Pilgrimages 1999
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PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES -
13-18 August 1999 See our group photo. Our first morning in Lourdes we had Mass in the Poor Claire Convent. This was held after our Group Photo in Rosary Square. Our afternoon was spent on a guided tour of Lourdes where we visited places associated with the life of St.Bernadette. On Saturday, which was the eve of the Assumption, we walked in what seemed a never ending candelit procession carrying our Templerainey banner with thousands of people from all over the world to the Basilica through a sea of burning candles. This was truly a memorable evening with the sound of Ave, Ave ringing in our ears. Sunday morning, the Feast of the Assumption, we participated in an early morning Concelebrated Mass at the Grotto with priests from Omagh, other Dublin and Irish parishes and from many other English-speaking countries. Our two altar servers, Michael McGovern and Catriona Keane, had the privilege of serving with Fr.Conlan on this momentous occasion. After breakfast we had our own group Mass in the Upper Seven Dolours Chapel. In the afternoon we walked with tens of thousands through the Prairie and the Domain into Rosary Square in the Blessed Sacrament Procession. Again our servers were given a place of honour in their white albs and green capes. Not without some objection from the French, but our man on the spot sorted it out! They did us proud. Again in the evening we walked through the sea of candles holding our banner high. Monday was to be a 'day of rest'. We began with a visit to the City of the Poor where we had our Mass and Anointing of the Sick in the Sheepfold. It was then on to the Pyrenees through spectacular views and hairpin bends. We had lunch by the waterfall at the ski lodge. After lunch we took an unforgettable breath-taking ride up the mountains by cable car. After a short and adventurous climb to the mountain-top lake, we rested for a while with ice creams and wet feet before we attempted to make a scary descent to the bottom. On our return journey we stopped and shopped in a traditional French town with pastries and ice creams or a ride on the Carousel for the younger ones. Later that evening we had our Holy Hour in the Seven Dolours with a special Water Ceremony. Yes, there was plenty of prayer, but also time for relaxation other than shopping! There were museums to visit, the hotel swimming pool and the company of each other to enjoy throughout the few days. There was also the little train that ran along the narrow streets or the Funicular Railway that carried yo up the side of the mountain. On the Monday night there was an Irish Night in our Hotel for Irish Pilgrims. It was 'quiet'. Some rested while others attended and enjoyed a fine performance of Irish Dancing from some of our younger members. On Tuesday we had Mass in Bartres, a small village where Bernadette was fostered and spent time as a shepherdess. On Tuesday afternoon some of our group visited the Baths, others went to Confession and the rest went to the Grotto. Later we made our way around the mountain top for the High Stations and then we purchased and decorated our group candle before we had it blessed and placed beside the Grotto. Many of our parishioners subscribed to this candle. On Wednesday, our last day, we had our closing Mass in St.Damien's Church. Fr.Conlan presented Catriona, Michael and the other young members of our group with silver miraculous medals to commemorate their trip to Lourdes. Our group presented Fr.Conlan with a Ciborium and a Lourdes Candle for the Church. Some of us spent the remainder of the afternoon at the Grotto or doing some last minute shopping and others filling those treasured bottles of holy water, one of our many memories of Lourdes we would take home with us. As a group we all returned home wiht a feeling of fulfilment and hope and for the most the promise to return again. May our Lady of Lourdes and St.Bernadette bless and protect us all as we recall the few days we spent in their company. Dolores Lee
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