On Saturday, September 2nd four students and a staff member from Presentation Secondary School, Castleisland departed from Kerry Airport to Lourdes France with the Kerry Diocesan Pilgrimage.
The girls compiled the following report on their experience when they returned.
“We spent the five days as full time volunteers looking after the sick. Our days were extremely busy from 6am wake up calls until 11pm each night. Our list of jobs varied from cleaning duties, dining duties and taking our pilgrims to various ceremonies.
In Lourdes there was hospital accommodation for our sick pilgrims and we as volunteers attended to their every need.
While in Lourdes we had a full programme in place which included a special Kerry Diocesan Pilgrimage Mass at the Grotto; the Vigil of Reconciliation; Vigil of Healing; participation in the Blessed Sacrament Procession and a Torchlight Procession and Mass in the Rosary Basilica to mention but a few.
The liturgies were led by Bishop Ray Browne and priests from around the diocese and the Kerry Diocesan Pilgrimage Choir which represented parishes throughout the diocese.
By the end of the Pilgrimage we all agreed that it was an incredible experience which was extremely worthwhile and rewarding.
Overall it was truly life changing and we all came home with such a positive outlook on life.
We would highly recommend that everybody should go to Lourdes if the opportunity would arise for them as we can guarantee that they won’t be disappointed.
We would like to thank Presentation Secondary School for affording us the opportunity to travel to Lourdes with the Kerry Diocesan Pilgrimage and thanks also to those who supported us in our fundraising efforts. We look forward to returning again someday.”
….And on their new uniform additions and ‘Food Company’ School Canteen…..
Presentation Secondary School Students put on the new additions to the traditional school uniform since their return after the summer holidays.
Now they wear the new school skirt and white shirt – for which their student council voted.
The students also posed for photographs with the new school canteen which is being run by The School Food Company.
The fare on offer takes in a wide variety of healthy and nutritious lunches and snacks and it got the thumbs up from the students in their new uniforms.
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