HCPT Group 543

Lourdes Pilgrimage 17th - 24th Oct 2008

HCPT - The Pilgrimage Trust was formed in 1956 after a young doctor first took four children with disabilities on a Pilgrimage holiday to Lourdes. This year sees the trust celebrating its golden anniversary with many celebratory events taking place throughout the country. Nowadays, HCPT takes almost 2000 children to Lourdes from the UK, Ireland and other countries of the world. The children have a wide range of physical and mental disabilities, or they are physically and emotionally deprived or neglected. They are cared for by voluntary helpers, including doctors, nurses and chaplains, most of whom pay for themselves. The total size of the Easter Pilgrimage is now about 5000; it is the largest pilgrimage from the UK and Ireland and probably the largest children's pilgrimage from any country. In 1975 the Hosanna House Trust was formed in response to young adults requesting to be able to visit Lourdes. Hosanna House is a purpose built property that can accommodate 2 groups, with approximately 40-50 pilgrims in each, each week. It's set at the base of the Pyrenees Mountains, approximately 3km from Lourdes town. It's within walking distance of Bartres, which, as many of you will know, is where St Bernadette lived with relatives. Today, over 2000 pilgrims stay at Hosanna House from April to November. Each group has its own leader, chaplain and nurse who decide on the programme for the group. Groups usually take part in all Lourdes activities, including the Blessed Sacrament and Torchlight Processions.  Day trips are also often planned with Gavarnie, a Pyrennean mountain village, a big favourite.
Group 543 is probably one of the oldest surviving groups within the HCPT organisation.  It was originally led by a chap called Pat Haley who led the group until he was sent abroad to help build a road in Nepal as part of the British foreign aid plan. After Pat left the group was taken over by Ted McCormack. He led the group for many years and then, as he got older, he took over the secretarial role of the group, leaving the leading of it to his nephew Francis, who is still our group leader today. Ted was well known to HCPT head office and, part of what made our group special, was that Ted would accept pilgrims from all over the country and not restrict applications to his own area. The majority of our regular disabled group members suffer from cerebral palsy although we have a couple with MS. It is a delight to see people who normally reside in a home, having such a good time. For some it is the only time during the year that they'll be able to get away from home. They enjoy the company that being part of a group provides and, although communication is sometimes extremely difficult they really appreciate somebody having the time to sit and chat.   Obviously they need total care and we couldn't take them if we didn't have people travelling with us that are prepared to offer that care.   During our week away we visit Lourdes every day, using the transport provided by Hosanna House.  We try to attend the Blessed Sacrament and Torchlight processions twice each during the week and we always have a day trip as well. Hosanna House also has its own chapel and we enjoy Mass in the chapel every day. We also usually have a mass in Lourdes and even had a very nice outdoor mass last year while on our day trip to Gavarnie! Overall, a week spent in the company of like minded people who all have a common reason for being in such a wonderful place, is extremely uplifting. I can honestly say that everybody who comes with us, whether it be a disabled person or a helper or just somebody who has always yearned to visit Lourdes, has a truly remarkable experience helped, I believe, by the community spirit of being part of a group. If you feel that you would like to join our group we would be more than willing to give you additional information. We really would like to hear from anybody who may be willing to act as a carer. Without carers we would not be able to take the people with disabilities with us. And, although everybody enjoys their time in Lourdes I feel that it is these people who benefit the most. Caring also includes pushing wheelchairs, helping to feed somebody or just giving your company so even if you don't want to get involved with washing and dressing there is always something you can do. Please contact Jane or Pat Barrett via Fr Ray if you would like further information.

Comments from group 543 members

I had been to Lourdes with a variety of pilgrimages and also by myself hence I thought that I knew what to expect.  Joining an HCPT group, however, it was a real eye-opener!

 I was immediately struck by the care and consideration which instantly bonded both the carers and their charges. This developed into a real affection and enabled even the least able to make their own contribution to both spiritual and other activities.

The flexibility of the organisation in the face of changing circumstances and the facilities at Hosanna House were superb.

No wonder people wish to renew the experience.

Two years ago I was "persuaded" by  Jane & Pat together with my wife Loma, to participate as helpers with a group (543)of disabled & severely disabled people going to Lourdes. I knew really, all along, that once I had made the decision to go I would be "hooked". It's making the move that counts.

There were about 35ish people in our group with a good mix of experienced, inexperienced helpers, nurses, ill & disabled & a priest & a leader. We stayed in Hosanna House which was in a fantastic location, near to Lourdes with great views across the mountains & countryside. The facilities were faultless. Food (& wine) was great, rooms & chapel & shop excellent. This gave us a tremendous base to work from.

As expected the "Lourdes experience" really was unbelievable. Tens of thousands of people from all over the world, ill & not so ill, praying together either during the day or at the candlelit procession at night. Even I joined in the singing!! We bathed in the water, we walked the stations of the cross, we prayed, we had picnics, we laughed, we joked, we bonded, we prayed together.

Needless to say I went next year, just as much fun. I recommend to everybody....Try it once.   

Chris Barrett  

I had never been to Lourdes before, even though I had thought of it many times.  I thought it was a place, in my naivety, where one would go to be cured of an ailment or disability.  How wrong I was.

When I first arrived at Stansted Airport, I was introduced to many people, some whom were disabled and some able bodied.  I was looking forward to a week’s holiday with everyone I had met.  I knew I would be driving Mini buses and helping load our disabled friends onto and off the aircraft.  There would be other activities such as helping to feed those who were unable to feed themselves and generally help out. All these duties were fulfilled and the experience was as expected. 

The week progressed and the feeling of being in Lourdes with all these like minded friends, as they now were, was overwhelming.  We would breakfast together everyday, received the Sacrament of the Eucharist every day, lunched together every day, visited Lourdes every day, dined together every day and many more activities together every day.

I would not class myself as an overtly holy person, but since my first visit to Lourdes in 2003, I certainly have a different view of life and my selfish wishes and prayers, which I asked and prayed for whilst in Lourdes, have all been answered. 

I am now looking forward to my third visit and am now able to help in a more involved way with basic caring. 

I can’t imagine going anywhere else in the future in the month of September.

As an able bodied catholic I had obviously heard of Lourdes but didn't know anything about it apart from the odd story of somebody travelling there in search of a cure but i'd never really given it any thought.

As a disabled catholic I was asked by a parishioner if I would like to go on a trip to Lourdes with an HCPT group. Having never even heard of HCPT or what they did I found myself agreeing to go on the 11th September 1998. As the day approached, to say I was very apprehensive would be an understatement and when my wife and I arrived at Gatwick Airport and met the group members I just wanted to go home and have a few stern words with the said parishioner for I just didn't realise there would be so many others coming with us. Naively I even thought that I would be the only disabled person. However I did go and when we arrived at Hosanna House I was very pleasantly surprised with the facilities and the location. After an excellent meal with local wine we were informed by our group leader that Hosanna House was not a hotel it was our home for the week, and it most certainly was.

Well what can I say, the week turned out to be the best week i'd had in recent years.  The camaraderie of the group was fantastic - one big happy family.

I never went to Lourdes looking for a cure, and I didn't get one, not a physical one anyway, but it certainly went a long way towards a psychological one. I realised it was time to stop feeling sorry for myself and to realise things could be a lot worse - it was time to accept and get on.

I will never forget the sight of thousands of people all here for the same thing, to pray, i'd never seen any thing like it, it was amazing.

We're going back again this year for the 6th time, and I know it'll be as good as September 1998