Director’s Blog February 2011
We left Lourdes the day after the pilgrimage and drove into Spain where we spent a pleasant two and a half weeks in the sun.
I was back home in time for the AGM of the Hospitalité where the same questions were being asked fifty years ago and much the same answers given!
In preparation for this year's pilgrimage negotiations are going on with Salford and Lancaster so that we can cut out some empty legs on the flights and share the coaches to and from Calais for the overland trip. Lancaster use Mancunia as their agent so they are involved as well. We have decided to go out to tender for the coaches. We have written to a number of local firms including our man Andy. We later learn that his company have decided not to tender because they have had to subcontract most of the business over the last couple of years. We have been using their coaches for over 20 years but the core of their business is Corporate Hospitality and premier League Foot ball Clubs so they don’t have the right type of coaches for what we want.
Our Directors’ AGM is held in Edinburgh this year at the beginning of November and hosted by Mgr Tony Duffy. The hotel runs out of Armagnac on the first night! It is my first conference ‘in the chair’ and we get through the business quite briskly and everything runs to time for which I am grateful. On day 2 we go to the Jesuit Church for Mass. Unfortunately the Archbishop is not available so I have to preside. The AGM is a useful occasion because it means that all the directors can catch up and share the fruits of their pilgrimage experiences. Brian de Burca OMI the new English Chaplain is present and gives us some interesting insights in to what has been going on in Lourdes. M. Barrere also comes and it gives us the opportunity to sit down with him and Des from Mancunia to sort out the plane for the three dioceses next summer. It will show a saving and we should be able to reduce the price of the pilgrimage which had shot up last year.
February sees us on our way to Lourdes for the February Days’ culminating in the feast on the 11th. This year we go by train leaving Stockport at 09 23 and arriving Lourdes 23 37. Changing in London and again in Paris, everything runs to time and it was a pleasant journey. We are accompanied by our two Scottish brethren from Paisley Diocese who always manage to turn the February Days into nearly a fortnight. Charlie is rewarded by getting a ticket for the local Manchester derby on the day of our return. County beat Bury 2 1 so I am trying to sign him on loan for the rest of the season.
Lourdes in February can range from blizzards to spring and this time it is spring with pleasant warm sun. The work on the Grotto has gone well and there are all sorts of patches in the rock where it has been strengthened. We were supposed to be consecrating a new altar in the Rosary Basilica but the work there is not complete and the church remains closed throughout our stay. The biggest disaster of all is that the pilgrimage HQ aka Cintra has closed. The lease on the property has been suddenly taken back by the owners, the Vinuales Hotel chain. Jean Pierre and his wife are very upset when I see them but can do nothing about the situation. We have to find a new ‘local’ and they direct us to the Café des Brancardiers next to the Hotel Moderne. They mix a good gin and tonic so they have passed the first test!!
The British Directors have a meeting at which the rep for the Pastoral Council makes his report which is quite amusing. Richard King from Plymouth is ‘elected’ as our new rep. We bring everyone up to speed on various items including our November meeting which will now be held in St Albans. We all go to Hautacam again for a jolly good dinner having been entertained the previous evening by Tangney Tours. The International Mass is crowded on the feast and Dave F is asked to read which he does very well.
Our return journey is marred by the snoring of our President but all is forgotten when the result at Edgeley Park comes through!
The following week a final meeting is held in Salford and we can now publish our brochure, price list and booking forms. See you in Lourdes at the end of July!
OUR 60TH PILGRIMAGE!!
Monday and Tuesday July 26/7th
Well here we are again, stood in the rain outside Church waiting for a coach to arrive. We have begun with Mass at 07 15 attended by a few, including non travellers. Our coach is coming from Dukinfield and has to negotiate roadworks on the A6. Eventually it arrives and all is packed and off we go to St Anthony’s Woodhouse Park to pick up the Wythenshawe 7. We had a good run down to Dover and did you know that you can get 2 breakfasts for a tenner at Northampton Services on the M1? Well worth it!
