HCPT pilgrims enjoy fun, sunny week in Lourdes

HCPT Youth Committee

Participants on the HCPT Easter pilgrimage are returning home after a joyous and often life changing week in Lourdes. The charity's 62nd annual pilgrimage welcomed more than 1,100 disabled and disadvantaged children in from the UK and beyond to the Shrine in the South of France. Whilst there the children stayed in one of over 200 family-sized groups and were accompanied by nurses, clergy and helpers.

The pilgrimage is renowned for its vibrancy and joy - aided by the fact that the majority of helpers who join it are under the age of 30. During the week those young helpers participated in a creative and productive Youth Gather, which showed that HCPT's future is in safe hands.

The whole week in Lourdes is centred around the children, with everyone attending focussed on ensuring that they have as much fun and benefit as much as possible from their pilgrimage. Typically the week will include trips to the mountains, local attractions, or to the seaside, as well as visits to the Grotto, Baths, and daily Masses. HCPT also leads the prestigious Torchlight and Blessed Sacrament Processions during the week - as well as celebrating a rare late night Mass in English at the Grotto.

The theme of this year's pilgrimage was 'you are special' which was developed ASCPG (American Special Children's Pilgrimage Group - HCPT's sister organisation in the United States). It was dedicated to the late New York Policeman Steven MacDonald, a man who inspired many, both by his faith and for the forgiveness who showed an attacker who left him paralysed. Mr MacDonald was a great supporter of ASCPG, traveling with them to Lourdes on a number of occasions.

As always HCPT's pilgrimage had a strong international flavour, with senior clergy coming from America, Slovakia, England, Wales and Ireland. HCPT groups from the UK and Ireland were joined by those from Belgium, Croatia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, USA and the West Indies.

For the first time a group of priests from India joined the pilgrimage. They hope in future years to bring disabled and disadvantaged children from their country.

The highlight of the week for many was the Trust Mass, celebrated by Rt Rev Manuel Cruz, Auxiliary Bishop of Newark, USA. It was also celebrated by the Most Rev Ján Orosch, (Archbishop of Trnava, Slovakia), Rt Rev Peter Brignall (Bishop of Wrexham), Rt Rev Donal McKeown (Bishop of Derry), Rt Rev Richard Moth (Bishop of Arundel and Brighton), Rt Rev Alan Williams (Bishop of Brentwood), Rt Rev Thomas Williams (Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool), and over 100 priests and deacons.

The message of Bishop Cruz's homily was a simple and powerful one. He assured a congregation of over 6,000 in the Underground Basilica that, "Jesus loves you however you are, every moment of every day." It was a sentiment that was applauded with gusto.`

HCPT pilgrimages for 2018 continue in May at Hosanna House. From then until November, the house, in the hills above Lourdes, will host over 1,500 pilgrims of all ages, many of them with disabilities or life-limiting conditions.

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