Lourdes is the shrine of Our Lady in Southern France. A pilgrimage to Lourdes always benefits those who go spiritually, physically and mentally. With the deeply religious atmosphere of Lourdes itself and breathtaking scenery of the surrounding area, this pilgrimage will be one of the most rewarding experiences of a lifetime. The article below was written by one first time helper on our May 2003 trip.
TO LOURDES WITH ÉGALITÉ ABSOLUE
Laughing and crying are both very tiring - I have found myself doing a lot of them this week!! I will be the first to admit I was not looking forward to going to Lourdes in a Jumbulance. However I found it the most wonderful experience. I had been to Lourdes before, in 1988, with the Teams of Our Lady, traveling by boat and train, but traveling with seven wheelchair bound “VIPs” - as the disabled are called and living with them for ten days has been amazing. There are so many things we often take for granted, for example if a hair gets in our mouth or eye we just remove it. If this happens to some of the VIP’s they had to ask one of the carers to remove it for them. We can go to the loo when we need to, but some of these VIP’s needed three others to lift them before they could perform this most natural function.
The Jumbulance itself was an eye opener, with eight beds on one side and sixteen seats on the other, a loo and a kitchen with fridge and oven! The first night on our journey we were offered a choice of hot suppers! The meal was over - some people having to be fed -just as we reached the tunnel. Because the vehicle is particularly large we had to be the first into one of the “cages” so there was a delay here whilst we waited for the next departure. Most people did not know when the crossing began or ended but we were soon in France!
I was “on duty “ from midnight until 2am. This was yet another new experience - not of night duty but of caring for people on the move. Everyone’s needs were taken care of. That night there was a total eclipse of the moon and it certainly helped the hours of sleeplessness pass in an enjoyable way. At about 6am we drove into a Campanile to collect the new drivers and leave our two there, They were smartly dressed with jackets, white shirts and ties, and pulled their suitcases on trolleys just like airline pilots!
Mass for the first evening was said for us, by the priest who was accompanying us, in the Chapel of the hotel in which we were to spend the rest of the holiday. We were able to hear Mass each day, whether at the hotel or in different churches on our trips out. We drove high up into the Pyrenees where the scenery was spectacular -blue sky, snow on the mountains and fantastic waterfalls. We went to Gavarnie, Pont d’Espagne, the Church of St. Savin near Cauterets and the Village of the poor just outside Lourdes. All the trips we made were well organised and each departed exactly on time without any apparent effort - due I am sure to an enormous amount of planning beforehand. When we were told that loading would start for example at 9.3Oam and departure would be at l0 am this is exactly what happened. We used a smaller Jumbulance for these trips when the VIPs stayed in their wheelchairs and were loaded by the lift at the back of the Jumbulance then clamped to the floor down one side of the bus. Always carried out with efficiency, gentleness and humour.
When at the beginning I said it was a wonderful experience - I have to add challenging, emotional and humbling to that. I think one of the things I have learnt from this trip is to be more grateful for being fit, well and mobile. Just living with these disabled VIPs for ten days has made me much more aware of my blessings. I feel privileged to have been able to join this trip to Lourdes by Across Jumbulance. People who go to Lourdes talk of miracles; these are not always physical, but we will all be better able to carry our cross whatever it may be.
Several people who were carers on the trip did a sponsored walk up Snowdon on Saturday and one person used it as a preparation for doing the Five Peaks Walk in July. This is to raise money so trips can be subsidised to enable disabled VIPs to go on the Jumbulance on holidays and Pilgrimages.
Catherine Pett
Lourdes Trip May 2003
Thursday 22nd September 12.30pm Arrive at Golden Valley Hotel and commence loading
1.30pm Depart
Friday 23rd September 9:00am Stop outside Lourdes for a break
11:00am Arrive at Hotel and book in / unload
12:00pm Lunch at hotel
2:30pm Trip to Domain / Grotto
4:30pm Mass in the Hotel Chapel
7.00pm Dinner at Hotel
Early / Free night
Saturday 24th September 7.30am Breakfast
9:00am Trip to Betharram Monastery
10:30am Mass at Monastery tour of museum afterwards
12:00pm Packed Lunch at local café
1:30pm depart for Bartres
4:00pm drinks at a local café
5:00pm depart Bartres
7.00pm Dinner at Hotel
8:00pm Torch Light Procession
Sunday 25th September 7:30am Breakfast
8:45 arrive at Basillica for International Mass / Mass at Hotel
12:00pm Lunch at Hotel
1:30pm Depart for Tarbes Park
4:00pm Drinks at local café
4:30pm Depart Tarbes Park
7.00pm Dinner at Hotel
8:30pm Evening Liturgy
9:00pm Helpers meeting
Rest of evening free
Monday 26th September 7:30am Breakfast
8:45am Trip to Gavarnie
11:00am Mass at Gavarnie local church
12:00pm Packed lunch at local café
Free afternoon, walks, horse riding
4:30pm Load and leave Gavarnie
7:00pm Dinner at Hotel
8:30pm Evening Liturgy
Free evening
Tuesday 27th September 7.30am Breakfast
9:00am Rest time
10:00am Mass at the Grotto or near Basillica
11.30pm Photo opposite grotto
12:00 Lunch at Hotel
1:30pm Visit to the Baths
Free afternoon for shopping
5:00pm drinks at café
7:00pm Dinner at hotel
8:30 Evening procession /free thereafter
Wednesday 28th September 7.30am Breakfast
9:00am Depart for St Savin
10:30pm Mass at St Savin
12:00pm Depart for Pont D’Espagne
1:00pm Lunch and shopping
4:00pm Depart
7:00pm Dinner at Hotel
8:30pm Evening Liturgy
Free evening
Thursday 29th September 8:00am Breakfast
10:00am Load trip to Ukrainian Church
10:30am Mass
11:30am Depart
12:00pm Lunch at the Hotel
1:30pm free afternoon shopping/ Blessed Sacrament Procession
5:00pm Meet at café for drinks
7:00pm Dinner at Hotel
8:30 Torch Light Procession / free evening / packing
Friday 30th September 7:30am Breakfast
8:30am Packing
11:00am Book out of Hotel
12.00pm Lunch
3.00pm Depart Lourdes
Saturday 1st October 11:15am arrive at Golden Valley Hotel
Please note meal times at the hotel are as follows:-
Breakfast 7.00am - 8.00am
Lunch 12.00pm - 1.00pm
Dinner 7.00pm - 8.00pm