We get to Dover and go through the check in and find the wheelchair coach parked to one side, apparently they have not booked the passengers on the ferry. What a c**k up! Frantic phone calls are made but the jobsworth at P&O is not having it and so this one and two other coaches which arrive on the last minute are put on the next ferry. So I do what I always do on these occasions - go to the restaurant have a gin and tonic and a good supper!
On arrival at Calais the train is not there but soon comes in and then has to be marked up. M Lamarque does this and we load the train and then the lost 3 arrive and in no time at all we are on the way. A little nightcap helps us to get to know each other and get the pilgrimage really going and also helps us sleep. I wake up going through Montauban and then Toulouse. We have taken the scenic route which means we enter Lourdes from the Tarbes side missing the famous first view of the Grotto. The train is shunted around into the side platform and 20 minutes after arriving in the station we are allowed off the train.
The usual bedlam ensues but most people find both their luggage and a bus to the hotel. I need to get some lunch at HQ and get to the 1 15 meeting to pursue my special mission this year. 1 45 and the meeting is over and the mission accomplished:- Bishop Brian will preside at the International Mass tomorrow. I go to his hotel to tell him and find him having a late lunch. He pretends to be underwhelmed but he will enjoy it. He also mentions that he doesn’t want any ‘hoo haa’ about it being his last pilgrimage. I come to the agreement that he must at least let us say ‘thank you’ to him at the end which he agrees. The hunt is now on for a tacky souvenir! I spot Viron the photographer and tell him that our Bishop is the main man tomorrow morning. He promises to be there.
Went back to the hotel to get some ‘z’ credits and then its down to the Opening Mass in the St Bernadette Church presided over by Bishop Mark. In his homily he mentions that Fr Sharrocks does haven’t a clue what will happen on the pilgrimage. How right he is! The group from All Saints Dukinfield help with the presentation of this liturgy and a nice feature is the different crosses lined up at the entrance to the Church for Mass. No one seems to be able to find the Pilgrimage Banner, I took it off the train and it must be in the hospital somewhere.
Dinner is taken and then a visit to HQ and early to bed
Wednesday July 28th
I meet +Brian in the sacristy and help him communicate with the MC and he is fine. He is escorted to the sanctuary by John Baldwin KSG from Lancaster which is fitting since Bishop Brian was ordained for that diocese. ‘Sir Jack’ was their Director and wears the uniform well. There are several other British Bishops alongside including the Arch of Westminster, his auxiliary, Williams of Liverpool, Campbell of Lancaster, Dunkeld and +Mark. It is a good celebration and all goes well. We are all pleased for our bishop but still no banner.
This year for the Service of Reconciliation I have asked the deacon Ged Boyle, from St Joseph’s Birkenhead and Plessington High School to prepare and lead it. It is excellent and well put together, I even go to Confession myself! I ask for a rough count of who wants transport to Bartres tomorrow, it will have to be a guesstimate again. After the service we have the pilgrimage photograph. Viron the photographer is celebrating 145 years since the foundation of his company and gives me a commemorative pen.
This evening we are taking part in the Torchlight Procession – I like to get this over with at the beginning of the pilgrimage - and the banner has been found. I told them it would be somewhere in the hospital. Apparently it was found in someone’s room! I go to HQ to recover from the Torchlight. A sick pilgrim is admitted to the Town hospital during the night. Phil contacts the insurers
Thursday July 29th
Apparently there are around 45 walking to Bartres where St Bernadette spent part of her early life and altogether we end up with 6 coaches which is a good turn out. Dave Fitton leads a short liturgy in the parish church and then we go back for lunch in Lourdes. Steve Woolley is leading Mass this afternoon continuing the theme of Bernadette and the Eucharist and then we go straight into the Blessed Sacrament Procession. In the evening the Christina 6 go back to Bartres for supper at the Bon Accueil which is a most pleasant evening and begins the celebrations for the Monsignor’s birthday. We have another sick person in the town hospital.
