Lourdes 2015 - Day 7 & 8

First thing on the 7th day, we took pilgrims to the international mass. Although young pilgrims err away from this mass, frightened of its crippling length and soporific atmosphere, it is one of the most significant for visitors to Lourdes. It is a service that welcomes pilgrims from all over the world, seating everyone into the colossal underground basilica and speaking to them in their native language. For much of the mass, you won't be able to understand what the priest says. Similarly, in the Torchlight Procession, the rosary is said in many of the world's languages, causing one's concentration to waver. But it is important that all pilgrims engage. Listening to another language, or speaking to others in their own tongue, is one of the greatest acts of empathy and understanding. Under the Catholic faith, we all, in effect, speak the same language and try to achieve the same goal. In Lourdes, this feeling of collectivity and communion is at its most palpable.

Language is actually at the crux of why people come to Lourdes. When Bernadette used the words 'I am the Immaculate Conception', they were terms that she did not know. Her lack of education would have made her theologically and scripturally illiterate. However, she spoke the language of faith - these words were given to her by divine intervention. The priest understood what she meant. Therefore, from the start, language has been one of the main miracles of Lourdes.

Personally, I have done my best to employ language to capture the essence of the pilgrimage in these blogs. A lot of the time, though, the experience transcends human language. You have to feel it for yourself.

The last day was a vital one for Over 18s, as they finally got to do their duty in the St. Frai. After a 5.30 start, we donned plastic pinnies to serve coffee, tea and breakfast to the pilgrims, or even clean toilets and wheelchairs. However, the main aspect of the duty is simply to talk to the pilgrims and offer any sort of assistance. Throughout the year, the elderly and sick are very lonely. The company of young people, dressed in our yellow t-shirts, brightens up their day, without fail. Being with pilgrims for an extended period allowed us to build relationships, and catch up with old friends from previous years.

When it came to five o'clock, it was time for the seriously ill pilgrims to board the jumbulance [see the Meeting 3 blog]. Coach 8 led the leaving party, playing hymns as hundreds waved the coach off. Needless to say, tears were shed. As Be Thou My Vision, possibly the anthem of the 2015 pilgrimage, rang out, one couldn't help but lament the year to come away from these amazing people. But these were also tears of joy. It was a celebration of what we had achieved during the week, and, for some, over the last seven years. I am referring to Matthew Norris who has served his full term as a yellow t-shirt on Coach 4. I thought it was only fitting to let him have the final word, and to thank him for all he has done for the Coach and the Pilgrimage.

"What a difference a week can make, from being really unsure about going, to not being able to stay away. That was the story of my first year in Lourdes and despite spending about 350 or so hours on a coach, it hasn’t changed. It’s tiring work but the good times more than made up for it.

I’ve shared my experiences with a lot of people who are all different but share a common mission in Lourdes. It’s this that makes the week what it is, and really acts as the butter in the Coach 4 sandwich. Some people only came for a year, some are well established veterans and some weren’t even human (RIP Evvsy [the Jean-Baptiste dog]). Each person however has had an impact on my life - simply by being a part of the coach that can’t be taken away.

For me, Lourdes has been a massive part of my life during big times of change, with finishing college and university and moving into the big bad world of work. My time here and the friends I have made have really helped with the transition, and I want to thank each and every one of you for preparing me and being there for me.

Time to start the next chapter of my life,

I’m on my way…"

Lourdes 2015 Day 5 & 6

It rained in the morning, but this was no burden at all compared to the challenges Christ faced during the Passion; the pilgrims donned ponchos to view the 'low' Stations of the Cross (flat stations made for accessibility).

Mass in the Rosary Basilica is always special, not least because its golden mosaiced walls and ornaments are a welcome change from the concrete of the majority of the Sanctuaire. This chapel is the first of three incorporated into one huge building that resembles the Disney palace. 

Torchlight procession must be the finest way to end a day in Lourdes. For a lot of pilgrims, this is the reason they make the journey. It is deeply prayerful, achingly pretty and a reminder of the power of the catholic faith.

Yesterday was our day off, but it was more like a day on. In the morning we took a short coach ride to Bartres, where Bernadette lived for a while in her youth. Mass was said on a playground (the roundabout acting as an altar) and followed by intense games of football and rounders.

