HCPT is a charity that was set up 60 years ago to take children with disabilities, and varying needs on pilgrimage to Lourdes in the South of France every Easter. I am the leader of Group 74 – The local Dewsbury group and we take 7/8 children from our school and other schools in the Dewsbury area. Whilst we are in Lourdes we visit the shrine where Mary appeared to Bernadette, we light candles for our loved ones, we take part in the torchlight procession and we have chance to go in the baths. We also have a day at Gavarnie in the mountains and the seaside at St. Jean De Luz. The children have a fun packed week and have lots of happy memories.
In the Easter holidays we went to Lourdes(France), with the HCPT group. On the first day we went to the grotto where St. Bernadette saw Mary and our group lit a candle for people who are sick. After Mass we has a treasure hunt where we had to find different groups and signs. We also went up to the mountains of Garvarnie where we had lots of ice cream .
On the last day we had a trip to the beach and at night we took part in the candle light parade which was very touching and very emotional as we said our goodbyes to Lourdes.
Lourdes 2017 from StPaulinus School on Vimeo.