Lourdes, 2005

I was struck by the friendship that existed between members of the Youth Service.  The ties that existed between members were clearly present among the patients as well.

I was eighteen when I first went over to Lourdes as a member of the Oblate Youth Service. Even at the airport I was struck by the friendship that existed between members of the youth service. There was a buzz about the group, particularly the members who were returning. The two days we took to settle in and the trip to the beach at Biarritz on our first day there was an enjoyable way to settle in and get to know some of the more experienced guys.

On the patient's arrival, the buzz in the air only increased. The ties that existed between members of the Youth Service were clearly present among the patients as well. While many of them were tired from a long journey, extended by a delay of the flight, they were glad to be there and the banter in the hallways showed us the kind of experience we could expect over the next five days.     

Getting up early is a lot easier when you look forward to the day ahead. The 6:30 morning shift was something completely new to me. I was with one of the more experienced members and seeing the closeness between him and the patient was truly moving. The time spent with the patients was the best time of the pilgrimage. The stories they have collected over the years are fascinating and they are still more then capable of getting up to a bit of messing.

In the evenings I enjoyed playing the guitar and having a sing along with the patients and the youth service. The Irish ballads went down particularly well with plenty of participation by the patients. 

The party held for the patients on the last night was very special.  

As they left on the buses the next day with promises to see each other the next year I felt sad, but was glad that I had experienced Lourdes and intended to return myself for a third time the next September.