Merciful like the Father

Diocese of Leeds Pilgrimage Youth Section Thursday 30 th Friday 8 th July 2016 78 th Pilgrimage Merciful like the Father

THURSDAY 30 th JUNE 2016 Travel to Lourdes: Get up on time and refreshed. Have something for breakfast. It is going to be a long day. Travel light: one suitcase clearly labelled with your name and address. You will meet up at your school at the time your school party leader tells you. It is important that you are early for the coach. We will not hang around. Delay on your part will have a knock-on effect and you will not be popular with the school party down the road waiting to catch the bus after you! The coaches are of high quality and should not make you sick, but take precautions if you need to. You will be sleeping on the coach whilst it is travelling through France. You may wish to take a small pillow with you. Ensure you have your Passport & Medical Card with you (unless you have been asked to give these to your group leader). These must be safe but readily accessible, not at the bottom of your case! Ensure you have everything you need, especially medicines and other such specific items. Please inform your school party leader of medication etc. that you are carrying. Carry your Sterling and Euros safely. You must wear your lanyard at all times and it must be visible. Take a packed lunch and some snack food for your journey. Do not take glass bottles. I also suggest you carry enough English currency so that you can buy some hot food on the ferry. Do not stash loads of food in your main luggage. Only carry that which you can eat before boarding the ferry. On the buses do not hang personal items in carrier bags on the seat, as at stops these may be thrown out as rubbish by the driver! You may wish to take a good book to read, some music to listen to (if you have an ipod you can listen to it quietly on the coach), or perhaps watch a DVD with the approval of your group/coach leader for the journey. On the ferry listen to the safety announcements. In the case of emergency, follow directions given by the crew and at the earliest possible moment make contact with your member of staff. No student is permitted out on deck without a member of staff Make sure you are back at the coach at the allotted times indicated by your group leader Don t forget to put your watches forward one hour when you enter France. Remember when in France the traffic travels on the opposite side of the road to the UK so ensure you look in both directions before crossing. At night take special care when the buses stop as you may be sleepy and paths uneven so keep to well-lit areas and always be in twos or threes. 1

FRIDAY 1 st JULY 2016 11.00(ish) Coaches arrive in Lourdes. (Some students may be required to help with baggage from the Pilgrimage Flight at the Hotel Solitude, please be ready to help) at approximately 1pm Each group leader is responsible for unloading bags! Students go straight to their rooms to settle and freshen up, if time, before lunch. 12 noon Lunch at hotels. 1:30pm Staff Meeting 2:00pm Wheelchair allocation in the Alba Car Park Wheelchair allocation can be difficult. As soon as you are registered, please make sure you know where your wheelchair is you are responsible for it. Maybe have a bit of practice for the sake of your sick pilgrim! 3:15pm 4:00pm 6.15pm 7:00pm 8:30pm 11:00pm 11:30pm Walk to the opening Youth Mass Opening Youth Mass (SS. Cosmas and Damian) Staff Meeting (Hotel Alba) Evening Meal at Hotel. Walking tour of Lourdes in School Groups. Sign in at Hotels. Silence. Please ensure that you are on time for meetings. For your own safety and security you must wear your yellow polo-shirt or hoodie and identity badges at all times. Do not wear jackets over yellows. Do not give a hoodie or polo-shirt to those not with the youth section. Please make sure you carry a bag with you when you are going out pilgrimage booklet, water, sun cream, hat, waterproofs and medication. 2

SATURDAY 2 nd JULY 2016 7:00am 10:00am 10:00am 10:30am 12:00pm 3:00pm Breakfast. Collect pilgrims from Hotels Meet to collect banners from the Permanence. Opening Mass / Blessing of Hands Bernadette (Carmel Side) During this Mass all of the adult helpers and the youth section will have their hands blessed. This shows our desire to serve others this week with the love of Christ. It also expresses our belief that Christ is present in all the people that we will be serving this week. Lunch at hotels. High Stations of the Cross / staggered start, times TBA The Stations of the Cross is a way of praying through the last moments of Jesus life on earth. We pause fourteen times and remember a moment when Jesus chose to suffer, die and rise again for us. There are two main depictions of the Stations of the Cross in Lourdes. The High Stations are made up of life-sized statues, placed on a path up a hill near to the Domain. 4:30pm 6:30pm Baths. Schools: Notre Dame, St. John Fisher (Dewsbury), St Benedict s, St John Fisher Harrogate (60 Youth) Staff Meeting The Blessed Sacrament Procession is a very precious moment in the pilgrimage. We believe that the bread and wine at Mass become the Body and Blood of Jesus. In this procession, the Bishop will walk with the Blessed Sacrament with Jesus for us to follow, to pray and to adore. Make sure you take a bottle of water with you. 7:00pm 8:00pm 8:15pm 9:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm Evening Meal at Hotel. School Meetings Collect pilgrims from Hotels Torchlight Procession Esplanade, gather behind Leeds banner Sign in at Hotels. Silence. Please make sure you carry a bag with you when you are going out pilgrimage booklet, water, sun cream, hat, waterproofs and medication. 3

