Thanks to the generosity of the Alistair Roberts Memorial Fund, I travelled as a helper as part of a HCPT pilgrimage to Lourdes during Easter week 2019. The Bristol Group (‘Group 37- The Green Machine’) were comprised this year of 9 sponsored children and 17 helpers.
Throughout the week, the group got involved with the religious life of Lourdes with daily morning and night prayers, masses and grace before meals visiting the Grotto and the taps and participating in the torchlight procession. The children enriched Easter services and Holy Mass with bubbles, face paints, dancing and singing.
This year our big trips involved traveling to Point
D’espagne, a view point in the Pyrenees Mountains, a trip to an Animal Park and a visit to the Bétharram Caves. The children and helpers were able to enjoy some snow in the mountains, enjoying the dramatic scenery and the space with an epic cricket match and many parachute games. At the zoo we fed marmots and goats, waved at the brown bears and dodged monkeys that jumped onto our bags. The caves were huge and awe inspiring and while the able bodied negotiated the hundreds of steps and then an exciting train ride out, the wheelchair users went on an adventure of their own before an ice cream treat!
One of the highlights of the week is the trust Mass. By this point in the week the children knew all the actions to the songs and enthusiastically joined in with the other 5000+ colourful pilgrims. Musical instruments, bubbles and face paint abounded, and a great and memorable time was had by all. The children especially enjoyed seeing Cariad, the dragon.
HCPT’s theme for the week in Lourdes was ‘God’s Love is the Best Love” and many of our activities and prayers were centred on encouraging the children (and helpers) to reflect on the people in their lives who love them and who they love and the love that God has for everyone. There were many opportunities throughout the week to offer up prayers, memories and moments to share to the group and with God. Both our group candle and group backdrop were covered with the group’s intentions. The main celebrations in Lourdes were led by the Welsh Region and they introduced us to some welsh words: many a “cwtch”, a hug, was shared during the week and “cariad”, love, flourished.”
— HCPT
“Thanks to the Alistair Roberts Memorial Fund (ARMF) I was able to participate in the Westminster Dioceses Annual Pilgrimage to Lourdes during the 20 – 26th July 2019.
I volunteered at the St Frai Accueil, which is a hotel come hospital. As a St Frai helper, I was in charged to take care 10 hours a day of an amazing middle-aged woman, who due to a disabling condition needs consistent assistance to complete her daily tasks like showering, getting dressed, mobilization in her wheelchair and feeding among others. So I helped her, to get all those activities done. Every time I helped her in something that was “very basic” like getting the straw close to her mouth, she will say “Thank you” so it made me value more simple things I can “easily do” in my daily life and also it made me realize I need to be thankful every single time someone helps me to achieve something.
I also helped during the Tuesday 25 night shift taking care of the 20 pilgrims, cleaning the 2nd floor of the hospital and some menage, and settling the coffee and tea for the morning shift.
It was my first time to help someone with disability so I was very scared of doing it wrong, even though I received prior training. Thankfully, a very helpful team, made sure I was feeding her and helping her in the right way and so it went well.
Without volunteers like me, pilgrims with disability will not be able to make a pilgrimage to Lourdes and enjoy an amazing summer week surrounded by young people who cheer her up, praying and meeting old friends in coffee shops.
This was one of the most amazing experiences in my entire life because through service I learned:
1. Power of gratitude: It aroused me, how thankful all pilgrimages where. They valued our help in things didn’t mean much to us, but for them, it really makes a difference. For example, putting their shoes, brushing their teeth, helping them to go to the bathroom. They valued our work.
2. Importance of teamwork: Journeys can be very long and tiring, So it was vital for me to divide functions. Also, pilgrims are very thankful but sometimes they get tired and can become a little grumpy. Therefore having a supporting team to speak with was very important.
3. Serve with humbleness: During the week, I got to know amazing volunteers and some of them with very successful careers. It struck me how being so successful and accomplished they will accept so many orders from young people or do so many things for the pilgrims with so much love. I promise my self, I will always take time during my career to serve people with that humbleness.
Thank you once again for the opportunity to serve others. I really wanted to be a volunteer and helper in this pilgrimage and your help made it possible. I pray that God will have Alistair in His glory and for many blessings to the Roberts family for the wonderful work they do through the Alistair Roberts Memorial Fund.”