Friday 30th July
This year the pastoral theme is ‘With Bernadette we make the Sign of the Cross.’ Today is ‘Cross’ day and we begin by planting the Diocesan Cross at the Breton Calvary along with many other crosses that have been placed there during the season. Ours is tasteful, Westminster’s looks as if it was presented by Arsenal Supporters and others are tacky. Each to their own! There is a good turn out for this and then we process down the avenue to the Rosary Square where the Macclesfield Group lead us in the Way of the Cross and also take those who wish up the hillside Stations. In the afternoon there is the opportunity to visit the Baths and at the same time Chris Matthews leads a celebration at the Water Walk. Mass in the Rosary Basilica follows, celebrating the Triumph of the Cross. Dominic will be quite fit after all that running up and down the aisle between organs!! After Mass the sick are taken to the Grotto for their visit and we also take the Diocesan Candle to be left burning. Its been quite a day. Salford and Newcastle have begun to arrive.
Saturday 31st July
Chris Lightbound is celebrating his 80th birthday and he has asked Bishop Mark to preside at Mass at the City of the Poor. We are late starting because it took longer than expected to offload the sick and get them up to the ‘Leafy Cathedral.’ Jonathan Mitchell preaches despite the constant interruption of bells for midday and for the Angelus. I leave after Communion before the Hospitality Membership business to get back for the 1 15 meeting. There were over a hundred new members enrolled. Hopefully from time to time we shall at least see some of them coming back. Then I come back for my picnic and then take the music equipment to the hospital and then back up to make sure everyone is sorted for the journey back down. Thank the Lord I have the car. Having said that it’s no mean feat getting all these people up and down. At least this time the weather was on our side, the last time we came here it was in torrential rain.
At 6 00 p.m. we have a small reception for the clergy and medical staff to say thank you and Chris Lightbound goes off to his family for a birthday dinner.
Afterwards I meet some friends from Newcastle and some from Salford.
Sunday August 1st
+Brian presides and preaches at our Mass at the Grotto with some groups from Dublin and Belfast. St Chad’s Cheadle provide the readers and the Bidding Prayers and provide them well. Myself and Brendan go looking for wine, for the bishop you understand, but all the shops are closed, even in Tarbes. Will have to look at plan B tomorrow. I suppose we should have done it earlier in the week but why do today what you can put off until tomorrow! In the early afternoon I lead a little group visiting the graves of our deceased pilgrims including Fr John Cullen who died on our first pilgrimage. Dave Fitton is using this afternoon for some catechesis about the Blessed Sacrament and Adoration for our youngsters along with Bishop Mark and then we join the Blessed Sacrament procession which is led by Bishop Brain from Salford. Back to the hotel for a final Medical Meeting and then dinner. Afterwards we do a short tour of the town as it is the last night of the Proms.
Monday August 2nd
Well it’s the last morning and we have our final Mass in the St Bernadette Church led by the Bishop. St Nick’s Hartford provide the readers and at the end we give +Brian a standing ovation. So there was no ‘hoo haa’ about it being his last pilgrimage but we said thank you and gave him a little memento of the pilgrimage to Lourdes. After Mass I put plan B into action and obtain the necessary provisions and then it’s off to the hotel to pack the bag that is going home – mostly dirty washing. From there we go off to the station to see how things are going there and then once the train is marked up the station buffet beckons for a spot of lunch. There are 6 of us around the table and it is a pleasant way to finish the pilgrimage.
Before the train leaves Barrère warns me that the plane has gone ‘technical’ and will be delayed for a couple of hours. The train leaves about 30 minutes late with a very attractive blonde driver not the usual type you associate with being an engine driver. She tells me she is only taking it as far as Tarbes. Once the train has gone Barrère tells me that the delay on the flight will be somewhat longer. The brakes have failed and they have decided to bring in another plane but it is coming from Lithuania, yes you read correctly. Meanwhile my holiday transport has landed in Santander and is making his way along the coastal motorway of Spain to rendezvous. Good job we did not arrange to meet at Dax because the train went the other way!!
