HCPT pilgrims celebrate ‘Come to the Water’

2017 HCPT Procession

“I was set on a path to discover Jesus more deeply”, said Bishop Mark O’Toole of Plymouth. “It was very profound to be with special needs children who have so much to teach us about love, suffering and joy”. Bishop Mark was speaking to around 4,000 pilgrims of HCPT-The Pilgrimage Trust in the Lourdes underground basilica about the impact of his first visit to Lourdes with the Trust at the age of 17 in the early 1980s. He was the main celebrant at the annual Trust Mass on 20 April, concelebrating with nine other bishops from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland and more than 100 priests. He was cheered when he reflected, “I’m a home-grown HCPT bishop”. Thousands watched live on the internet. This year the West Country HCPT region organised the liturgy with the theme, 'Come to the Water'.

It was highlighted that water is not only essential to life on Earth, but there are hundreds of references to water in the Bible. Particular inspiration came from Isaiah who said, ‘Everyone who is thirsty, come to the water’ (Isaiah 55:1). The Mass picked up on the ‘water of life’ revealed to the Samaritan woman by Christ at Jacob’s well. It was underlined that the story of the Apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St Bernadette is strongly influenced by the theme of water, and pilgrims to Lourdes taste and feel the waters that still gush forth from the spring revealed to Bernadette in February 1858. Our Lady asked Bernadette to tell people “to come to the water to drink and wash”. Bishop Mark pointed out that we must be sensitive to the millions around the world whose need for fresh water is not met.

The Mass featured popular music by Bernadette Farrell, Mike Stanley, and Mike Anderson, including HCPT favourites ‘Rise and Shine’ and ‘Sing it in the Valleys’. It was led by Musical Director Colin Ventay from Exeter, with West Country musicians and young people from the Salesian College in Farnborough. With more than 50 percent of HCPT pilgrims under 30, and more than a thousand disabled and disadvantaged children, there was plenty of dance, drama and visuals on huge screens.

This was the 61st HCPT pilgrimage which spends Easter Week in Lourdes annually. There were more than 200 groups from 14 countries, demonstrating that the international character of HCPT continues to grow. Groups wearing unique colours were prominent around the town - at the ‘Cachot’ where St Bernadette’s family lived in 1858, the Stations of the Cross, the ‘Sheepfold’ in the City of the Poor and at other sites connected with the saint. HCPT swelled the torchlight procession on the Tuesday evening and the Blessed Sacrament afternoon procession on the Thursday, carrying hundreds of colourful banners.

HCPT Lourdes Pilgrimage Prayer Easter 2017

Lord Jesus, thank you for bringing us on pilgrimage to Lourdes. Our Lady invites us to ‘come to the water, to drink and to wash’. May the water of the Grotto and the ‘living water’ of your Word help us to be better people. May we love and care for each other just as you love and care for each one of us. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Watch the HCPT Trust Mass Lourdes 2017 here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MxIJV7EL08

See HCPT leading the Blessed Sacrament Procession: 20 April 2017: www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcXawWXfkaw

Read more about HCPT: www.hcpt.org.uk