Last night in Lourdes we had the honour of leading the nightly Marian Torchlight Procession; this was a perfect was to end our pilgrimage as we gathered for one final time as a whole pilgrimage family to process through the Sanctuary with the Statue of the Blessed Virgin and to give thanks to God and Our Lady for a wonderful pilgrimage week.
This morning our pilgrims awoke and began to make their way home to Manchester, or in some cases, onwards to other areas of France for an extra break before returning home. Pilgrims on our first flight were collected at 6.30am and even at this early hour and after a busy and tiring week our fabulous volunteers were there to assist with luggage, transfer to the coaches and were also on hand at the airport. The efficiency and organisation used is fantastic to see and it helps to make the journey home much less stressful and more enjoyable for our pilgrims.
At noon those at the heart of our pilgrimage, our Acceuil pilgrims, were flown home accompanied by our Medical & Nursing Team and hotel pilgrims on the same flight to Manchester. Our Medical & Nursing team work tirelessly throughout the week to ensure the comfort of our sick pilgrims and at times are needed to respond to situations in difficult locations and conditions. Their commitment and care for our pilgrims is obvious in all that they do and they are so much appreciated by our sick pilgrims and the pilgrimage family as a whole.
Our advance party of volunteers will remain in Lourdes until tomorrow morning and today assisted with the packing and storage of equipment and essential supplies needed throughout our pilgrimage week, as well as cleaning and tidying the first floor of the Hotel Solitude which is transformed during our week to meet the needs and convenience of our sick pilgrims. Our pilgrimage van was also loaded today ready to hit the road first thing in the morning with our own 'Max and Paddy' at the wheel as they bring pilgrimage equipment and supplies home to Salford, we wish them a safe journey.
Our pilgrimage for 2016 has come to an end, but the friendships we have made this week and in previous years will remain for many years to come. We are a pilgrimage family and that sense of community and family values has been especially evident this week in our time with Our Lady. The compliments we have received from other pilgrimages in Lourdes, who have observed or joined our services, have all said how lovely and welcoming a group we are and have been in awe at the compassion and care shown to our pilgrims by our volunteers.
We give thanks to Our Lady for calling us to worship in Lourdes, for her intercession and for the blessings bestowed upon us this week during our 84th Salford Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes. We thank her for allowing us to sit with her awhile in the Grotto and thank her for making our pilgrimage one of peace, reconciliation and prayer.
We thank you for following our week in Lourdes through this blog and hope that it has been a good reminder of our time here; if you have not been with us on pilgrimage this week, we hope we have provided a good insight as to who we are and what makes our pilgrimage so special.
In a few weeks time we will begin preparations for the 85th Salford Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes, which will take place from Friday 28th July - Thursday 3rd August 2017. We warmly invite you to join our pilgrimage family next year in Lourdes as we gather once again to give praise to the 'beautiful lady'. It only seems fitting to leave you with these words from Saint Bernadette:
'If one dream should fall and break into a thousand pieces... never be afraid to pick one of those pieces up and begin again. That's the beauty of being alive... We can always start all over again. Enjoy God's amazing opportunities bestowed on us. Have faith in Him always...'
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.
Saint Bernadette, pray for us.
Stay with us, Lord, on our journey.
