Schedule of the Day
Morning
- 1:15 PM Final arrivals at Lourdes
Meeting of all priests attending the pilgrimage (Cardinal Gerlier Hall, Abri du pèlerin) - 2:15 PM: Large gathering on the Meadow
Welcome address by Mgr. Donze, Bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes, Marie-Hélène Mathieu, international coordinator of the pilgrimage, and Jean Vanier. - 3:45 PM Holy Thursday Mass - at the Basilica of Saint Pius X
At the Offertory, parchments will be presented by each community to the bishops present.
After Supper: Vigil of prayer and dialogue-exchange (in the hotels)
"Crossroads" and songs centered on lunch, the Supper, the Eucharist, and service.
"I am the bread of life: whoever comes to me will never go hungry; whoever believes in me will never be thirsty" - Saint John
Arrival
We had just reached Lourdes. The schedule was tighter than we'd expected. When we stepped off the train—tired and dusty from the long journey—it was late. Between getting the children settled on the bus, unloading wheelchairs, suitcases, and supplies, we barely made it to the hotel in time to claim our rooms, drop our bags unopened, and grab a quick meal.
Some of the children wouldn't eat. Whether the unfamiliar food put them off or they felt uneasy, I couldn't say. Most of us mothers were a bit on edge, each worried about our own child, but mostly we were exhausted. Several of us hadn't managed to sleep on the train, and there was no time to rest before the welcome ceremony began.
The moment we finished eating, everyone headed out. Our group was about thirty strong, and we formed a kind of procession with Alberto at the front carrying our banner. We started walking along the road beside the river, wheelchairs leading the way. Some moved with difficulty and fell a bit behind, but Alberto, with his banner held high, kept us all together.
I hadn't fully grasped the importance of that banner until then. Every group had one, and in the frenzy of those last days before departure, when everyone was offering suggestions about which banner to carry or how to display it, I'd thought: "What's the point?" I hadn't been thinking about the 12,000 Faith and Light pilgrims from around the world gathering in Lourdes at the same time, split into groups of thirty or forty. Each group with its banner up front and raised high so everyone could see it. If someone fell behind and stopped, they only had to look for their own banner.
Someone started singing to keep spirits up. Soon we were all singing. Then another group appeared with their banner and their song. At the next intersection, a Belgian group. Then a French one.
Soon the road was full of people. As we drew closer to the great meadow in front of the grotto, more and more Faith and Light groups emerged from every direction.
It was beautiful watching the colorful banners from a distance, guessing which country each group came from by the language of their songs.
We could hear singing drifting across the meadow from those already gathered—distant at first, then growing louder as we approached. Finally, there we were: 12,000 pilgrims, packed close together in that vast clearing, and it became one enormous, wonderful "Magnificat" to the Lord.
Olga Gamarelli
Thursday the 16th, 2:15 PM Large gathering in the park
What struck me most about Jean Vanier and Marie-Hélène Mathieu was their smile, their gaze—which spoke to me of such peace, such hope, and such joy. Two "brothers" of exceptional gentleness. They carry God in their hearts.
From Jean Vanier's address
"We are not called to do great things." We walk with the smallest and the poorest. In walking with them, we have the certainty of walking with CHRIST.
"Suffering has no boundaries."
Don Vittorio
At the Grotto - Pilgrims' Reflections
After a beautiful journey filled with joy and so many friends, I finally saw the face of that little Madonna they say performs so many miracles. But the greatest grace for me was being able to kneel before her and pray the most beautiful Ave Maria of my life.
Standing together with that enormous number of Faith and Light friends from all nations was my second great joy.
Thank you, little Madonna!
Mirella
A priest washed my feet and kissed them.
Juri
During Thursday's mass, what I liked most was when the priest washed Juri's feet and kissed them.
I also liked the songs. I knew them too because I had learned them at home.
There were so many people in the church that you couldn't see anything because of all the heads.
I really liked this day.
Maria