Every year, Our Lady’s part sponsors a young person from the parish to go to Lourdes aspart of the Archdiocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes.
The “Youth for Lourdes” group travel on the pilgrimage flight, along with our sick pilgrims, older helpers, and ordinary pilgrims. They are fully involved in the care of the sick when in Lourdes. They have leaders who look after them and they stay together in the same hotel. There are some preparation events prior to the pilgrimage which are extremely useful, especially those who are not going with their own friends.
Our young people find this a fantastic experience and many later return to Lourdes and become more involved in their local Church.
Part sponsorship by the parish means that the sponsored young adult needs to engage with the process and commit to doing good to raise the funds required. We hope that the active involvement in raising funds make the experience even more valuable. The Youth Helper is also encouraged to give feedback to the parish about their time in Lourdes, either in writing or as a presentation after Mass if they feel comfortable doing that.
There is a simple selection process which commences in January each year. Further information can be obtained though the Parish Pastoral Committee.
