HCPT Group 75

Wednesday, traditionally known as beach day!! Well it started with a 7am wake up call, yawn zzz!! We needed to be on the bus and leaving by 8.40am from the coach park.

St Jean de Luz is on the south west coast of France, and takes close to two and half hours from Lourdes. The coach journey as always was filled with music, and we learnt a couple of new songs from group 44.

Once we arrived at the beach the sun was shining, it was lovely and warm and we set about having our lunches on the beach. Then followed games, rounders and limbo, burying each other in the sand, building sandcastles and for a few a little dip in the Atlantic. Wow it was chilly!!!!!

We left to return back to the hotel at around 4.30pm just as the heavens opened and the rain came. Unfortunately it followed us all the way back to Lourdes and dented our plans for a girls and boys night out. The boys did indeed venture out in the rain, whereas the ladies still dressed up, put some make up on and grabbed some music and danced away in the hotel. A lovely but tiring day had by everyone.

Trust mass is tomorrow, for many the highlight of the week. Starts at 10am here, so that’s 9am for you at home. The crazy trousers will be in, so keep a look out for us.

Come Alive with 75!!!

Tuesday, what a full day!! We began with a fun hour at the play base run by the youth group. There was lots of arts and crafts, face painting and a lot of running around. There was plenty of glitter men and women made and a big person with all our names on, hopefully to be seen at Trust Mass on Thursday.

This afternoon we met up with our counterparts from the North West Region, Group 56 from Preston. We had our individual group photos, and also the regional photo. After this we went and celebrated mass together, with the theme of ‘You are special’. Taking home the sentiment that we are all special in our own way. The story of the Good Samaritan was re-enacted, with two of our group volunteering to be the bandits. Any chance to beat someone up hey?!!!

A well earned icecream was overdue by 4.30pm, so we headed to the cafe and shared some refreshment and had a little look through the messages that have been sent. We really do love reading them.

The highlight of the day came with the Torchlight Procession. During the Procession, we recite the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful or Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary.  At the beginning of each decade, a few words in several languages give direction to the prayer so that it does not become a monotonous repetition. The Ave Maria and other hymns can be heard in many languages. Then follows a HCPT twist, where singing and dances ensues at the end. Rise and Shine is always very popular!!!

Come Alive with 75!!!