posted 14th jan 2011
Reflection of Lourdes Shauna Fitzpatrick
Thinking about my time in Lourdes and the memories that were created I am so happy to have taken part in such a life changing experience.
Yes of course I was so nervous going as I was going abroad with 20 youth helpers that I didn’t really know at this stage. I really didn’t know what to expect. As I got on the bus and started to talk to all the other youth helpers I realised it wasn’t going to be as bad as I thought. At this stage most of my nerves disappeared I still didn’t know what to expect about the pilgrims who we hadn’t met yet. But I also was excited to meet them.
Of the events of the five days, which flew by, there are particular things which stand out to me, and one which I feel must be mentioned are the Baths. To be honest, I didn’t want to participate in this event, I was so afraid I didn’t know what was ahead.. When we were informed that it involves being wrapped in a thin cloth with nothing underneath it and placed in a freezing bath this didn’t appeal to me. I took the risk because I knew I would only regret it if I went home without doing it when I got out of the baths and was nearly fully dry it really was an overwhelming experience.
Another thing which I’ll remember for a long time is the Torchlight Procession. It was an experience in itself watching the enormous stream of candles flickering in the night from the Basilica, all around the grounds. It was just incredible.
I also felt a great sense of unity when we took part in the International Mass in the Basilica. It was unbelievable, I had never seen such an enormous gathering, and it seemed every part of the chapel was full of people from all walks of life. As the youth helpers participated by doing the collection and carrying banners during the mass it was great to be able to say we contributed in such an important event.
As Lourdes became famous due to Mary’s apparition at the grotto this is the most important place which we visited every night after we brought the pilgrims back to the hospital and made them comfortable for the night. The Grotto is such a quiet and peaceful place where all that takes part is prayer. It is a time to reflect on your day.
I don’t think my experience in Lourdes would have had been as enjoyable if it wasn’t for the group of people I was amongst, first of all there was the 19 other youth helpers but it wouldn’t have been as successful if it wasn’t for the 3 leaders who came wit us Karen Flanagan, Frank Devine and of course Fr Declan Shannon who were extremely good to both the youth helpers even though they had there hands full with us and the pilgrims who they made feel very comfortable.
So for me to describe Lourdes in a few words I would say very enjoyable, very tiring because of the early morning, life changing experience and of course inspiring. Would I go back? Yes in a heart beat.
My Experience In Lourdes Darren Reilly
What can I say about my experience in Lourdes, at the start of the trip I had my reservations about the trip although I was delighted to be picked I did no know what to expect. Of course I heard positive reviews about it and how it can change a person but I did not know what I was going to get out of the trip
As we all got off the bus in knock we got straight down to out duties, even though most of us where still half asleep, rubbing our eyes. This did not seem to faze us. We lugged the baggage off the bus and carted all of it inside the doors of Knock Airport. We all queued up and handed out the baggage to the pilgrims, we were all shy at this point and there didn’t seem to be much start but that quickly changed and we all started talking and remember names due to our nametags. Everyone seemed to just click and there was no one left out.
Upon reaching Lourdes we were all tired but for some reason we kept going and there was no complaining, no pining for home. Fr Declan and Miss Flanagan gave us our directions for the week and put us in our rooms. Again there was no complaining about who got to stay with whom as everyone just seemed to get on.
One of my many memories is that day we went to the Baths, everyone heard the rumours that once you come out of the bath after being submerged you come out completely dry, of course most of us didn’t believe it, how could it be so? That aspect changed once we experienced it ourselves. We were submerged under water and when we came out straight away we were dry. There is something special about the baths that no one can deny, and my experience there was that of a life changing one.
The grotto was another place where it was like a dream, the place was shrouded in silence. Thousands of people flock here every day to give praise and it is a beautiful place. You can just sit here for hours if you wanted to and just enjoy the peace.
Lourdes is a place that will hold a special place in my heart forever as I made friends young and old and I gave something back. There is no other place I know like Lourdes you can walk down the street and there is calm in the air, in what our town could you experience this. It was a surreal atmosphere there one that I believe that cannot be recreated.
I lost all my shyness in Lourdes. On the second day I was asked to do a prayer of the faithful in front of hundreds of people and but my shyness had gone and I jumped at the chance to do so. I wasn’t afraid to go talk to people or help them out. In one of the last days there we had to put on a show for people in the hospital and again everyone one of the helpers got up and did something, we threw caution into the wind, whether on our own or in-group we all did it. Of course it didn’t run smoothly, words where forgot, guitars which one of the group didn’t even own were broken by accident. But we were able to continue on. We got great support form everyone there.
Going home was inevitable we were all wrecked from all the 6am starts but we didn’t want to leave, either the people in the hospital or the people we were in the group with. But the end came far too soon I have to say. .