SUNDAY 3 rd JULY 2016 7:00am 8:00am 8:15am 8:45am 9:30am Breakfast. School Meetings Assigned Youth to St Pius X Basilica to arrive for 8.30am, roles to be confirmed Collect pilgrims from Hotels. International Mass St Pius X Basilica. The International Mass is the Sunday Mass for everyone in Lourdes. It can get very busy, so arrive early. Once you have positioned your pilgrim, join the rest of the youth section. 12:00pm 1:30pm 2:00pm 5:00pm 4:30pm Lunch in Hotels Staff meeting (Hotel Alba) Diocesan Celebration Garden Party Gardens of Hotel Gallia Londres & Chapelle et Parc Baths: St Wilfrid s, Mount St Mary s (25 youth) When Our Lady appeared to St. Bernadette, she led her to a spring of water. It soon became clear that this water had healing properties. When we attend the Baths, we are given the opportunity to bathe in the same waters. To help prepare yourself, think of the parts of your life in which you need healing not just physical healing but emotional and spiritual healing too. 7:00pm 9:00pm Return Pilgrims to Hotels Evening Meal at Hotels. Entertainment by Youth Group, Solitude. School Group TBC When she appeared to St. Bernadette, Our Lady asked that people should come in procession. The Torchlight Procession is a very beautiful part of Lourdes. We walk in procession carrying candles and praying the rosary together. Although the prayers (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be) are in different languages, everyone responds in their own language. amou will need to buy a candle (the ones with the paper surrounds) from one of the shops in town. 10:30pm 11:00pm 11:30pm School vigils at the Grotto. Schools: Cardinal Heenan, St John Fisher Dewsbury, Holy Family Carlton. Sign in at Hotels. Silence. Spend time sorting out used clothes and packing them away. 4

MONDAY 4 th JULY 2016 7:30am 8.30am 9:00am 9:30am 10:00am 10:00am 12:30pm 2:00pm 2:30pm Breakfast. School Meetings OPTIONS / Bartres (Ask your staff which activity you will be doing) Bartres: collect packed lunch and board the coach) Collect pilgrims for adult Baths Adult Baths/Low Stations Pilgrims not going to the Baths can go directly to Low Stations. Pilgrims from Baths gather in groups for Low Stations over the river. Animation at the Baths Lunch at hotels, for those not on Bartres Walk Collect pilgrims from hotels. Mass and Anointing of the Sick (Rosary Basilica). The Anointing of the Sick is one of the seven sacraments. During this Mass, priests will anoint the sick pilgrims with blessed oil. Just as Jesus reached out and touched sick people on earth, He continues to do the same through this sacrament. It is a precious moment of prayer for them to receive the healing, comfort and blessing of God. If you are seriously sick and (having been confirmed) would like to receive this sacrament, please speak to your group leader beforehand and you will be given a carte de malade. 4:00pm Pilgrimage photos (Rosary Basilica steps). Return Pilgrims to Hotels following photographs Every year we have a photograph of everyone who attends the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes. It is followed by individual school group photographs. Please wear a big smile and a clean yellow polo shirt or hoodie! 4:30pm 6:30pm 8:00pm 8:45pm 9.00pm 10:30pm 11:00pm 11:30pm Youth Baths: All Saints, Cardinal Heenan, St Mary s Menston (60 Youth) Evening Meal at Hotels. Catechesis (45mins) (SS Cosmas and Damian) Collect Pilgrims for Holy Hour (if required) Holy Hour for adult Pilgrims wishing to go Some youth will be needed to push wheelchairs Collect from hotels at 8.45pm (Adoration Chapel) School vigils at the Grotto. Schools: All Saints, St Wilfrid s, Notre Dame Sign in at Hotels. Silence. 5

