May edition of Catholic East Anglia paper now online
April 14, 2016
Bishop Alan’s Pastoral Letter on Vocations Sunday
April 17, 2016
A large group of children from the Diocese of East Anglia travelled to Lourdes for a pilgrimage with HCPT during Easter week, joined by over 1,000 disabled and disadvantaged children from around the world, reports Alex Savage.
This year HCPT celebrated its Diamond Jubilee of taking children to Lourdes and their theme was "Thanks be to God'. The colourful celebrations took over the town for the week and included a torchlight procession of over 5,000 pilgrims, a firework display over the Domaine and the Trust Mass in the underground Basilica led by Cardinal Vincent Nichols.
Groups from within our Diocese came together for a special regional Mass concelebrated by Canon David Bagstaff and Fathers Sean Connolly, John Warrington, Martin Gowman, and Simon. At the offertory, paper chains representing everyone in the groups were joined together as a symbol of our living and supporting each other as one community.
Brother Michael Strode, who took the very first HCPT group to Lourdes in 1956, gave a special video message at the Trust Mass. He explained that the wonderful experience of being together on pilgrimage is the power of God's love working through us to support and care for each other.
The East Anglia groups were supported by volunteer helpers including students and staff from the St John the Baptist Catholic Multi Academy Trust.
www.hcpt.org.uk/2016-diamond-jubilee
Pictured above is the East Anglia group in Lourdes
