Diocese of Leeds Pilgrimage
Youth Section
Thursday 2nd – Friday 10th July 2015
77th Pilgrimage
‘The Joy of Mission’
THURSDAY 2nd JULY 2015
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 medicationetc. 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 itquietly 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.
FRIDAY 3rd JULY 2015
10.00(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)12 noon / Lunch at hotels.
1:30pm / Staff Meeting
2:15pm / School Meetings in Hotel.
2:30pm / Wheelchair allocation TBC
4:15pm / Walk to the City of the Poor.
5:00pm / Catechesis (Cite Saint-Pierre)
5:15pm / Opening Youth Mass (City of the Poor), presided by Bishop Marcus Stock
7:00pm / Evening Meal at Hotel.
8:30pm / Walking tour of Lourdes in School Groups.
9.00pm / Entertainment for Pilgrims – Room 4, 1st floor Solitude. School Group TBC
11:00pm / Sign in at Hotels.
11:30pm / Silence.
Please ensure that you are on time for meetings.
For your own safety and security you must wear your yellow polo-shirt or hoodieand 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 – pilgrimagebooklet, water, sun cream, hat, waterproofs and medication.
SATURDAY 4th JULY 2015
7:00am / Breakfast.9:45am / Collect pilgrims from Hotels
9:45am / Meet to collect banners from the Permanence.
10:30am / Opening Mass / Blessing of Hands – Bernadette (Carmel Side)
1:00pm / Lunch at hotels.
3:00pm / High Stations of the Cross / staggered start, times TBC
3:55pm / Baths.
Schools: Notre Dame, St. John Fisher (Dewsbury), St Benedicts , St John Fisher Harrogate (60 Youth)
6.30pm / Staff Meeting
7:00pm / Evening Meal at Hotel.
8.00pm / School Meetings
8.15pm / Collect pilgrims from Hotels
9:00pm / Torchlight Procession – Esplanade, gather behind Leeds banner
11:00pm / Sign in at Hotels.
11:30pm / Silence.
Please make sure you carry a bag with you when you are going out – pilgrimagebooklet, water, sun cream, hat, waterproofs and medication.
SUNDAY 5th JULY 2015
7:00am / Breakfast.8.00am / School Meetings
8.15am / Assigned Youth to St Pius X Basilica to arrive for 8.30am, roles to be confirmed
8:30am / Collect pilgrims from Hotels.
9:30am / International Mass St Pius X Basilica.
12:30pm / Youth Depart for Lac Du Lourdes from Hotels by Coach
1:00pm – 4.00pm / Picnic lunch followed by whole diocesan event at Lac Du Lourdes
1.45pm / Staff meeting at Lac Du Lourdes
3:55pm / Baths: St Wilfrids, Mount St Mary’s (25 youth)
4:00pm / Depart for hotels.
Return Pilgrims to Hotels
7:00pm / Evening Meal at Hotels.
8:15pm / Catechesis – Venue TBC
9.00pm / Entertainment by Youth Group, Solitude Hotel Bar Area. School Group TBC
10:30pm / School vigils at the Grotto.
Schools: Cardinal Heenan, St John Fisher Dewsbury, Holy Family Carlton.
11:00pm / Sign in at Hotels.
11:30pm / Silence.
Spend time sorting out used clothes and packing them away.
MONDAY 6th JULY 2015
7:30am / Breakfast.8.30am / School Meetings
9:00am / OPTIONS / Discipleship Walk (Ask your staff which activity you will be doing)
12:30pm / Lunch at hotels, for those not on Discipleship Walk
2:00pm / Collect pilgrims from hotels.
2:30pm / Mass and Anointing of the Sick (Rosary Basilica).
3:45pm / Pilgrimage photos (Rosary Basilica steps).
Return Pilgrims to Hotels following photographs
3:55pm / Youth Baths: All Saints, Cardinal Heenan, St Mary’s Menston (60 Youth)
4:00pm / OPTIONS
6:30pm / Evening Meal at Hotels.
7:45pm / St Bernadette (Carmel side) – Reconciliation Service for Youth Section
9.00pm / Holy Hour for adult Pilgrims wishing to go – Some youth will be needed to push wheelchairs – Collect from hotels at 8.30pm
10:30pm / School vigils at the Grotto.
Schools: All Saints, St Wilfrids, Notre Dame
11:00pm / Sign in at Hotels.
11:30pm / Silence.
TUESDAY 7th JULY 2015
7:30am / Breakfast.8.30am / Staff Meeting
9:00am / Collect pilgrims from Hotels.
9:30am / Mass – St Bernadette (Carmel Side)
Social Time with the Pilgrim / OPTIONS –Group leader will advise
12:00pm / Lunch at hotel
2.00pm / Collect Pilgrims for Adult Baths, followed by Low Stations of the Cross – start at 2.30pm
Animation at the baths 1 Hour
2:30pm / Non Bath Pilgrims (Youth and Adults) Low Stations – Lay Chaplains/Seminarians
3:55pm / Youth Baths
Schools: St Thomas a Becket, St Bede’s and St Josephs, (St Mary’s Menston) (65 Youth)
4.15pm / Collect any Pilgrims from Hotel who are not at the Baths or Low Stations
5.00pm / Blessed Sacrament procession (non-pushing pilgrims to return straight to hotel for evening meal)
6:30/6:45pm / Evening Meal at Hotels.
7:45pm / Collect pilgrims from Hotels.
8:00pm / Penitential Service Adults including any remaining youth wishing to celebrate the sacrament – St Bernadette Grotto Side
8.00pm / Remaining youth to have a school led activity within the Domain (Group Leader to advise)
9.30pm / Entertainment for Pilgrims – Room 4, 1st floor Solitude. School Group TBC
10:30pm / School vigils at the Grotto.
Schools: St Thomas a Becket, St John Fisher Harrogate, St Marys Menston
11:00pm / Sign in at Hotels.
11:30pm / Silence.
WEDNESDAY 8th JULY 2015
8:00am / Collect pilgrims from Hotels.
8:30am / Grotto Mass.
11:30am-12:15pm / Catechesis (Venue TBC)
12.30pm / Lunch in Hotel
1.30pm / Collect Pilgrims from Hotels
2.00pm – 5.00pm / Diocesan Celebration – Garden Party – Gardens of Hotel Galia and Chapelle
3.55pm / Baths – Animation
Schools: , Holy Family Carlton (25 Youth)
6.30pm / Staff Meeting
7:00pm / Evening Meal in Hotels.
8:45pm / Collect Pilgrims from Hotels
9.00pm / Torchlight
10:30pm / School vigils at the Grotto.
Schools: St Josephs , St Benedicts, Mount St Marys
11:00pm / Sign in at Hotels.
11:30pm / 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.
THURSDAY 9th JULY 2015
7:00am / Breakfast.8:30am / Clear rooms and bring baggage downstairs onto coaches / baggage area
9:00am / Collect pilgrims from hotels.
9:30am / Final Mass and Envoie – St Bernadette (Grotto Side)
12:00pm / Return and book in wheelchairs (location TBC).
12:30pm / Lunch in Hotels.
2:30pm / 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 entrance’s 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 ofwriting. No offensive or inappropriate messages please.
Please check lost property before you leave. Nothing left behind willgo back toEngland.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Most of 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 Paradis.
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).
Report any breakages or accidents to your member of 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 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!
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 knee-length).
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.
- Lourdes film at the cinema.
- 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.
Fr. Anthony Jackson (Youth Section Director).
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