Pilgrims of Hope - Our Sixth Formers in Lourdes

Each Easter, Mr Linnane has the huge privilege of taking a group of our sixth form students to Lourdes with HCPT. It’s hard to put into words just how special it is to watch young people change — not over weeks or months — but within just a few hours.

Straight away, they get stuck in. They step right out of their comfort zones without hesitation. It’s not just about helping; it’s the way they do it — with kindness, humour, and, most importantly, a genuine interest in the people they are there to support, whether that's disabled children, adults with additional needs, or those who are disadvantaged. There's no awkwardness, no standing back. Just heart, action, and connection.

There’s a real sense of freedom and joy in Lourdes that brings young people to life. Whether it's delivering an energetic, laughter-filled performance of the HCPT favourite "Rise and Shine," complete with actions and costumes, or simply sharing quiet moments of friendship and care, they quickly understand that service is not a duty, but a privilege. They discover that joy shared is joy multiplied — and that a simple song, performed with heart, can light up a room and lift others beyond measure.

The spirit of HCPT’s founder, Dr Michael Strode, is felt everywhere. His words — "A pilgrimage without joy is no pilgrimage at all" — seem to come alive in every smile, every shared laugh, and every act of kindness our young people offer during the week. Lourdes teaches them that faith and joy go hand in hand; one fuels the other.

Alongside all the fun and laughter, something even deeper happens. The Masses in Lourdes, so full of life, colour and participation, really speak to this generation. For many of our young people, it’s the first time they truly understand the Mass — not as a series of rituals, but as a living encounter with Christ. They are able to make sense of the Eucharist in a way that connects with their hearts and minds. For some, it is a beautiful reunion with their faith; for others, it’s the start of a new relationship with God that feels personal, real, and lasting. It is clear that the HCPT approach — joyful, inclusive, deeply faithful — could teach us all something about how to engage young people today. Perhaps we could all bring a little of that HCPT spirit back into our parishes: Masses that are welcoming, alive, and centred on mercy, love, and community.

Although Pope Francis has now died, his legacy lives on — powerfully — in the actions of our sixth form helpers. His dream of a Church that "goes forth" is alive in these young people who put faith into action with every push of a wheelchair, every shared smile, every hand offered in friendship. In Lourdes, they begin to see what it truly means to be what Pope Francis often called "saints next door" — or, as we might say, saints in jeans and trainers. Lourdes makes that idea real for them. Holiness isn’t distant or impossible; it’s here, now, lived out in the small, unseen acts of love that change lives.

Pope Francis once told young people:  
“Dear young people, do not bury your talents, the gifts that God has given you! Do not be afraid to dream of great things!” 
Lourdes invites them to live those words — to dream beyond themselves, to serve with courage, and to believe that their faith has a place in the world.

We are incredibly #NBSproud of our students. They were a credit to our school, to their families, and to the Church. They were, in every sense, pilgrims of hope — carrying light, laughter, and love wherever they went.

It’s a reminder, too, that given the chance, our young people will always rise. They just need to be invited, trusted — and sometimes challenged — to live out the faith we talk about so often in school. Lourdes shows them that faith isn’t just something you learn; it’s something you live, with arms wide open.

And when you see them doing it — singing, serving, laughing, and kneeling quietly at the Grotto — you can’t help but dream of a Church made new by the faith of its young, where joy is abundant, mercy is tangible, and Christ is truly present among His people.