HCPT Blog 4 - Stations of the Cross

Chiswick Group members

Today was truly a summer's day in Lourdes. Despite Easter being so early this year, and most of the trees in the domain area and prairie still to start their Spring flowering, HCPT groups were walking around in tee-shirts and sunglasses.

The sky was almost completely blue as our Chiswick Group 144 walked through the domain area this morning, on our way to the Stations of the Cross. We crossed in front of the Rosary Basilica, with the crowned statue of Our Lady to our right, and headed over the first bridge to the prairie opposite the Grotto. The low stations can be found at the far end of it, after a pretty walk by the side of the shimmering and gurgling River Gave. The basilica was chiming 'Ave Maria' as it does on the hour every hour. You could feel that all is well in the world with a setting like this and on such a day.

In the first decades of HCPT, most groups did the high stations on the hill above the Grotto. I remember each wheelchair being in the charge of three sturdy people - usually from the Royal Navy - and a child once reporting that it was the most exciting thing he had ever been allowed to do in his life. Nowadays, I am pleased we do the low stations - no climbing involved. They were created in 2001 to give better access to disabled pilgrims and that is an important priority. Though it is more relaxed, it is still a poignant reminder of the suffering and love of Christ and the hope of the Resurrection.

Using the HCPT Easter Pilgrimage Prayer Book, our chaplain brought forward each child in turn to do a station reading. As we walked between stations, appropriate chants were sung, including, 'Behold the Lamb of God', 'Jesus, remember me', and 'He is Lord'. It is worth going to the trouble of carting guitars and an accordion around! I believe the Stations led our group to reflect upon the crosses we must bear in our own lives and the hope offered by the Resurrection. On our walk back to the Grotto area we blessed eachother using the Lourdes water on tap at the 'Water Walk'. It wasn't done very reverently but it was fun, especially on a hot day.

Other HCPT groups were milling around everywhere. A Brentwood youth group was leading the final hymns of the morning baths session, where Group 6 from Wexford seemed the be emerging. Purley HCPT walked by us in their mauve and mustard tee shirts and we had brief conversations with groups from Liverpool and Yorkshire. The Croatia HCPT group sat alongside us on the riverbank near the candles and told us of two of their 29 group members travelling to Lourdes not by air but by van - a two day journey bringing the group's gear, which could not be accommodated on a regular flight without costing a fortune. One of us was cheeky enough to ask where Croatia was! And it wasn't one of the children!

This afternoon we had our first group Mass which is always engaging with our chaplain, Fr Stewart Hasker, parish priest of Our lady of Sorrows and St Bridget of Sweden church in Isleworth. Held at the Crux Gloriosa chapel beside the Rosary Basilica, everyone was involved in readings, intercessions and a dramatic rendering of the Gospel - all on the theme of faith. The children produced their own prayers and our loved ones back home were remembered. We prayed, sang and laughed together.

Today was very much a day for group activities, with HCPT logos seen not only in Lourdes but at the HCPT's Hosanna House, Bartres - a nearby village where Bernadette spent time in childhood, and further afield. Tomorrow, everyone comes together for the annual Trust Mass, which will be held first thing tomorrow morning in the cavernous underground basilica. Everyone is very excited - the Mass is a highlight of the week.

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The celebration Trust Mass on Thursday 31 March will be streamed live on the internet at 9am: http://en.lourdes-france.org

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