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We are going on Pilgrimage this year from 18th to 27th July 2024.
William, Neil, Michael and Ellie worked as hotel redcaps.
Maddie worked as a redcap for the St Joseph’s group.
Wendoll worked as redcap Team Leader.
Siobhan led the Reds (children’s) group and Ryan was part of the Red’s group.
‘The most enjoyable part of the week was meeting the pilgrims and helping the pilgrims to have the best week possible, making new friendships with the redcaps and hearing inspiring stories about the pilgrims lives.’ – Maddie
‘The most challenging part of the trip, as this was my 1st time being a team leader, everyday was a challenge for me to make sure I have enough red caps for the pilgrims. I also had to ensure my team get enough rest so they can recover from the work done during the day. I did also get loads of help from everyone so have learnt a lot about being a team leader.’ – Wendoll
‘Going to Lourdes is honestly such an amazing experience and can have such a impact on your outlook of your faith or even your life. You make such amazing connections between the pilgrims and redcaps, some of which I hope I’ll keep for life. While it can be hard work pushing wheelchairs around all day we have socials in the evening to help you relax and have fun which only add to why it’s fun. There’s also a chance to take a trip outside of the town with your pilgrims for instance this year I went to Gavarnie a town along the Pyrenees mountains, which has some amazing views.
All in all I can’t recommend enough joining and taking part on this trip, it’s quite a life changer and seriously rewarding and I can’t wait to hopefully go next year!’ – Ellie
Lourdes is a small town in the foothills of the French Pyrenees. It was here in 1858 that the little shepherd girl Bernadette Soubirous encountered Mary, Mother of God, in the grotto of Massabielle by the Gave de Pau river. It was here that Mary revealed herself to the world as the Immaculate Conception and asked Bernadette that a church be built and that people come in procession. It is to this place that we are invited to follow in the footsteps of the tens of millions of pilgrims who have come in procession for more than 150 years to meet with Mary at the Grotto, to be refreshed in body and soul by the waters of its spring, and to be led to her Son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Saviour.
The last pilgrimage took place in July 2023 and there were a group of 6 young adults from the parish in attendance.
If you are a young adult / adult looking for ways to be involved in the pilgrimage please read the information below and get in contact with Siobhan.
How can young people be involved?
There are various roles that young people can take on:
Hotel RedCap (age 16+) –
Hotel RedCaps are hospitality members whose duties are typically situated between the various Lourdes hotels and the Domain (the Sanctuary surrounding the grotto). The Hotel RedCap duties can vary, depending on the requirements of pilgrims at that particular time. They can include working for the Lourdes authorities in an official capacity, taking part in a procession and carrying banners, socialising with the sick and assisting them by pushing wheel chairs, or taking part in liturgies during services and masses.
St Frai RedCap (age 16+) –
As with Hotel assisted pilgrims, St Frai assisted pilgrims also require RedCap assistance to travel to and from the St Frai during the pilgrimage. However, for logistical reasons, coupled with the fact that the St Frai operate to a slightly different pilgrimage timetable and a shift-based work schedule, the normal Hotel RedCap teams are unable to provide the required service. Therefore, a dedicated team of RedCaps are assigned to work in the St Frai.
Team Leader (age 18+ with at least two years experience working on the pilgrimage) –
On arrival in Lourdes, RedCaps are allocated a Team and a Team Leader. Team Leaders have a variety of responsibilities including allocating duties, liaising with group leaders and pilgrimage management and supporting the assisted pilgrims entrusted to them.
The role of a team leader also extends into preparation, planning and development of the pilgrimage.
St Frai Helper (age 18+) –
Some of the sick pilgrims in most need of support and medical care stay in a hospital like building called the Accueli St Frai in the centre of Lourdes. It is well-equipped for their care and they are looked after by a team of Doctors, Nurses and volunteer St Frai helpers.
The role of a St Frai helper is to support the nurses in providing the sort of care for which you do not need a medical qualification eg: helping pilgrims get up and reading in the morning, making tea, cleaning the wards, taking pilgrims to various pilgrimage events, socialising with them and putting them to bed at night. The timetabe is shared across two shifts.
Doctors and Nurses are also invited to assist with the pilgrimage.
There is a group called Reds which is for children / families. Some of our 18+ volunteers have worked with this group in the past. Their role has included leading games and activities and working with the team to engage the children in the liturgy. This role is a lot of fun.
In the past the group of young adults from our parish travelled to Lourdes to work as RedCaps with the Diocese pilgrimage with funding from the Jubilee Trust, the SVP, the Catenians, the Jack Petchey foundation, the Alistair Roberts Memorial Fund and our own fundraising events supported by members of the parish and school and the wider community through donations of raffle prizes. The young people found this experience rewarding and moving and we know that the assisted pilgrims were extremely grateful for their presence and hard work. If you are over 16 and would like to be a RedCap please contact Siobhan on 07908111796 and look out for the adverts in the newsletter.
Information from the Diocese can be found on this link: https://rcdow.org.uk/pilgrimages/lourdes/
A message from one of our RedCaps – James Plumb
‘ I was very fortunate to be able to attend the Lourdes Pilgrimage 2019 as a redcap. It was such a memorable and uplifting experience. We helped the Pilgrims as soon as we arrived at the airport, helping them through security, keeping them and their belongings safe. This gave me a sense of responsibility, not only was this the first time I had travelled alone I also was responsible for a vulnerable person. Lourdes itself was amazing, so different from what I had envisaged. The grounds were spectacular and peaceful giving both myself and the Pilgrim who I was assigned to time to reflect. My personal highlight was seeing the grotto for my own eyes. We had some lovely outdoor youth masses which brought us all closer together as a group. We had time to socialise and relax in the evenings with all the Westminster diocese redcaps. Overall, a life-changing experience and I would encourage anybody to go.’
