A very warm hello to the parents and friends back in England.

My name is Will O’Donnell and over the next few days I'll do my best to keep you up to date with all that is going on over here in Lourdes. All 199 (priests included) arrived safely in Lourdes at around 2pm on Sunday after 18 hours of a very long and tiring coach journey or for those who can’t handle the sweat and lack of sleep, a very short and refreshing plane journey.

In the evening the whole group met for mass which was led by Father Paul and Father Dominic and involved a video of Fr Dominic bunjee jumping in New Zealand (and they say priests have a hard life of worship) and some interesting clapping/dancing by both priests to the hymn Sing it in the Valleys. The groups then went off for some soft drinks and a chance to get to know each other before going off to bed.

Today (Monday) as well as it being Sean McGrath and Connor Freeman’s birthdays the groups all got their first taste of Lourdes on a little tour of the domain and town in the morning. After Lunch there was an opportunity to go to the famous baths and as far as I know there were no girly screams from the boys complaining that the baths were too cold! For the rest of the afternoon we were sitting by the river playing football and generally just chilling out in the sun.

At the moment the flight of the pilgrims has been delayed but will be arriving shortly. Members of the service group are due to meet them at the airport.

Hopefully the rest of the week will be as good as the first two days.

Till next time,
Will