It seems appropriate on this feast of our Lady of Lourdes to post this piece about the four young people who are going to Lourdes in July to assist with the sick and less able.
Emma Gardner
My name is Emma Gardiner and I am 16 years old. I have recently been selected to represent the youth of St. Clare's Parish on the Parish Council. Being a member of the Parish Council enables me to take forward the views of the youth of our parish and put forward suggestions and ideas to help encourage the youth to have a voice within our Parish. As a child I attended St. Clare's Primary School and then Corpus Christi High School. I am now studying for my A Levels at Runshaw College, as I aspire to be a Forensic Scientist. I attend Mass on a Sunday evening where I am a reader and I have previously been an Altar Server. In June, I volunteered to help Fr. Darren, Ruth and Joe in running the two youth groups within the Parish on Tuesday nights, helping young members of our parish to learn more about our Catholic Faith.
Josh Hunter
Hi my name is Josh Hunter I am 15 years old and go to Lancaster Royal Grammar School. I have attended the church of St. Clare since I was born, was baptised there and have served on the altar for 10 years and am looking forward to receiving my St. Stephens silver medal this Boxing Day. I am excited at the prospect of going to Lourdes next year because it will give me a chance to be involved with other youth and enrich my faith. I am hoping to spend some time with the sick and handicapped to discover why visiting Lourdes is so important to them and I also hope they will share their experiences with me. As a young child I visited Lourdes over night with my mum and thought there was a very special atmosphere about it and it will be brilliant to have the chance to explore what is going on and take part in it. I would particularly like to take part in the torchlight procession as it looked very exciting from where I stood.
Nisha Thanikachalam
My name is Nisha Thanikachalam and I am 15 years old. I have been a member of St. Clare’s parish for 15 years. I love going to church because I meet friendly people who all believe what I believe. In church, I am an altar server, a reader and a children’s liturgist (in training). Also, I voluntarily help Mrs Cywinski at the Confirmation Group and the First Confession Group. I do a lot for the young people in the parish but nothing for the older generation. Therefore, when Father Darren told me about Lourdes, I immediately accepted! This experience will give me the chance to help people who are older than me, to get around Lourdes on their pilgrimage. Moreover, I’ve wanted to go to Lourdes for years! I have been on pilgrimage to Walsingham and Vailankanni (a place in India where Mary appeared), with my family. However, having heard of Lourdes so many times in my life and the miracles that occur there, it has been a wish I have had for a long time to visit this place. I would just like to thank the priests and all of the parishioners for donating money for this dream of mine to actually come true!
Peter Williams
I was baptised in Saint Clare’s Church in 1997, and went on to receive the sacraments of First Holy Communion, Reconciliation and Confirmation within the parish. I have been an altar server since September 2004, so have now been serving for 8 years. I attended Saint Clare’s Primary School, from 2001 to 2008, and am currently in Year 11 at Our Lady’s Catholic High School. When I was 6 years old I became a member of Saint Clare’s Beavers, and then went on to join Cubs and Scouts, where I achieved my Chief Scout Silver and Gold awards. In addition, I have been a member of the parish’s youth groups, including WDY in which I was involved in raising money for CAFOD and Derian House. I also travelled to London for the Flame National Youth Congress, and have participated in the React Global Youth Festival. More recently, I have become a member of the new Youth Group which meets on a Tuesday.
I feel it is a great honour to be asked to go to Lourdes as a helper in summer 2013. Friends who have been have described it as a wonderful and unforgettable experience, so I am really looking forward to helping others, meeting new people and visiting the grotto itself.