They've also been amazing.

Finally, we get the chance to update you. The last few days have been action-packed and fun-filled with experience after experience to remember forever. We started Saturday with our morning prayer, which should have been our night prayer the night before but everyone was too tired. After, we got our tour of Lourdes before the rest of the Pilgrimage started to arrive in the afternoon. Some of us went to the airport to meet them and help them with their cases before a quick bite to eat followed by the opening Mass in St Joseph's Chapel. By Saturday evening, everyone had finally arrived and the Pilgrimage was ready to properly start.

Our first service as a complete group was on Sunday morning and where we all were anointed as helpers. We were introduced to our pilgrims after breakfast before taking them down to the St Bernadette's Chapel. They are always so happy to see us and they treat us so well! In the afternoon we had a service of reconciliation, where we all the chance to say sorry. In the evening, we attended the Torchlight Procession. For many pilgrims who come to Lourdes, this procession is one of the highlights and I have to say, is quite spectacular! Watching thousands of people processing in candlelight - the young and old, the sick and their helpers - all with tremendous faith. Amazing! Somewhere in the middle of everything we got time to eat! Not quite sure how we got the time. Later, we had night prayer as a youth team and some of us after had our first Grotto experience.

Monday was another busy day, quite emotional too. Our sick pilgrims were anointed at Mass and we all got to stand with them and experience it too. In the afternoon we took our pilgrims to the Stations of the Cross, but only the low ones as we're not allowed to take wheelchairs on th high ones. Later on we got to take part in the Blessed Sacrament Procession. That was quite important for us as Hallam Diocese got to lead it and a few of us got important jobs in the procession and on the altar. At least no one dropped anything as I think they were quite nervous. Everyone came to our hotel in the evening for a social gathering. There was lots of music and singing and we all got the chance to sit with our pilgrims and chat. It was also Katie's birthday and we sang to her lots! We had to calm down though in the end before night prayer and a visit to the Grotto.

Tuesday was our day off and I think we needed it! Although we did have an early Mass at the Grotto first. We shared it with the Diocese of Killaloe in Ireland but some of us still got to take part. After Mass, we spent the rest of the day as a youth team. We did the high stations as a group and they were very high! Some of us took a station and got to have their own input and thoughts. Youth leaders and teachers did some too. Then we went to the City of the Youth where we played games and chatted. We also had a lively liturgy in the Chapel at the top. We socialised in the evening before night prayer and a late visit to the Grotto.

And that takes us to today. International Mass this morning and a visit to the Baths afternoon.  I can't quite believe how quickly time has flown by since we arrived and that we will getting ready to go home tomorrow. Every moment has been filled with a memory to treasure. When we're not at services with our pilgrims we are socialising with them. We're not going to think too much about having to go home yet and enjoy the rest of the day. We might even get chance to update to later on.

Bye for now!

We've finally arrived at the hotel, 31 hours after leaving school.

We're about to get some dinner, then shower and bed - ready to start a-fresh tomorrow!

Interesting journey so far. All was going too well so it was bound to go a little pear-shaped. The coach pulled into the service station to switch drivers and then it stopped working! Oh well. There are worse places to be stuck. At least we're safe and have facilities close at hand, including free Wi-Fi!

Hope to be back on the road soon.

Yes indeed. The time has come.  Tomorrow, 7 of our pupils and myself are headiing off on our Pilgrimage to Lourdes.  We have been prepearing for this day for many months and I for one am very excited.  For those of you who don't know, we will part of the youth team travelling with the Hallam Diocese on the annual Pilgrimage.  Every year gets better and better as more young people seek to get involved on this challenging but highly rewarding experience.  Some come back already looking forward to their next visit. 

Just to let you know we will be keeping all of you in our prayers.  We will also be taking petitions on behalf of everyone so if you would like one bringing for you, there is still time.

Providing we have Wi-Fi in the hotel, I will keep you updated as we go along!

Right, time I left to start packing!!!!

Miss Duffy