CARMELITE PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES - 2006

"This year I was selected along with 13 other boys to go on the annual Carmelite pilgrimage to Lourdes, along with Mr Seán O’Connor, Mr John O’Carrol, Fr. Éanna Ó hÓbáin, pupils from Knocklyon Community College and the Knocklyon Youth Choir.

 The representatives from Terenure College were: Sam Torsney, Mark Simpson, Ciaran Shanahan, David O’Reilly, David Bolger, Patrick McCormack, Richard Neill, David Kelleher, Stephen Doherty, Lorcan Deegan, Kenneth Devine, William Brady, Robert Byrne and a special young man named Rory. Rory has Downs Syndrome and it was our job to look after him for the duration of the trip.

We arrived in Lourdes on the 27th of September and left on the 2nd of October. Throughout the course of the trip we learnt the correct technique of pushing wheelchairs and the ups and downs of sharing the lifts of the hotel with Italian pilgrims, who were in Lourdes for the duration of our stay.

 During the day we would attend Mass, where many of the Terenure College boys helped by participating in the service, be it carrying crosses and banners during the many precessions or helping the elderly get to and from the respective churches. One night we went to the grotto of Our Lady, which was an incredible experience and something I personally will remember forever. Altogether, this was a really great trip and something the boys and I will never forget."

                                       Darragh McCauley