TUESDAY 5 th JULY 2016 8:00am 9:00am 10:00am 10:30am 12:00pm 4:30pm 4:15pm 5:00pm 6:30/6:45pm 7:45pm 8:00pm 10:30pm 11:00pm 11:30pm Breakfast. Staff Meeting Collect pilgrims from Hotels. Mass St Bernadette (Carmel Side) Social Time with the Pilgrim / OPTIONS / Bartres Group leader will advise Lunch at hotel (Bartres walk collect packed lunches and board the coach) Youth Baths Schools: St Thomas a Becket, St Bede s and St Joseph s, (St Mary s Menston) (65 Youth) Collect Pilgrims from Hotel Blessed Sacrament procession (non-pushing pilgrims to return straight to hotel for evening meal) Evening Meal at Hotels. Collect pilgrims from Hotels. Penitential Service (Whole Diocese) St Bernadette Grotto Side School vigils at the Grotto. Schools: St Thomas a Becket, St John Fisher Harrogate, St Marys Menston Sign in at Hotels. Silence. 6

WEDNESDAY 6 th JULY 2016 8:00am 9:15am 9:45am 11:30am 12:30pm Breakfast. Collect pilgrims from Hotels. Grotto Mass with Paisley Diocese Depart Lac Du Lourdes Staff Meeting (at Lac Du Lourdes) The Grotto is the place where Our Lady appeared to St. Bernadette. It is a central place in Lourdes and the Mass we celebrate at the Grotto is always very special. Since so many groups want to celebrate Mass in the Grotto, we will probably be accompanied by other English-speaking groups. 2:00pm 5:00pm 4:30pm 6:00pm 7:45pm 8:45pm 9:00pm Diocesan Celebration Lac Du Lourdes Youth Baths Schools: Holy Family Carlton (25 Youth) Evening Meal in Hotels. Catechesis (SS Cosmas and Damian) Collect Pilgrims from Hotels Torchlight Procession Tonight s closing event are an opportunity to thank God for the wonderful blessings of this week. In preparation for tonight think of one thing that you are thankful for and one thing that you want to ask God to help you with as you return home. 10:30pm 11:00pm 11:30pm School vigils at the Grotto. Schools: St Joseph s, St Benedict s, Mount St Marys Sign in at Hotels. Silence. Thursday is the last day and is always hectic, so please help as much as you can! It is especially important to make sure that your luggage is down on time and your rooms are cleaned. Be ready to help with loading luggage onto the coaches. Please be quick in returning wheelchairs in the morning. It takes time to register them and locate missing chairs, so please be patient. You must register your wheelchair with an adult and then fold it and stack neatly where directed. 7

THURSDAY 7 th JULY 2016 6:00am 7:30am 8:00am 8:30am Breakfast. Clear rooms and bring baggage downstairs onto coaches / baggage area Collect pilgrims from hotels. Final Mass and Envoi St Bernadette (Grotto Side) After the Final Mass, there will be a procession which the youth section will animate. The large candle will be carried from the Church to the Crowned Virgin statue where we will have prayers and blessings; and from there the candle will go to the burners near the Grotto and the pilgrims to the hotels. This candle represents the needs, prayers and intentions of the Diocese. It will burn before the Grotto alongside all the other candles. 12:00pm 12:30pm 2:30pm Return and book in wheelchairs (location TBC). Lunch in Hotels. Coaches leave Lourdes - Remember to pick up your packed tea! If you see something that needs doing, please do it. Please do not gather at entrances when people are trying to load the coaches. If you want to write messages on your polo shirt, this must only be done at the hotel and a polo shirt for wearing must be kept free of writing. No offensive or inappropriate messages please. Please check lost property before you leave. Nothing left behind will go back to England. The basic pattern is the reverse of the outward trip. If all goes well, you should be back about mid-morning. You will be given a more precise time on the day and will have a chance to phone home. Don t forget to change your watches back to British Summer Time when you come back to England. 8

Guidelines General Expectations The Youth section has an excellent reputation in Lourdes; make sure you maintain it. Follow instructions of all staff members, not just your own accompanying staff. Respect the rules of the Domain. Treat the area with respect and reverence, behave appropriately, dress properly (no hats, short shorts or skirts, see page 11 for dress code), no mobile phones, no chewing gum or eating, no running or shouting. Keep a prayerful silence. There is no drinking or purchasing of alcohol at any time during the pilgrimage. Only named cafés can be visited in free time at night. No young person should ever be alone. Always travel in company of two or more and stay in the designated areas. No young Person is allowed into the old town unless visiting one of the named places on the Option Sheet with a member of their school staff. Sweatshirts/hoodies and identity badges should always be worn. They are a passport to trust and your statement that you are a bona fide young pilgrim. Therefore, never give a sweatshirt/hoodie to an outsider. Do not write on the sweatshirts/hoodies. Yellow must be visible at all times. At the end of the day each individual must sign in personally and on time to the duty member of staff. Working with Sick Pilgrims Remember: not all illnesses can be seen and some patients may look quite well but if they are with us as sick people there is something wrong, so take care of them. The sick person must be the priority at all times. Always be polite never use bad language or lose your temper. Do not wear sunglasses when talking to sick people they like to see who they are talking to. Don't chew gum. Always face the person you are talking to in case they are hard of hearing. Don t just talk from behind the wheelchair. Avoid talking to friends and others over a sick person, leaving them out of the conversation. Face the sick person to chat. Crouch to their level and give them your full attention. Be prepared for the sick person to want to talk about their illness. Be open and friendly. If you are nervous, remember they may well be as well. One student should push the wheelchair and the others in the group should walk either side of the chair. Don t give the sick pilgrim a white-knuckle ride! There is a red route for wheelchairs to follow when going to the Domain. This route must be followed because of the French insurance requirements. 9

