The Oadby parish banner in Lourdes
On Monday 15th July Father Philip set off for Lourdes on the train at 6.39am, travelling via London St Pancras, to catch the 9.17am Eurostar train to Paris, Gare du Nord. Transferring by Metro to the Gare Montparnasse - Bienvenue for the 2.27pm TGV service to Lourdes. Unfortunately due to the recent flooding, the line between Pau and Lourdes is out of service so SNCF laid on coaches for the last 40km to leave us at the railway station in Lourdes at 9.20pm, just 40 minutes later than expected.
Joining the Diocesan Pilgrimage on Tuesday morning for the opening Mass at the Autel Esplanade, (still known to oldtimers like myself as the St Bernadette altar) beside the Rosary Basilica, we had our picture taken on the Basilica steps after the service.
The parish banner had been brought on one the coaches bringing young helpers from schools around the diocese, and was much admired as it was carried in procession. In the picture above with the Basilicas in the background we are just gathering to make our way to the Grotto of Massabille for our Mass on Wednesday morning, which we celebrated with the pilgrimages from Glasgow and Ampleforth.
The return journey on Saturday was accomplished in reverse order by a TGV from Pau at 11.08am, the 19.13 Eurostar from Paris and the 20.55 East Midlands Mainline service to Sheffield, stopping at Leicester at 21.02 - tired but relieved to be home safely, the parish priest got things ready for Sunday Mass.
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