St. John’s Students Deepen Faith and Help
Pilgrims at Lourdes, France
Once again demonstrating their commitment to their faith and St.
John’s University’s tradition of service, a group of St. John’s
students participated in Campus Ministry’s third annual service
pilgrimage to Lourdes, France, this past June.
From June 12 -22, 12 St. John’s students from both the Queens and
Staten Island campuses, accompanied by a University alumnus and
administrator, served sick, disadvantaged and elderly pilgrims
looking for healing and a renewal of faith at Lourdes, one of the
world’s most-visited Catholic pilgrimage sites. This year, it is
estimated that 6-8 million pilgrims will travel to the grotto at
Lourdes, a site that Catholics believe is the location where the
Virgin Mary appeared to St. Bernadette in 1858.
Photo Gallery
Students applied for the pilgrimage by completing an application
and submitting essays. Three Campus Ministers then interviewed the
applicants, making the final selection of students.
During their service pilgrimage, St. John’s students worked with
the North American Volunteers and the Lourdes Hospitalite to
transport disabled pilgrims to and around the Lourdes site; guide
them to the grotto’s spring; help with crowd control at eucharistic
and rosary processions; and lead prayers for the pilgrims in
English and Spanish. Students served with volunteers from all over
the world, all dedicated to giving others the opportunity to
pray.
St. John’s students gathered every day of the trip for prayer with
University Chaplain, Rev. John Kettelberger, C.M. They also
attended the international mass with 10,000 pilgrims on the first
Sunday of the pilgrimage and a morning mass at the grotto.
Students concluded each day with a reflection on their Vincentian
service, exploring their faith, service to the other pilgrims and
how they would continue to serve others upon returning to the
University community.
Dana McNally a senior from the Staten Island campus says of the
pilgrimage, "I will never be the same after taking my pilgrimage to
Lourdes. It is such an amazing feeling being surrounded by all
these people with such immense faith that it is impossible not to
become a part of it."
Campus Ministry has scheduled the next Lourdes service pilgrimage
for June 2010. The student application process for this trip will
begin in Fall 2009, kicking off with a virtual pilgrimage where
students can learn more about Lourdes.
For more information about the Lourdes service pilgrimage, please
contact Jim Walters at x6327 or waltersj@stjohns.edu