Lourdes: 56th International Military Pilgrimage

....or "the Pilgrimage that we didn't plan to make...."

 

........UNTIL we received an email from our first priest.

Father Kleffman, US Army (retired), served as the Army

chaplain in Hohenfels, Germany. When Flint proposed, he (Flint) began

handing me booklets on how to become Catholic. After our marriage, we

met weekly with Father Kleffman as I learned more about Catholicism. He guided

me through the initial Sacraments and blessed our marriage. With overlapping dates in

Lourdes, how could we NOT make a special point to be with someone who remains

so dear to our hearts?

 

Our final evening included our visit with  Father Kleffman.

(If you enlarge this picture, and look at the outline above my head on the column,
you will see a figure that resembles the Madonna and Child. The waiters called our attention to it.)
This was our first time to stay in Hotel Moderne. I highly recommend it. Great staff, beautiful building, and
excellent location.)

 

 

Flint had received an earlier email from the Knights of Columbus asking for volunteers. He was the final Knight to apply. At times, it was as if we were on different pilgrimages as he served in a unique capacity. I was honored to meet some of our Wounded Warriors, and Flint thought I managed to get in some nurturing although I wasn't a 'real' volunteer.

 

 

Following the Welcome and Mass for American Pilgrims

 

The Knights Honor Guard with Bishop Spencer of the

Archdiocese of the Military.

With our new Sicilian friend who was in our tour group.

Processions:  Outdoor, Indoor, in the Streets....

 







English-Speaking Mass with Great Britain and Ireland

 

 

Stations of the Cross

 

Maura, an Irish lady, and I walked the Stations together.

 

 

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Not a cloud in the sky for three days!

The Spanish soldiers sang while posing for their picture.

Flags of participating countries fly only during the PMI.
It seems that fewer countries participated than in previous years.

 

A sign in our hotel announced the tour of Dr. Scott Hahn, noted author and convert. He and his wife
were leading a group to Fatima, Avila, and Lourdes. Dr. Hahn was gracious enough to pose with
us as we met him at the door. I met his dear wife, Kimberly, in the lobby, and we both met
one of his wonderful sons.

Another special moment was meeting Supreme Knight of Columbus, Carl Anderson, at a reception.

 

 

Gary, the District Deputy of Europe, who we have now seen at several KofC events,
 and Kevin who we met last year. Marlys, the coordinator of the US Delegation, nailed it when she said that the PMI is like home week. We saw many familiar faces.

Our dining companions
in our 'new' dining room.
This came about as Flint seldom ate with the group since he had to be elsewhere. On the
day we did manage a meal together, we sat at a table for two against the wall. However, when the
two women who had been seated there for a couple of meals came in, they were not happy. The hotel people asked if we would move.
Our new found friends cornered the hotel people and asked if they could join us. Management complied, and we certainly
enjoyed their company.
 

 

When Father Kleffman joined us, the priest accompanying the Scott
Hahn entourage stopped by our table to visit after he had blessed
articles for his group. We were trying to be polite and not talk during the blessing. Every time
we thought he had finished, he blessed some more. Father Kleffman's
humor remains....."I think he used the long form!"

We have been blessed beyond measure to make multiple pilgrimage to Lourdes.
You who read this, may you find the peace of Lourdes in your heart today. It is a place like no other.

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!

St. Bernadette, pray for us!

 

 

 

 

 

Lourdes: 55th International Military Pilgrimage

Theme:  Lourdes, A Door to Faith in the Year of Faith

 

May 24 - 26, 2013

 

 

This year's pilgrimage found Flint and me traveling to Lourdes a few days earlier to work with the advance team of North American Volunteers where we immersed ourselves in service to our dear Veterans and Wounded Warriors. The charism of North American Volunteers is 'family.'  How awesome that spirit of family is!!! I remain amazed by the graces that flowed during the time.

Once again, we were inspired by the faith, competence, talent and service of the students who volunteered from Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio.

Part of the dining room crew

Our responsibility:  set up, serve 100+, clean up

 

French ladies prepare the meals so we get a taste

of how the French enjoy their meals course by course.

LOTS of delicious bread!

 

The PBS crew arrived first to begin filming the pilgrims

as they exited the buses. Very nice group creating a series about

Sacred Journeys that includes Lourdes.

 

(Watch for it around May, 2014, or buy the dvd boxed set.)

 

Best-selling author and narrator of the series,

Bruce Feiler, arrived a few days later.

 

Volunteers greet pilgrims with cheerful songs...think Sister Act....

before taking them to their assigned rooms.

Rain doesn't keep pilgrims inside.

Hospitality volunteers provide Lourdes water along the way.

Mass in the Grotto with volunteers

protecting our pilgrims.

 

Father Mike, a wonderful young Army priest,

celebrating Mass in the Grotto. I loved the way his

long arms stretched so high with the Host. Another

young priest, Father Anselmo, held the Sacred Body

much longer than any priest I had ever seen. Beautiful!