All the tourists have been informed of the delay and that they will not be picked up from their hotels until later. Just to spoil what could have been a pleasant last afternoon in Lourdes the heavens open and there is a torrential downpour.
Barrère has arranged that the tourists will go out to the airport, check in and then have a meal in the restaurant and this is what happens. I ring my holiday man and suggest he comes to the airport to meet me because its easier to find and sure enough whilst people are either checking in or tucking in he arrives. My pilgrimage is over and the two of us wave goodbye from the door of the restaurant and head off to the sun, well down the road to the first campsite of the holiday!!
(The fact I went on holiday straight from Lourdes meant that I missed all the kerfuffle at Calais when some of the coaches were late arriving and also missed another illegal immigrant incident this year at Watford Gap Services. I also missed the hours delay in the tourists recovering their luggage at Manchester Airport, but apart from that this all gives you an idea of our 60th pilgrimage.)
Now my attention is turning to the Annual Conference for British Lourdes Directors that will be held in Edinburgh in November and then we can start planning for 2011. A bientôt!
June 2010
Well, I haven’t blogged for quite a while so whilst sitting in the June meeting of the Calendar Commission I thought I would write a few lines. More about the Commission later.
During the past few months we have been closely watching the value of the pound against the euro and as I left home on Monday the pound was winning and we got a good rate of exchange to pay for the plane in July. Bookings have been coming in since February and it looks like it will be a good year – our 60th pilgrimage.
We were down in February for the feast and the meeting of the various directors and we had a load of snow, wind and rain. We had travelled on the train from Stockport including the overnight from Paris and it worked out well. Whilst down in Lourdes the British Directors had a little jolly up to a restaurant in the mountains. We went by coach complete with snow chains – probably just as well we went in the dark. Another feature of the February jaunt was that we arranged a Mass together for the British Directors. One of the main reasons for going to the meeting in February is to finalise our pilgrimage timetable. We will have a slightly different format this year in that we wait until the next but last day of the pilgrimage before having mass at the Grotto. We are also going to take everyone to the City of the Poor for Mass on the Saturday along with the enrolment of the new members of the Hospitalité, followed by a picnic lunch. This year the theme is ‘With Bernadette we make the sign of the Cross,’ and each diocese is invited to bring a cross to Lourdes to plant on the Breton Calvary by St Michael’s Gate. Campbell has already had ours made. Martin Moran the English Chaplain Co-ordinator has just left to take up his new appointment in Wistaston and his replacement Brian de Burca is settling in.
So here we are in June at the Calendar Commission. I looked up the weather forecast on t’internet the other day and the forecast was for rain. They were not kidding, it’s done nothing but. The flight from Manchester was delayed by 2 hours and I had read the print off the Telegraph before boarding. Eventually arrived in Lourdes and even the lift had got fed up of waiting so they arranged a lift with Mancunia which was very kind of them. I joined the Mancunia group for Mass in the bottom chapel of the St Frai Hospital. This is very calm and peaceful and handy for even a fairly large group. After Mass I went for a brew at HQ and some ‘tarte aux pommes.’ The man at the HQ has been poorly over the winter but fortunately is on the mend. Some familiar faces amongst the English speaking confessors were in town and I met them at supper and then watched Italy scrape a draw against Paraguay.
You will be impressed to learn that I joined an American group for Mass at the Grotto on Tuesday morning at 06 45 a.m, then after breakfast went to the first session of the commission beginning at 08 30. By 09 30 I had had my first siesta and woken myself up snoring!! Everybody laughed. Who cares? It took us all morning to get through April which is why I am writing this. The afternoon was a bit quicker and we got the first batch of English pilgrimages through at the end of May. The highlight of the afternoon was the Dutch rep, Jos, swatting a fly and getting it. We held it up as a trophy for all to see. Everybody applauded. Even the Italian rep looked up from his Ken Follett novel. It was all a little light relief from the mainly utter boredom.
