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This year's photos have graciously been provided by Robert Preston, KM. Please check back later for more photos from the last day of our pilgrimage.
Greetings from Lourdes!
“This is the work of God, that you believe in the one He sent.” John 6:29
The last full day of this year’s pilgrimage has come to a close. After our final morning prayer, led by Rev. Msgr. Robert Ritchie, with Nancy Graebe, and breakfast, we processed down to the Upper Basilica for our Closing Mass, celebrated by Most Rev. John Barres, with Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Trexler. During the Mass, President Ken Craig presented Ed Delaney with the Grand Cross of Magistral Grace in recognition of his profound leadership and personification of the line from our prayer, “forgetful of myself”.
After Mass, pilgrims attended the Stations of the Cross. Although heavy rain prevented us from attending the Upper Stations, we were grateful to experience the Lower Stations of the Cross throughout the beautiful grounds of the sanctuary. When we arrived back at our hotels, we enjoyed our last lunch together before taking part in the second and final set of Reflections for all pilgrims.
"It was an emotional and spiritual discovery. As I walked closer to the Grotto, I was overcome with emotion. We came here for a miracle of eye sight for my son; but, it was his father that learned to see." - A Caregiver
Following Reflections, many of us met with our chaplains for one last time in the hotel chapels for continued, but more personal, spiritual reflection time. There was also one final opportunity to go to The Baths.
The final reception on the Hotel Méditerranée's Balcony was bittersweet; and, we enjoyed one last evening together dining and reminiscing about our experiences over the last week. Some of us freshened up after dinner while others began our least favorite task, packing, with many of us passing around additional luggage tags and rolls of duct tape to help secure our Lourdes Holy Water for tomorrow's flight home.
The last signature event of the pilgrimage, the Closing Festivities, is always guaranteed to bring a tear to your eye. We listened to Robert and Barbara Wilson, Pilgrimage Co-Hosts, thank everyone for joining them on the American Association’s 37th pilgrimage to Lourdes. Pilgrims honored and thanked Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Trexler for his 19 years of service as Executive Director of the American Association. It was also announced that next year's Pilgrimage Co-Hosts will be Jean and Deborah Brunel.
Now, some of us our packing, some of us are sleeping, and some of us are making one last evening trip to the Grotto with our prayer petitions before we board the charter plane back to JFK in the morning.
Stay tuned for one final update tomorrow...
Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray for Us!
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