Arrows Serve on Annual Pilgrimage to Lourdes

This summer, eight St. Sebastian’s students traveled to Lourdes, France, from July 18–26 for an eight-day pilgrimage centered on faith and service. John Joyce, Cormac Anderson, John Lynch, Ryan Connolly, Ryan Sullivan, Luke Hiles, Rex Condron, and Alex Moran were accompanied by faculty members John Ryan and Joe Cressotti. Now in its fifth year, the Lourdes service trip has brought 23 St. Sebastian’s students to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, where the Arrows join a larger group of student pilgrims from across the country through Our Lady’s Pilgrimage (OLP).

Throughout the week, the boys served pilgrims, known as malades, in a variety of ways, helping them on and off the trains that bring them to Lourdes, parking wheelchairs during Masses and services, assisting in the Baths, and helping with crowd control at the Grotto. Beyond their service, the students participated in daily Mass, nightly reflection and journaling, and opportunities to meet fellow young pilgrims from around the world who came to Lourdes for the same purpose: to serve others and deepen their faith.

The experience offered the Arrows an opportunity to put their faith into action while experiencing one of the Catholic Church’s most significant pilgrimage sites. Through their service to those in need, shared prayer, and time together, the students returned home with a deeper appreciation for the Lourdes community and a renewed understanding of what it means to live for others.

“In Lourdes the thing that stuck with me the most was the smiles. The smiles that crossed language barriers, smiles of welcoming to me and from me, smiles of thanks from the pilgrims we helped, and the smiles of joy from the disabled as they were welcomed with open arms.”   - Cormac Anderson '28