Back in Lourdes, we did our reconciliation with a twist. Whereas we usually stick with one venue, we did the service in stations, starting at the hotel and working our way through the domain. As we went to confession, the rest of the group sang hymns old and new; Mary Norris' influence gave the evening a vintage feel. It was a joyful occasion, to celebrate the joyful sacrament of reconciliation.

Lourdes 2015 - Day 4

For many people, the Grotto mass is the pinnacle of the Lourdes experience. Yesterday, we came together to celebrate the Eucharist at the site of the apparitions. Though the morning was painfully early, the rising sun added to the allure of this little paradise in rock.

The sun always seems to shine when we take the pilgrimage photo, which took place after mass in front of the basilica. Many of us took advantage of the Archbishop's position at the centre of the photo to grab a selfie with him. He's probably the most photographed Arch Bish in the world right now. 

After lunch, some of us went to serve in the baths. It was a singularly emotional session, with each of us witnessing touching moments of faith in action. The girls remarked of the unique relationship they developed with their colleagues and pilgrims. Here's what Emma (below) said: 

'This is my first time in Lourdes experiencing the over 18 side of the pilgrimage, and the one word I have to describe it is, phenomenal. I have been lucky enough to serve in the baths this year and words simply cannot explain the overwhelming sense of accomplishment I have gained in such a short time. The baths give all volunteers a chance to see more of the hard work that goes into increasing the ability to strengthen your faith. I have been reflecting on my previous visits to the baths and how you don't fully appreciate the work that goes on to ensure you have a spiritual and most of all safe experience when connecting with the Holy Virgin. The baths is the perfect place to be at peace with yourself and Our Lady, a memory that will last forever.'

The sun continued to beat down during the blessed sacrament procession, all the way into the Underground Basilica - a sort of car-park looking concrete chapel of epic proportions. It's a quiet service of adoration, where we feel the physical presence of the Lord as the lights are dimmed and incense swirls. 

But the strongest place where we feel God is with each other. Lourdes worked its magic once again as we had a catechesis session on the prairie across from the basilica. Christine encouraged us to compliment the person next to us, in spite of how long we had known them, and the result was heart warming. We're so lucky to have a coach full of loving and talented people.

We allowed these thoughts to resound within us as we bypassed the candle lit Grotto on the way home. It was a tranquil end to a very busy day. 

Lourdes 2015 - Day 3

The day began, unusually, in quite a leisurely fashion. With time before the welcome mass in the afternoon, Father Sean led a short catechesis session on the importance of saying the rosary. We were assigned the mission to find a new area in Lourdes specially set aside for doing this. We discovered a tent over the river from the grotto. It contained a darkened room with screens all around displaying a dramatisation of a young person's spiritual journey. As this played, we said decades of the rosary, a task set by Our Lady when she appeared to Bernadette. 

Later was the joyful occasion of welcome mass, when pilgrims and youth are first (re)united. The main aspect of this mass is the blessing of hands. Lourdes is about physical work; being active so that pilgrims can relax. The focus on our hands reminds us of this task.

The final activity of the day's was also physically taxing: the Stations of the Cross. The life-size stations are placed on a steep hill by the domain which we climb while remembering Jesus' struggle during the passion. Each group led a short reflection on a couple of stations - always one of the most touching moments of the pilgrimage.

Though the story of the passion is painful and sorrowful, the overriding message of the presentations was one of joy. Again and again, we were reminded that, no matter how many burdens we carry and how much pain we go through, our Coach 4 family will be there to pick us up. The night ended with a vintage Coach 4 night in the Geneve, our regular bar year after year.

Lourdes 2015 - Day 2

On the approach to Lourdes, after the dark emptiness of the French motorways, the spectacular skyline of the Pyrenees came into view. Fr. Sean reminded us to appreciate the beauty of God's creation. Equally beautiful is Lourdes this small pilgrimage town nestled among these stunning hills, and the pilgrims that visit it. 

After arrival at our beloved St. Jean Baptiste hotel, Sean took us on his magical mystery tour of the town, stopping at the Parish Church where Bernadette was baptised, Le Cachot (the previous residence of St. Bernadette Soubirous), the fort, the Soubirous family grave and the newly renovated Grotto. It's important for us to get a sense of our surroundings, so we can track the path of Bernadette to the site of the apparitions.

