East Midlands Pilgrimage 2014 vol.1 | Page 11

Rome 2010 Staying on the Borgo Pio in the Villa della Concilliazione, we were within sight of the Basilica of Saint Peter's and the Vatican and so were in the very centre of everything that we were going to be seeing. During our stay, we said Morning and Evening Prayer in St Peter’s itself as well as celebrating Masses at Santa Maria Maggiore, Saint John Lateran, Saint Paul’s outside the Walls and Santa Spirito. The high point for most of us was going to the weekly Papal audience on the Wednesday of our visit, where we were welcomed by name by the Holy Father. We also had the opportunity to visit many of the historical sites in and around the city, including the Pantheon, the Forum, the Coliseum, the Spanish Steps, Piazza Narvona, the Trevi Fountain and the Vatican Museum to name but a few. There was an awful lot to see and our days were very busy! Lourdes 2013 The Pilgrimage included a presentation at the Tourist Information Centre as well as a walking tour of the shrine Corporate Morning and Evening prayer were offered daily along with a corporate rosary. Mass was celebrated each morning in Saint Gabriel's Chapel on Monday, Tuesday and Friday and in the Crux Gloriosa Chapel on Thursday. Pilgrims also attended the International Mass in the Saint Pius X Basilica on Wednesday. The Stations of the Cross, 'In the footsteps of Bernardette' tour, a visit to the Bernardette Museum, a half day excursion to Gavarnie and a funicular railway trip up the Pic du Jer were all organised throughout the week. All in all, pilgrims came home happy and refreshed from a spiritually uplifting time away. 11 Previous Pilgrimages... and town on the first morning.