Conduct during Liturgies During Mass and liturgies there must be no talking, chewing or inappropriate behaviour. Hats and sunglasses must not be worn. Please remove them before entering the Church or Basilica or Domain. Everyone must take part and join in the prayers and hymns. The words will be printed for you in a Diocesan book, which you should have with you at all times. Respect and reverence is essential at Holy Communion and at the Blessed Sacrament procession. Remember: we believe that Christ is present at Mass and that the bishop leading the procession is carrying Jesus. So, be reverent. Be part of the torchlight Procession. Although the prayers will be in various languages, they are prayers you know. So, do reply in English as others will be in their language. Above all, create time for yourself to pray and reflect on your experience. Personal Security and Health Look after money and valuables. Do not leave them lying around in hotel bedrooms, lounges, etc. Do not carry loose purses, wallets, etc. Passports should be handed in to your group leader. Do not go round Lourdes alone. Always be in groups of two or more and stay to the lower end of town (the area between the hotels and the Domain). After your vigil, stick with your group; do not wander back alone. Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration and eat to keep up your strength. Report stomach problems or any other health problems, sooner rather than later, to your group leader or to the nurses; Leigh and Margaret who will be sat at the back of all services, they will be with the youth group at all times and hold surgeries after meals in the hotel Alba. Avoid sunburn by wearing sun lotion and keeping your head and neck covered. Bring any personal medicines, look after them and take them, informing your group leader. The Hotel Treat hotel staff and property with courtesy and respect. Waiters and Waitresses/cleaners are not your servants. Remember to say please (s ilvous plait) and thank you (merci). Any breakages or accidents must be reported to your school staff rather than hiding them. We need to eat and drink plenty. Everyone must be present in the dining room for all meals. Announcements are often made at these times. Do not leave until every course has been served and your member of staff has given you permission to leave. Do not walk around at meal times, unless directed to do so, this can be dangerous and the hotel staff need clear passageways to serve and collect dishes. Keys must not be taken out of the hotel. Outsiders must not be brought into the hotel rooms under any circumstances. At all times respect other users of the hotel, especially after bedtime and early in the mornings. Close doors quietly! 10

Dressing Appropriately on Pilgrimage The pilgrimage uniform must be worn at all times in Lourdes. Pilgrimage polo shirts should not be rolled or tied up in any way, including sleeves. No hats indoors when in Churches and during liturgies. Shorts and skirts should be knee-length Shoes should be sturdy and should be suitable for pushing wheelchairs in (flip flops or shoes without backs are not appropriate footwear). Identity badges (lanyards) must be worn at all times. No pilgrim should be seen wandering round the hotel in bed wear. Male pilgrims: Underwear should not be seen above shorts/trousers. Female pilgrims: Underwear should not be seen (please choose appropriate coloured underwear). Leggings can be worn only with shorts or a skirt over them (shorts and skirts should be kneelength). 11

OPTIONS You will notice that there are some gaps in the timetable titled OPTIONS. This is to give your group an opportunity to see some more of the sights of Lourdes. Here is a list of some of the options for your school staff to choose from. Parish church (where Bernadette was baptised). Cachot (the prison cell where the Soubirous family lived). Spending time with sick pilgrim. Boly Mill (where Bernadette was born). The free museum (near Salle Notre Dame). The Lourdes museum (not free). Shopping for gifts. Lourdes Chateau. Discipleship Walks (Monday & Tuesday). Water Stations Walk / Prayer time. Rosary Basilica & Upper Basilica. Blessed Sacrament Procession. Marian Torchlight Procession. Adoration Chapel / Adoration Tent. High Stations of the Cross. Low Stations of the Cross. The Lourdes Train. Visit Cite Saint-Pierre. 12

13