With aching bodies, we trudged over the river to the welcome mass. It was led by the archbishop, who stressed the importance of abiding by God's law, thinking of others first and accepting the mission. Each coach was given a Tom Cruise style 'Mission Impossible' case (cleverly disguised as box file) with tasks for the week ahead. 

This week, one of the main missions we have to complete is helping the elderly and infirm. Group 2's night prayer prepared us for this. They focussed on love, family and unity, and explained through stories and poems the importance of compassion and unconditional love. During today's first encounters with vulnerable pilgrims, we must see how God works through them. As Group 2 taught us, we need to use love to enrich their Lourdes experience:

Lourdes 2015 - Day 1

As we cross the channel, we can feel ourselves crossing over into a new episode of our lives. The problems faced on the gruelling, sweaty coach journey are outweighed by excitement for the week ahead.

At 6.45 this morning, however, it was hard to appear enthusiastic. It took considerable effort to fire up our singing voices, step up to the lectern to read or even keep our eyes open during mass. But Father Sean still managed to lead an engaging service - one that reminded us of the importance of seeking (and finding) God.

The theme of this year's pilgrimage is The Joy of Mission. Maybe we should make it our mission to actively seek God. Already, by joining Coach 4 and making our way to Lourdes, we are some way to achieving this. 

Enduring the next 20-odd hours is the next step. To pass the time we have a dazzling array of Disney films, a quiz with a huge cash prize and the pleasure of Justin Turnbull's company, who will be telling a few of his ripping yarns every hour.

We also really enjoy hearing tweets from well-wishers at home. Anthony has announced the messages that came through this morning. Please keep in touch throughout the week @coach4wiganandleig (yes, the 'H' is omitted on purpose).

Coach 4 Lourdes 2015 - Final Meeting

In our final meeting before our departure on Thursday, Aileen, a veritable legend in the Liverpool Archdiocese, paid us a visit to teach us this year's hymns.

For years, she has been the voice of the pilgrimage, leading the music during Youth Alive masses at Lowe House in St. Helens and youth masses and services in Lourdes. She and her guitar are the linchpin of some thirty musicians and singers, who help to channel the Spirit through song, and elevate our worship.

Aileen seemed to think that Coach 4 are proficient in doing this. Historically, we are one of the most vocal groups on the pilgrimage, both during mass and while having a drink in the evening.

Considering the importance of music to the Coach 4 experience - and to give the newbies a little tuition - this blog is dedicated to some of the tracks that have defined the last five-or-so years in Lourdes. Some are chorussed in the pews; others are belted in the bars at night. But all of these songs will become the soundtrack to your week. They'll probably stay with you for the rest of your life.

Erasure - A Little Respect
Gets the night off to a lively start. Our version involves fewer synths.

Matt Redman - Blessed Be Your Name

One of the praise and worship anthems of a few years ago that lives long in the memory. You'll hear this in one of our coach masses during the week - probably held on the play area in Bartres.

The Dubliners/Father Sean - Wild Rover

Famously sung by our coach chaplain (and any other staff member who can be coerced), this is an absolute classic. I still don't know all the lyrics.

Boyce & Stanley - Taste and See
Sends a shiver down the spine during every communion. The most requested hymn in the Archdiocese by far, and for good reason. It's a seven minute epic comparable to Stairway to Heaven.

Robbie Williams - Angels

Coach 4's anthem. Get your voices ready.

Matt Redman - 10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)

The Redman strikes again. This track took everyone by surprise last year. It wasn't played by the band, but was played through the speakers during mass. It seemed to resonate with everyone, and helped them to reflect on an amazing week. It holds particular significance for Coach 4 because it was played during the service in which two of our members - Kate and James - were confirmed.

Sunday 27th February: Penance

Over one thousand people were present at the ecstasy. Bernadette prayed, kissed the ground and moved on her knees as a sign of penance. She was then taken to the house of Judge Ribes who threatened to put her in prison.

Coach 4 Lourdes 2015 - The Funraiser, 10/4/15

As we all know, the best way to have a good time is to put ourselves through crippling humiliation in front of our best mates. This is the essence of Coach 4, and the main exhibition of this philosophy comes in the form of our Funraiser at St. Mary's Parish Centre.

Group 6 won the decade-themed quiz, but we were all winners really.

Here are some images of the night.

