Earlier this year, the IHCPT — the Irish Pilgrimage Trust — celebrated its 40th anniversary. Each Easter Sunday approximately 1,000 pilgrims in various different groups leave Ireland destined for a fun-packed week in Lourdes including the Mayo group known as Group 95.
The Irish Pilgrimage Trust offers young people with special needs a pilgrimage and a holiday for a week. Together with friends from the wider community of IHCPT, some 5,000 pilgrims from the UK, USA, Croatia and West Indies, enjoy this memorable experience every year.
The pilgrims share a wonderful week together which includes playing games on the prairie, a day trip up the mountains, fancy-dress parties, large Masses filled with music and colour, the famous candlelight processions, visits to the grotto, and sharing in the water from the spring which St Bernadette uncovered in 1858.
The trust is looking for carers, both male and female, to travel with Group 95 to Lourdes for a rewarding seven days where they will take home memories to cherish forever.
Each carer is responsible for paying his/her own fare and help in the fundraising for the group. If you would like to help with any fundraising or become a carer, or if you are a guardian or parent who would like your child to have the opportunity to travel with the trust, email [email protected], alternatively you can contact IHCPT Galway on 091 796 622 for an application form. You can also visit www.irishpilgrimagetrust.com where you can download application forms, see videos, and read testimonials from others who have travelled to Lourdes in previous years.
Group 95 has been travelling to Lourdes from Mayo for the past 28 years.
The Irish Pilgrimage Trust welcomes applications from young people with a physical disability or illness (aged nine - 18 ), a learning disability (aged 11-21 ), a physical disability or illness (aged 19- 30 ), a learning disability (aged 22 - 30 ), or a serious illness up to age 11 accompanied by a parent or guardian (family groups ).
