This week we had a whole school virtual Lourdes pilgrimage. On Monday, we learned about the history of Lourdes and the visions that St Bernadette experienced there. Then a chaplain (Alex) from the NDYCS took the classes out one by one to visit the grotto next to the school and spend some time with Mary. All week, the classes took turns to share a snack and pray the Hail Mary with another class. They really enjoyed spending time together and some classes chose to play together at playtime to continue their special time together.
On Tuesday, all of the classes took part in a water liturgy where they explored the healing power of the spring water in the shrine and asked Mary to intercede for people they held in their hearts who needed God’s healing power.
On Wednesday, we sang and practised Marian hymns so that, like people in Lourdes, we could praise Mary in song.
Thursday was very special: Sr Dorothy Paul from our neighbouring Fransciscan Sisters Minoress Convent, brought across the Blessed Sacrament and the whole school spent quiet time before the real presence of Jesus in Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. We said the traditional Catholic prayers before the Blessed Sacrament and finished by singing ‘Be Still of the Presence of the Lord’. Sr Dorothy was delighted by the children’s prayerful behaviour and their whole hearted participant in the prayer and singing. The chaplaincy team loved spending time with Jesus and Year 3 and 4 liked the stillness and learning about the monstrance used for exposition. We would like to have exposition once a term so that we experience the stillness and peace of this devotion regularly.
On Friday, we finished by making a whole school Marian procession from the school hall to the grotto of Our Lady, singing and praying joyfully to and with our Blessed Mother. Each class carried a banner made by the school chaplains celebrating Our Lady, just like pilgrims carry when they take part in processions in Lourdes.
It’s amazing that all the wonderful pilgrimages and miraculous healings in Lourdes began because of one young peasant girl and her simple faith, bravery and love of Mary.
What questions would you ask St Bernadette about her life and belief?
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Year 56 would like to ask St Bernadette how she knew that Mary was really talking to her and how it felt to actually meet the mother of Jesus. They also wanted to know how she felt when nobody believed her and how she managed to be brave and stand up for what she believed in.