer. Ravenous after all our praying, we grabbed a delicious French breakfast (I had a croissant! YUM!).

Our first official duty as redshirts took place at the train station, where we welcomed in the tired pilgrims with smiles and waves. We had lots of jobs to do such as: unpacking, cleaning and organising the train and its baggage. We hope our enthusiasm lightened the mood of the station as we broke the silence at the tranquil station of Lourdes.

After all our singing and excitement, we hopped on the coach back to the hotel. As we stepped onto the hotel grounds, we were greeted with a large puff of smoke and a fit of laughter as coach driver Ken’s bus broke down (hahaha!).

A visit to the candlebank on the first night...

Some of us went to lunch and about ten of us went to the Accueil where we were assigned different jobs to help out with the un-packing. Redshirts Andy P. and Bridie went around the rooms putting hand towels in each of the bathrooms. As we went into one of the rooms we were greeted by two smiley ladies getting ready for the week and sorting their beds to their liking. Andy and I stayed and had a chat to them. They said ‘Seeing the redshirts every year lightens up the mood! We really appreciate having them around, please don’t stop what you’re doing, you don’t know how much of a difference you make’. Andy and I left the room with glowing smiles on our faces after the compliment we just received. We then got back and had a late lunch.

We then had free time where some of us took the opportunity to rest, and others went into town for a bit of mood-lifting tacky shopping for sparkly Mary’s and glow in the dark rosaries. When we got back, we had dinner (surprise,surprise… CHIPS!!! J) which we all enjoy because we get a chance to catch up and meet new friends.

After dinner we went to the low stations along the river. The marble sculptures were stunning and the mood within the group was so respectful and the reflections were relevant to our own lives. Everyone really enjoyed the time we spent as a whole group and our friendships blossomed as we wandered back to the hotel for night prayer.

We had a touching evening prayer and then headed upto our rooms for an early night to catch up on some well deserved sleep!

Izzy Ward and Bridie Cummings J

—

Stations of the Cross on Friday evening

DIARY FOR WEDS/THURS

Bright and early we were all together in Crawley for the mass which began our journey. Bishop Kieran led the mass with prayers, singing (and actions!) from the Redshirts! After the mass everyone was bubbling with excitement and couldn’t wait to get started. We loaded and boarded the two coaches and set off on our long journey to Lourdes. The journey went well, and we all arrived safe and sound, although we were all incredibly tired due to the lack of sleep and comfort. Luckily, we were welcomed by a lovely breakfast and some very comfortable rooms in the Hotel Chapelle et Parc. We had a bit of much needed relaxing time before we joined in our groups to go on a tour of the area; we saw where Bernadette grew up, had her first communion, and ate some gorgeous Lourdes ice cream! We also had a competition set up by Ray of which group could find the ‘tackiest’ object for under 5 euros, the results were hilarious including ‘Lourdes perfume’ – designed to literally knock you out (!), a velvet elephant with the nativity scene inside and a Lourdes snow globe! After dinner we gathered for evening prayer on the Prairie in the domain; it was incredibly emotional especially when we passed a candle around the group and everyone prayed for each other and prayed for things especially important to them. We reflected on how sometimes we can see God acting through other people in selflessness and times in our lives when God has acted through us. We then crossed the river and walked through the candle bank where many Redshirts got emotional just thinking about the beauty of the area, the faith that is shown through the lighting of each candle and the love that is shared between each of the Redshirts already; it was a really moving experience. After 40 hours of being awake we all staggered up to the top of the hill and wandered back to our hotel where we all collapsed into bed and fell asleep within minutes!

Megan Elliott and Zoe Batchelor

Here ya go…

From tomorrow, we’ll have some of the Redshirts writing proper reports for you. For now though, here are a load of photos:

The Lourdes Youth Service Group departed this morning and we are currenty making out way through France. Apparently were a few hours north of Paris. Everyone is in a good mood and looking forward to the week ahead.

Keep checking on yaab and on the youth service Fcebook group for updates as the week goes on.