Oblate News

Lourdes Guest Reunion

Dublin

Lourdes Guest Reunion

Saturday 21st May saw the Lourdes Guest Reunion in Aras Mhuire Hall, Inchicore. The event, which takes place every year is hosted by the Oblate Youth Service and brings together the many different people involved in the Lourdes Pilgrimage every September. This year’s reunion was equally successful as previous years – despite the rain! The day saw the many pilgrims, youth service, handmaids, nurses, carers, brancardiers, clergy and other volunteers involved in the annual pilgrimage, brought together for a catch up.

The event brought people together from various places around Dublin city and county, Kildare and even as far as Tipperary.

The reunion is a perfect opportunity for pilgrims and volunteers not just from last years pilgrimage but also from previous years to come together, reunite and reminisce.

This year’s reunion also happened to fall on the Feast Day of St Eugene de Mazenod, the founder of the Oblate Fathers, giving the reunion even greater dimension.

The event began with Mass led by Provincial Fr. Ray Warren, followed by the essential cup of tea and a bounty of sandwiches and sweet treats prepared and provided by members of the Pilgrimage Hospitality.

Much thanks is due to those who helped out with the Mass and the Handmaids tremendous work in preparing and catering for the event.

The event was rounded off with Bingo, enjoyed by all and brilliantly delivered by OYS member John Conway.

The organisers would like to thank all of those who helped to make this event the great success that it was and hope that this continues onto next year’s reunion. The success of the event is all thanks to the continuing hard work of the Oblate Youth Service, the Handmaids, Brancardiers, Nurses and Carers, The Order of Malta for transporting guests to and from Inchicore, Fr. Ray Warren, Fr. Vincent Mulligan and Fr. Leo Philomin. We would also like to thank Brian Oheir for all of his hard work organising the event over the last few years. Thanks goes  of course to all of those who came to the reunion, and to those who could not make it, we hope to see you back in Lourdes this September.

• Cathal Dowd Smith and Lucy Fitzgerald