Sincerest thanks
and heartiest congratulations to the 16 students
from Transition Year in the Community School who
made such a huge contribution to our recent Carmelite
pilgrimage to Lourdes.
 They were accompanied by Ann
Loughman (Chaplain to the Community School) and
Mary Gilmer (R.E. teacher). Frs Paddy and Philip
were there too along with a number of other parishioners,
some of whom worked as blue tie helpers, devoting
their time to the needs of the sick and infirm.
From
all reports a marvellous time was had by all.
Altogether,
almost 1,400 people travelled on the Carmelite
Pilgrimage this year, making it one of the largest
from Ireland.
The following is an edited version of the homily
given by Fr. Philip in Lourdes during a special
Youth Mass on the occasion of the 25th anniversary
of Pope
John Paul’s visit to Galway:  “How can I protect you in this crazy world?” – a
very valid question indeed. It was sung by Irish
rock band “Aslan” at the recent O2 concert
in the Phoenix Park, the day after the terrifying
Beslan massacre. I thought it was a lovely touch
when lead singer Christy Dignam dedicated that song
to all those, young and old, who were slain so callously,
while the world looked on in horror and utter disbelief.  9/11, Beslan/Iraq/Ken Bigley/the Sudan – we
could go on and on… the craziness, the brokenness,
the gross injustices of our world can easily overwhelm
us and undermine our faith. They can make us feel
that God has forsaken us altogether, and that the
power of evil has gotten the upper hand. That’s
why a pilgrimage to Mary’s shrine is so beneficial.
In Lourdes our hope and faith in God and humanity
is restored. And this year in Lourdes we were reminded
that no matter what happens in our crazy world, God
is our rock of safety, our refuge and strength, the
one who stands firm come what may.
 In Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 16, verse 18,
we hear how one whose name literally means “rock” (Petros/Peter)
was earmarked for a leading role. Jesus said to him “You
are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church.
And the gates of the underworld can never hold out
against it.”
On August 15th last, Peter’s successor today,
John Paul II, was in Lourdes - a simple pilgrim in
a wheelchair. As we watched him on television sitting
there in front of the grotto, filled with emotion,
no doubt reflecting upon the pain and fragility of
so much of the world, it seemed as though he was
continuing the dialogue that Our Lady began with
Bernadette nearly 150 year ago. Through his own witness
the Holy Father seeks to guide us towards ever deeper
prayer and ever deeper faith. Just look at his face
and you see an expression that reflects a spiritual
life which goes far deeper than superficial appearances,
transcending even his own corporal sufferings.
 25 years ago, as the archives of his papal visit
to Ireland remind us, he was a much younger man.
And yet although he is now a frail, old man, it never
ceases to amaze me how the young people who gather
round him at World Youth Days and other such gatherings
notice the way he exudes peace, resolution, courage,
and yes, even joy.
A quarter of a century ago in Galway he said to
the young people of our land:  “When I look at you I see the Ireland of the
future. Tomorrow, you will be the living force of
your country – tomorrow you will have the power
to make your dreams come true. Tomorrow, Ireland
will depend on you.”
Immortal words, as true today as 25 years ago.
If the youth who came with us to Lourdes this year
are anything to go by, we can certainly depend
on them. They were the rock on which so many of
our
infirm pilgrims were able to rely on.  All too often the older generation is very critical
of youth, of their boisterousness, of their lack
of respect and lack of discipline and so on. But
what we witness first hand in Lourdes is heartening
in the extreme.
The total dedication of so many young people to what
they are about, the way in which they gel together,
their good humour and openness, and their reverence
and depth of faith in the early hours of the morning
in the quietness of the grotto, all of this renews
our faith in humanity.
 Lourdes is living proof that when young people are
invited to express their faith in a practical way,
they will rise to the occasion with inspiring generosity.
That kind of religion is alive and well, I’m
happy to say, and long may it be so. So let’s
encourage and affirm our young people in their gifts,
and pray through the intercession of Our Lady of
Lourdes, that they will build their lives on the
rock of faith in Christ, and that God will protect
them now and always in this crazy world.
|