The purpose of the Calendar Commission, which sits twice a year in June and December, is to sort out pilgrimage dates for two years hence. We are looking at 2012 to marry up the requests from pilgrimage directors with the availability of hospital beds and trains where requested and taking into account school holidays which are staggered in France according to zones. The easiest way to do it is going through the whole season from April to October manually. By 6 00 p.m. we are finishing June and then the two French representative from their National Association of Directors announce that they are off to Mass in the Rosary Basilica, so that basically brought a halt to the proceedings. Anyway with a bit of luck I will be finished by lunchtime tomorrow. After supper I go for a stroll and wander round to the Christina to see Pierre. He invites me to dinner tomorrow evening.
Day 2 and it’s still cold and raining, flaming June. The work progresses well, Giancarlo has nearly finished his Ken Follett and by lunchtime so am I. Only had one snooze this morning and didn’t snore – well not too loudly. Went to the procession in the afternoon and then on to Mass in French in the Rosary at 6 30.
Dinner with Pierre was at a new restaurant opposite his office and it was very nice and I was glad I was not paying.
Thursday was a day for doing jobs for our July pilgrimage. After the English Mass I went up to the City of the Poor and met a priest from Hexham, John Skivington, who was acting as a guide. He was very helpful in showing me round and sorting our visit out. In the afternoon I ‘did’ the office. Monique was not there but Pierre was and as usual very helpful. He also gave me two bottles of wine to bring home and showed me his ‘cave’ which is another story. And it’s still raining. Despite that the afternoon procession was outside.
Friday morning I join the English Mass and then went and spent some time in the Tent of Adoration. The great thing about coming to Lourdes without pilgrims is that you can get some time to yourself. One of the English confessors, George, a Benedictine from Ampleforth, is going home on the same flight as me. He is getting picked up at 12 noon and I am getting picked up at 1 00 p.m. I want my dinner, he gets a cheese sandwich. We are both in good time for the flight home.
See you in July.
The 2009 Pilgrimage
Well here we are again. There have been a few cancellations in the days leading up to the pilgrimage but with the various independent travellers there are nearly 900 pilgrims from the diocese which is around the number we had in 2007. I think for the size of our diocese it is a good number.
SUNDAY Needless to say it’s raining as we are loading the coach in St Peter’s Car Park. That was a feat of driving getting the bus in, and we hope she can get it out again. She does and we are off on time. Junction 7 on the M56 is closed so we have to go through Altrincham to get on to the A556 to get to Knutsford Services on the M6 where we have some more people to pick up. The journey south is slow, the weather is horrible and there are loads of roadworks particularly on the M25. We meet up with some of the other coaches at Watford Gap, the sense of togetherness grows. Meanwhile the Wythenshawe coach has been unable to take all of Ged’s musical equipment. The consensus is that it’s good that the drum kit is one of the casualties. Ged is less impressed and makes a series of phone calls and text messages protesting, but in vain, things have been left behind. He wants to know what I will do about it. I will do what I am best at – nothing!
We are into Dover docks around 1 00 a.m. and the other coaches are there either before or shortly after except the Sale coach which is running late. They arrive and are refused entry at first because they are 5 minutes late. Big John and his henchman persuade the jobsworth at P & O to see sense and the Sale coach with some VIP’s is the last on the boat. The thought of having to delay the train didn’t bear thinking about.
MONDAY Calais is dry and sunny and quite pleasant even at 06 00. The train is ready albeit the wrong way round which means an extra couple of hundred yards for the VIPs to get to their carriage and the train is loaded and off on time at 06 18. Breakfast is taken and there is a plug at my seat which is really meant for lap tops but also works the kettle so we get a proper hot brew. Apparently there was a delay outside Paris for 30 minutes but I must have been out!! On the luncheon menu this year is honey roasted ham with salads followed by cheese. Needless to say an aperitif was taken and there was some wine to accompany the meal. At Bordeaux they have built a new railway bridge over the river into the station which carries 4 tracks instead of the previous 2. A short pause at Bordeaux and a short pause at Dax where the two trains are split and we are in Lourdes on time. Pierre and his team are there to greet us and everybody is coached off to their hotels. Even the flights have run to time today. The whole thing is going very smoothly.