Friday 19th February: Short and silent apparition

Bernadette came to the Grotto with a lighted blessed candle. This is the origin of carrying candles and lighting them in front of the Grotto.

Coach 4 Lourdes 2015 - Meeting 3

Our pilgrimage, fun though it may be, is a week of intense work. It requires a new level of physical and mental rigour, as we are asked to complete strenuous tasks and solve problems from the (ironically) unholy hour of 5am at the earliest to 11pm, with quick breaks for lunch and dinner at the hotel in between. You will walk miles. You will sweat buckets. You will probably want to give up at times. But for all the tough work we are faced with, there are an infinite amount of calming and pleasurable moments in Lourdes that make it all worthwhile. The very act of working as a 400-strong team in faith is magical. And the feeling you get when looking back at what you have achieved is incredibly satisfying, and even cathartic.

At our last meeting, Christine outlined the sort of activities and issues we might face: the slippery-when-wet red road that guides pilgrims from the St. Frai; the frightening-at-first Baths and Over 18’s duty in the St. Frai; manoeuvring voitures (chariot style wheelchairs) for larger pilgrims; climbing the various hills of the town; attending mass every day. The list goes on. It is a packed schedule, but one that is very stimulating.

Some youth pilgrims enjoy the work so much that they want to take on a new role later in life. The first step might be joining the St. Frai team, who wear purple t-shirts and do various duties in the hospital, but a further step up would take you onto the Hospitalite. Chris Wright, former Coach 4 member and husband to Titch, one of our beloved staff members, is now part of the Hospitalite. He came to the last meeting to talk about the jobs that they do in Lourdes. As their name suggests, they spend most of their time in the St. Frai doing hands on work with the pilgrims. Some of them are specialist doctors and nurses, while others are regular people who are willing to work behind the scenes to keep the pilgrims safe and healthy. From making teas and coffees to doing personal care, they fuel and maintain the pilgrimage.

Chris’ job is to take pilgrims from Liverpool on the jumbulance. This is for pilgrims who are unable to travel by plane, and need extra care while they travel. I have personally dealt with bed-ridden pilgrims while working in the baths. To see a man with such a debilitated body brought into a state of peace by bathing in the blessed spring was nothing less than miraculous. It’s small wonder that the members of the Hospitalite come back every year to carry out these tough tasks. It reaffirms faith in oneself, each other and in God. And it is only through perseverance that Bernadette built up a relationship with Our Lady, convinced her peers that the apparitions were a reality.

Thursday 18th February: The Lady Speaks

For the first time, the Lady spoke. Bernadette held out a pen and paper asking her to write her name. She replied; "It is not necessary" and she added: "I do not promise to make you happy in this world but in the other. Would you be kind enough to come here for a fortnight?" 

Coach 4 Lourdes 2015 - Meeting 2

How often do you see something for what it really is? I'm awful at looking for things. I always seem to be searching for USB sticks, socks and other miscellaneous objects in my room. You have to persist, train your eye, or even ask for help to seek things out, and eventually you will get the reward.

The amazing thing about faith is that it is believing without seeing. All Christians should search for God, but this can be hard, considering that we can't literally see him.

But in spite of His mysterious nature, the Lord is not invisible. The hymn that we sang at the start of Coach 4's second meeting teaches us to 'open the eyes of our heart' to Him. We must want see him. We must will him to appear.

Bernadette opened her heart to God when, miraculously, Our Lady appeared to her. She saw something that other people missed. We need to try to see through the veil of the ordinary, something that Anthony taught us to do in yet another series of eye-opening exercises that forced us to think outside the box, and even bend the rules of the game to win. For example, we were asked to reach our hands as high as they could go. No-one thought to use the balcony as a way of getting higher, In order to reach our goals, we have to think and act in new ways, and break the mould.

Then we were asked to play spot the difference with each other, changing an aspect of our appearance and testing to see we could notice the alteration. Maybe we should pay more attention to our friends, especially in the run up to Lourdes, in an attempt to see God in each other.

The remainder of the meeting was spent learning about the series of Our Lady's apparitions to Bernadette. This is the most important lesson for any self-respecting Lourdes pilgrim. What can we do to be more like Bernadette? What can we do to feel Our Lady's presence at the Grotto? Though we may not see Our Lady in the flesh, there is something else we can see in Lourdes. We can look to each other, and the thousands of pilgrims who walk under the rock, drink from and bathe in the blessed spring, and continue to have faith; to believe without seeing. That is a miracle in itself.