 

A statue of Our Lady stands in the niche where she appeared to

Bernadette. Mother Mary welcomes pilgrims with open arms to bring them

to her son who suffered for us all.

 

 

Flint's responsibility was to get everyone from one point to another.

Even by the end of the week, several people in our pilgrim family

did not realize that we were married as we stayed in

separate rooms due to responsibilities.

 

Our home away from home was the Accueil Notre-Dame, a hospital.

He met me at the nurse's station before 0700 every day with coffee.

 

And, we had a 'date' occasionally. After one apparently stressful

outing, he took me by the hand and said, "We're going to Confession!"

 

 

Moving along...

 

In town

 

Beginning of the Candlelight Procession

 

Our pilgrims and their families included Catholics, Protestants and some

without any belief. Our family included several priests, deacons,

and chaplains, including Chaplain D.,

a female Presbyterian minister serving in the Army.

 

Groups stayed up all hours discussing aspects of faith.

 

 

Mae, one of the Franciscan University students, lived in

Sicily several years ago. Although we didn't know her family, we

know many of the same people. She asked if we knew Dario as he

was her piano teacher. Since Dario was a pilgrim with the Italian group, it worked

out to be a wonderful surprise for them to see each other again.

 

Knights of Columbus

lead the way at the American Welcome Mass.

Archbishop Broglio

Patriotic table setting

 

The French Army sent the pompoms and the

flags - one side with the North American Volunteers

logo; the other side with their symbol. A special

bond has developed over the years with the two groups.

A Jelly Belly moment

 

Father Ron

With Gary and Rich

(Please note my shirt since I am a Lady of a Knight.)

 

Our involvement with North American Volunteers

began with the 2010 PMI when the Knights of Columbus

in Germany recruited volunteers. We continued

to travel on the Catania Charter flight with Oby Whan

in 2011 and 2012 running back and forth from our hotel in town

between meals, Flint pushing

our Wheeled Warriors, and I assisting as needed.

 

I believe these two ladies with Marianne and me are

the first people I've ever met from Madagascar.

 

These two young French soldiers helped us serve

several meals. Couldn't have anything to do with these

cute, wonderful girls, could it?

We followed the French into the procession....

 

Ike didn't miss a procession or a Mass.

 

 Sunday:  International Mass - Basilica of St. Pius X

A short introduction prior to Mass:

Princess Caroline attended with her troops from Monaco.

Since Sunday was The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity,

there was a brief account of St. Patrick using the shamrock to

explain the Trinity

plus a series of pictures of military using their fingers to depict

three in one.

Just happened to meet the Swiss Guard marching up the street

One of my favorite views

Don Giovanni who always accompanies the Catania group. 

 

 

Some discussion as to whether this dear child was

Flint's grandson!!!

Celebration of Andy's birthday

Andy's mother looks on. One of his

sisters volunteered, too.

Creative use of table decorations

 

Flint's roommate, Juan, MC'd the talent show.

 

The children started with

"The ABC Song."

I want Angela's book when it is published. She

took a sentence from it, and expanded it into a poem.

Beautifully touching and deserving of the standing ovation.

 

Other talents: singing, including the "Star Spangled Banner"

sung beautifully by one of the docs, guitar,

jokes, dramatic reading, and a story told by Father Ron.

 

The farewells were bittersweet. So thrilled to have made the acquaintance and friendship of

such wonderful people who continue to need prayers and healing. To know that prayers are being answered and that healing has begun and is continuing. To be with those willing to sacrifice their lives for our freedom. To share laughter and tears. To see what a difference one person who answers God's call can make. To be in a place of such peace and tranquility. To be stunned by how quickly the time has passed. To carry in my heart the kindness and gentleness of some who hurt the most. To serve with such a dedicated group of volunteers who serve with the love of Christ in their hearts.

 

And, as Marlene mentioned in her closing remarks, all that matters in the end will be the salvation of our souls.

 

I picture those bodies with visible and invisible wounds being made perfect in our heavenly Father where we will continue in the loving spirit of this PMI throughout eternity!

 

St. Bernadette, Pray for us!!!

 

Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray for us!!!

 

St. Joan of Arc, Pray for us!!!

 

 

 

After the pilgrims departed, our packing and cleaning of the Accueil completed, we took more time to reflect on the wonders and graces that had been bestowed during this week, shopped, and spent some last moments in the Grotto.

 

Flint, along with Scott, our friend who lives in Germany, departed by train for the Toulouse airport as soon as the pilgrims left the Accueil. Flint realized that his wallet was gone- possibly having disappeared on the bus between the train and the airport. That's when he called me. We didn't panic; we talked about what he would need to replace. Another call fifteen or so minutes later:  going with  his gut feeling, he met the bus that makes the trips back and forth to the airport. His wallet was there. Money gone, but everything else was intact. Thank goodness, he had Scott to loan him some 'walking around money,' and no hassle of replacing cards and my school picture dating back to the year we married.