Mission trip to Lourdes, France

Summer 2007

 

   “For one week in the month of June, 26 volunteers from the La Crosse Diocese traveled to Lourdes, France. In this beautiful foreign town these volunteers sacrificed a week of sleep, comfort, familiarity and summer vacation to serve the sick, handicapped and elderly through prayers, physical work or just a friendly smile. Most of the volunteers during this pilgrimage became the arms, legs, backs, eyes, ears and tongues of Christ by serving those who had none. The boys spent their time helping thousands of pilgrims off trains and also aiding in the daily processions to worship Christ and honor Our Blessed Mother. The girls spent their time working in the hospitals serving, cleaning and feeding Christ through the sick pilgrims staying there. The ladies and men over the age of 18 spent their days giving baths to those same pilgrims who had traveled thousands of miles in hope of Our Lady’s intercession through the spring water she gave to St. Bernadette 150 years ago. The youth and adults of the La Crosse Diocese were able to serve Christ in the each of the thousands of pilgrims they met during this one week in June. It was a very humbling, life-changing experience and I hope many more are able to serve Christ in this special way.”

-Cristin Sedlacek; 20, chaperone and summer intern for                                         

 Chippewa Falls Youth Ministry  

           Above: The volunteers with retired captain of the Swiss Guard, a volunteer as well                           

 

 

 

Above: International Mass in the underground basilica.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above: Marian procession

 

 

Above: Eucharistic procession in the underground basilica.

 

 

 

 

Left:  Working crowd control for the Marian procession.

 

 

 

 

Right: Deacon Kinnick instructing the youth on working the procession.

 

Left: Crowds filling up the square for the Marian Procession.

 

Right: The sick pilgrims being transported in the Marian procession.

 

The Grotto

Is one of the most visited places in the world, about 6 million pilgrims and visitors come here each year.

 

“Go, drink of the water and wash yourself there”

was the request the Blessed Virgin made to St. Bernadette on Feb. 25th 1858.

 

 

Left:  Brian, Lucy, Fr. Moreno and Ben walking through the cave in the grotto.

 

 

 

    Right: The spring water given to us by the Blessed Mother.

 

 

Left: “Picine (Bath) Ladies”

Kyrstie, Mary, Amy, Megan, Roseanne, Cristin and Lee.                                           

 

 

 

 

 

Right: Laura, Theresa, Stephanie, Amy and Stephanie (all except Amy worked in the hospitals)

 

“Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me”  - Matt. 25, 40

 

Above: The youth sharing their experiences after a hard week of service.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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