Oliver


With the second blog post, we move on to the second apparition.

Sunday 14th February: Holy Water

Bernadette felt an inner force drawing her to the Grotto in spite of the fact that she was forbidden to go there by her parents. At her insistence, her mother allowed her; after the first decade of the Rosary, she saw the same lady appearing. She sprinkled holy water at her. The lady smiled and bent her head. When the Rosary ended she disappeared. 

Coach 4 Lourdes 2015 - Meeting 1

It's that time of year again for the veterans. And it's a whole new world (Disney reference intended) for the newbies.

Though the warm weather of July seems ever so distant, The Coach Four meetings have begun and our pilgrimage to Lourdes starts now.

Firstly, I will introduce myself. I am Oliver, and this is my 5th year on Coach Four. For the past couple of years, Beth Hurst has been our official blogger, and has kept us informed and entertained during the week in Lourdes. Unfortunately, Beth will not be joining us this year, so I have been asked to take up her position. Thanks for your hard work, Beth. I have big boots to fill.

At the moment, Lourdes is unrecognisable. The Domain, the sacred area that consists of the grotto, the baths and the chapels, is undergoing a huge development project: "Projet Grotte Cœur de Lourdes" (Grotto Project: The Heart of Lourdes). The place where Our Lady appeared to Bernadette in 1858 has been reduced to a building site. A few years ago, devastating floods hit the domain, decimating the site and calling for an intense restorative project. But now, the beauty and peace of Lourdes is being willingly taken apart by our hands and not those of nature.

Click here for a video of the construction work (en Francais)

What we must remember, however, is that change is often for the best. Sometimes we have to go backwards to go forwards. Despite causing momentary chaos, the relocation of the taps (where we can access clean, blessed spring water) will usher in a new era of prayerfulness around the Grotto. Hopefully, the stewards will have to "shush" us less of the time.

Similarly, saying yes to Lourdes is a massive shift in the course of your life. Working with pilgrims and meeting lots of new people is a frightening prospect, not to mention the difficulty of having a faith in a society that is far from Church-focussed. Naomi Cassidy is new to the coach this year, and, though she has gone through some difficult times recently, she wants to use Lourdes as a way of exploring and regaining her faith. Anxious before Sunday's meeting, she explained that being introduced to the coach and her group wasn't as nerve wracking as she thought. It seems that being on Coach Four is already helping people to overcome worry and to experience peace. 

I hope that Lourdes helps to transform Naomi's life as it did for Ella Tobin who is returning for her second year. She described the coach as "one big family". To make sure that 2015 creates those same tight-nit relationships, Anthony instigated some of those dreaded ice-breakers, one of which involved working in our groups to safeguard an egg from destruction after being dropped from the upper floor of church. Needless to say, most of them ended up scrambled (a waste of good eggs in my opinion), but a couple of groups managed to protect it. 

Anthony explained that the activities required us to think differently to succeed. The very fact that we have opened up 'The Door of Faith' (a previous theme of the pilgrimage) and are on our way to Lourdes proves that we have made change in our lives. Like with the construction work at the grotto, the meetings, the fun(d)raiser, the coach journey and all our activities in France should mould and reshape us into better people.

I am already excited for next meeting on 22nd February.

See you then.

Oli


P.S. I plan to do 18 blog posts between now and the end of our Pilgrimage, each post corresponding to one of Our Lady's apparitions to Bernadette. If you have read this, you'll have a head start for the on-the-spot question during the meeting on the Story of Bernadette:

Thursday 11th February, 1858: The First Meeting

Accompanied by her sister and a friend, Bernadette went to Massabielle on the banks of the Gave to collect bones and dead wood. Removing her socks in order to cross the stream, she heard a noise like a gust of wind, she looked up towards the Grotto:

"I SAW A LADY DRESSED IN WHITE, SHE WORE A WHITE DRESS, AN EQUALLY WHITE VEIL, A BLUE BELT AND A YELLOW ROSE ON EACH FOOT."

Bernadette made the Sign of the Cross and said the Rosary with the lady. When the prayer ended the Lady suddenly vanished.