The Opening Mass is in the St Bernadette Church and I am presiding with assistance from St Anne’s Cheadle Hulme. It is late, people are tired so we do not stretch it out. The music is fine especially without the drums and Ged has calmed down. It is Joe Norbury’s 10th anniversary of ordination to the diaconate .
After Mass we check in at HQ and are made welcome. This year they have a waitress called Celine as well as Jean Jacques and the other guy. We have a reasonably early night.
TUESDAY Up like a lark at crack of dawn and it is a fine morning as we gather at the Podium Altar across the river from the Grotto for Mass with Westminster, Arundel and Brighton, the Order of Malta Volunteers and ourselves. The new Archbishop presides and Bishop Brian preaches, with Arundel providing the music. It was good celebration and all went smoothly and a good show of strength of the English Church. It lets the Italians know they are not the only ones in town. We eventually go round to the Rosary Square for our photograph after Westminster and A & B have theirs.
The first 1 15 meeting and I meet up with the Liverpool two and we present a united bid to get Pat Kelly to preside at the International Mass on Wednesday. The bid is turned down in favour of the Italians because there are more of them than us. It’s a pity because Pat is 25 years a bishop this year and it would have been fitting for him to have led that Mass. I told Des and John that they should have written in about it before today. At the meeting we are asked to lead the Blessed Sacrament Procession on Wednesday and provide the servers. After lunch some of the VIP’s gather on the Prairie for the Rosary. We managed it in one group this year. Brendan Hoban did his walking tour later and there is a medical meeting at 6 15 in the hotel. These medical meetings are very important for myself and the doctors to catch up and reflect on the days events.
In the evening we are taking part in the Marian Torchlight Procession and there is a good turn out from the Shrewsbury Pilgrims. I like to get the Torchlight out of the way as soon as possible. The first of Ged’s evening entertainments takes place at the Terrasse.
WEDNESDAY Pat Regan is our deacon at the Altar for the International Mass assisting some Italian bishop who looks a bundle of fun. I have reminded the fathers with ‘gongs’ to wear them so that they get a good seat. They do and they do. Not everyone likes the International Mass but it gives an idea of belonging to something far bigger than just our own parish or diocese. The music is splendid and deacon Pat looks like he has being doing these big occasions for ever. After Mass it’s off to HQ for a light lunch and then down to the 1 15 meeting.
This afternoon the Penitential service is led by Steve Woolley and his group from Sale. The hard of hearing may have struggled to hear what was being said but it was generally a good celebration. Before it starts I take a count of those who want to go to Bartres tomorrow. We get to about 66 but I think more will come.
As mentioned yesterday we have been asked to staff the Eucharistic Procession today and all acquit themselves well. There is an excellent turn out from the diocese. The arrangement of always finishing in the Underground Basilica is much better than the previous arrangement in the rosary Square but I think the procession itself needs tidying up and people should be stopped from wandering along the route when it is taking place. The atmosphere in the Underground is very prayerful.
After the procession it is time for the medical meeting where the important issues of the day can be discussed and pondered. After supper Paddy Healey is holding court in HQ. I think he is enjoying the week and he appears to be on good form despite his recent mishaps.
THURSDAY This year is dedicated to St Bernadette and some bright spark (probably me) suggested it would be nice for everyone to have the opportunity to go to Bartres to see where Bernadette spent some of her early years. We have arranged a coach with wheelchair lift for the VIP’s, one for helpers and three others to take pilgrims out to the little village and I was right, there were a lot more than 66! Dave Fitton is also taking 4 groups on different days to walk there. Bartres is about 4kms out of town, is peaceful and quiet and a pleasant contrast to the hustle and bustle of Lourdes. Dave leads a short liturgy in the parish church to complete his walk and we all join in. Lots have also taken advantage of the café to refresh themselves so Bartres has done well out of us today. All are back in time for lunch with Bishop Brian going to the visit the auxiliaries’ house for his.
In the afternoon there is the opportunity to go to the Baths or the Water walk and then we have Mass on the theme of vocation led by Jonathan Brandon assisted by the group from St Peter’s. One of the group has composed some music for the occasion and all goes well. We present David Long with his illuminated address for his Silver Jubilee coming up in September. Chris Matthews volunteers to lead the Hillside Stations tomorrow morning. This is just as well because Brendan Hoban reminds me later that we have to arrange our pilgrimage to the cathedral City of Tarbes and so we arrange it for Friday morning. It will be less penitential than the Stations.
Tonight’s medical meeting is extended to do some research on the effects of riding in a coach in the mountains at night and how much food we need to consume before it becomes unpleasant. Our daring and courage in attempting this feat is amply rewarded by a fine meal. Our descent from on high is uneventful and we round off an excellent day with a nightcap in the hotel. This is all going too well, something has got to happen.
FRIDAY I take the ticket for the High Stations to Chris and then the two penitents make their pilgrimage to Tarbes to make provision for the winter months. To my surprise and joy I find the shrine at the first attempt. Provisions are obtained and we are back in time for lunch. The view of the Pyrenees on the return journey is nothing short of splendid. Pity I didn’t have my camera with me.
At the 1 15 meeting we nearly get the Blessed Sacrament Procession again tomorrow but Mr Dias realises we have already done it and gives it to the Italians. I suspect that +Brian would not have particularly wanted a second bite at the cherry. We are to provide some of the servers.
This afternoon Mass is led by Peter Robertson and his group from Upton in the Rosary Basilica. As always, it is well prepared, if a little long. Our co-director of music, Dominic has got a little group together to sing something different to the normal fayre. Today they sing a setting of the ‘Hail Mary’ in Russian from Rachmaninov’s Vespers. They are brilliant and it’s good to see the singers from the usual choir joining in along with some who don’t normally offer their singing services. There is an Italian group following us and they are blocking the doors as we try to get out at the end. As they say about common sense….!
After Mass we go to the Gallia Londres for the ‘garden party’ which I look in on very briefly and then Phil and I go off to the office to look at the bill. The rate of exchange is slowly improving and hopefully it will get a bit better before we have to pay up in August.
In the evening Dave Fitton is leading the Youth liturgy but I give it a miss. At supper we had to finish Chris Lightbound’s birthday cake which we did with a little help from the hotel staff. Today was also Joe Norbury’s 75th birthday so there was much singing at the end of Mass. David Long has gone home today. I presume the car arrived to take him to the airport. Meanwhile Salford pilgrims are beginning to arrive, more familiar faces.
SATURDAY Things are still going well and all seem happy, this is too good to be true!
Michael Murray leads us at Mass on the theme of service. The choir perform their Russian bit as a gathering song. Dominic has worked wonders with this little group. Today we are in the Underground which is a bit cavernous and not good for acoustics but we manage.
After lunch 96 new members are enrolled into the Diocesan Hospitality including Ronnie Hailwood and Sean Lynch, one of our VIP’s. Ronnie thinks everyone has turned up to see him.
The weather is changing and as we begin to line up for the procession the wind is increasing and the rain is on its way. They set a cracking pace for the procession which is just as well and the rain holds off until we get to the sanctuary of the Underground.
The last medical meeting takes place and the annual accounts presented, minutes approved and officers elected for the coming year.
I meet the St Peters group on the Prairie for prayers and then it’s party time for the youngsters, some of whom have to be persuaded not to take glasses out of the Terrasse on to the street. Generally they have been well behaved but we did have a couple of complaints about some noise one night.
SUNDAY Our final Mass is on the Grotto side of the St Bernadette Church with the Bishop presiding and Dominic and Francesca on the great organ. Panis Angelicus is the choir offering today and Dr Damien is the cantor for the psalm.
The first plane has already left but there is still a good attendance at Mass and then everyone has to get back to their hotels to have lunch and get to the station or airport. We take our cases etc to the station and again the train is the wrong way round for the sick at Calais. It feels strange to be waving people off and not travelling but I have to stay on to attend the meeting of the Calendar Commission for 2011 which begins on Tuesday.
Everyone and everything is loaded, we think, and the trains are away on time. Bro and I go back for our siesta which is rudely interrupted by a phone call to tell us that the packed meals from the Accueil have not been delivered. Pierre makes arrangements for food to be delivered to the train at Bordeaux. The siesta is resumed and broken by another phone call to tell us that one of the sick is going to hospital in Bordeaux. I thought things had gone too well.
Next door the bar has Sky Sports so we watch some of the Test Match and then in the evening catch up with some Salford friends.
MONDAY Is a day off and a late rise and an all day British Breakfast – the full works. As we are leaving the hotel at 10 30 a.m. the staff are concerned that we hadn’t had breakfast. They need not have worried. After a good dose of egg, bacon, sausage, beans and tomatoes washed down with a pot of tea and some toast we go back and get the car and set out into the hills. We head for Bagneres du Bigorre and then up to the Col de Tourmalet. It is the top of the world and one of the ski resorts. The Tour de France comes this way and there are quite a lot of cyclists trying to emulate the professionals and panting up the hills, mad so and so’s! It’s all very spectacular and we stop in Luz St Sauveur for some refreshment and then back in time for a siesta and the Eucharistic Procession. A bit of religion in Lourdes never did any harm. At supper I meet the Belgian deacon, Yvan Doigny who is coming to the Calendar Commission tomorrow. We arrange to go to the Crypt for Mass. A little stroll after supper and I am in bed for just after 11.
TUESDAY Up bright and early for breakfast and then Yvan and I go to the Crypt where I celebrate mass in French. Then it’s off to the Commission which is meeting in the Maison St Pierre and Paul so it’s thanks to Pierre for allowing me to keep the car. The Commission is slow work and boring so I write this blog and also an article for The Voice and have a cat nap. We had a good lunch and the afternoon was as the morning but with a longer nap.
Having started at 08 30 with a short break for coffee mid morning, lunch from 12 30 – 2 00 and then another break around 4 45 we work on until 19 15 and have got as far as July. One could lose the will to live in these meetings. As soon as we can I set off back to the hotel with Jos the Dutch rep – Yvan is staying for his supper – who agrees it’s been a terrible day and needs a beer which is duly furnished at the Christina. At least there was international accord on that subject. He introduces himself to the bro with ‘I am Jos, that was b….y awful!’
WEDNESDAY Mass today was in English but Yvan did not trust himself to do the readings. The meeting spent the first hour looking for a train for a French Diocese. No one will budge with dates. If they gave me 5 minutes I could be out of here, they do and I am. Francis Dias looked up and caught my eye and said ‘Perhaps we could do some English Pilgrimages.’ There was no need for a second invitation. I rattled them all off from the beginning of July to the end of August, the Italian groaned in disbelief, no one else gave a toss and I was up and out telling them I would see them in December. That night Yvan tells me they are meeting for the third day having only got as far as mid September. He won’t be there because he is on our train at 07 45.
I meet the bro and we go for a brew with Dr Moriarty from Salford and then a stroll and a bit of lunch. There is a summit meeting with Salford because we are hatching a plot to save money. A final visit to the procession is made this afternoon and then in the evening we go to Pierre and Bridget’s and their son Jean for supper in their new home. The view of the hills is superb and an electric storm makes its way from behind the hills and unleashes lots of water. The food and wine was excellent and so was the company, especially Apollo the dog! Pierre drops back into town for a final visit to HQ.
THURSDAY An early breakfast and then off to the station for the 07 45 TGV to Bordeaux and then a bus to the airport and BMI Baby to Manchester where the current Mrs S and Mrs H meet us and take us home. There was also a good lunch in the airport restaurant. Much better way of going home than the pilgrims took! Ah well it will soon be 2010 and our sixtieth pilgrimage, the diamond, lots of bling!!
Ta ta.