VINCENTIAN MARIAN YOUTH GREECE
together in FAITH, together in HOPE, together in LOVE for Christ!
A Back-to-Back Pilgrimage: VMY Greece journeys to Barcelona, Spain & Lourdes, France
by Crisalyn Serquiña
Athens Airport Departure & Sightseeing Tour Around Barcelona
Last August 2-6, 2022, nine (9) selected pilgrims from VMY Greece together with their Coordinators, Tita Marycel and Tita Vicky, along with eight (8) other adult pilgrims coming from the Miraculous Medal Center embarked on a 5-day pilgrimage to Barcelona, Spain and Lourdes, France. The pilgrim group was also accompanied by Fr. Edric Bedural, a former visiting Filipino priest to Athens from Italy.
The pilgrimage kicked off as the group gathered at the Athens Elefterios Venizelos Airport and waited with great excitement for their flight to Barcelona, Spain. On their arrival at Barcelona, Catalonia’s capital city, they settled first and checked-in at Hotel Gran Barcino.
With a pre-arranged tour bus and tour guide, the group started their journey with a sightseeing tour around the famous Gothic district of central Barcelona. They had a stroll around La Ramblas, a street well-known for its flower market, as well as for its local musical artists and painters. The street is also known to be a perfect gathering place for all huge soccer fans of Spain’s popular and successful football team, the FC Barcelona. Afterwards, they visited its central food market, La Boqueria, the biggest and best market in Spain, where you can have a taste of its excellent products, such as fresh fish and tapas, a snack in Spanish cuisine.
They ended their first day-tour at the Plaça Reial, which is a typical Spanish square with shopping stores and cafes where you can enjoy a quick snack and a drink.
The next day after having their breakfast at the Hotel Gran Barcino, the group gripped themselves for a seven-hour long bus ride journey towards Lourdes, a town near Pyrenees, France. Upon arrival at their hotel in Lourdes - the Mercure Lourdes Imperial - the group went for a walking tour around the town. Later on during the day, the group had a beautiful experience of doing the Way of the Cross in Le Chemin De Croix (The Stations of the Cross) near the Sanctuary of the Our Lady of Lourdes. Containing life size replicas of Jesus’ journey to his Crucifixion on Calvary, the group led by Fr. Edric Bedural, prayed the Way of the Cross as they march from one station to another.
Pilgrimage tour around Lourdes, France & La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain
Meanwhile, the whole third day of the pilgrimage was dedicated on a tour around the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. With high spirits, they started off their morning with a Holy Liturgy at the Church and continued the rest of the day exploring the beautiful town of Lourdes as well as buying souvenirs. Highlight of the day’s tour was the group’s chance to visit and see the famous Massabielle Grotto – the cave site of the Our Lady of Immaculate Conception’s apparition to the young woman Bernadette Soubirous (or St. Bernadette of Lourdes). The grotto is famous for its miraculous spring water that is said to cure all kinds of illnesses. While walking, they admired the stunning view of the Sanctuary and went to its Miraculous Water Spring of the Lourdes shrine where they quenched their thirst and filled little bottles with Holy water. At night-time, the group joined with the rest of the Catholic pilgrims who were there and gathered for the praying of the Holy Rosary and Litany. Tita Marycel, VMY Greece Coordinator, had the opportune chance to lead the praying of the Hail Mary in Greek.
The following day, after having breakfast at the hotel, the group started the day with a celebration of the Holy Eucharist presided by Fr. Edric Bedural. Afterwards, their journey continued as they toured around the wonderful Basilica de La Sagrada Familia and its nearby Sagrada Familia Schools (both masterpieces of the great Spanish architect Antonio Gaudi). History says that during that time, there were only limited resources to build the schools, as there was little money for the church and even less for a building that would sooner or later have to be demolished. This impacted its architecture and forced the designer to plan very carefully to avoid using expensive materials. So, we see its finishes that are very humble yet highly practical. The humbleness of this building is also a reflection of Gaudí’s humble nature, and it is very likely that he put up some of his own funds to build this structure.
Carrying along with them picturesque memories, the group ended their pilgrimage the next day and returned back safe and sound to Athens, Greece.
(The pilgrim group would like to extend its special thanks to Rev. Fr. Edric Bedural for accompanying the group in this wonderful pilgrimage and to the VMY Coordinators, Tita Marycel Binibini & Tita Victoria Alapot for organizing and giving the opportunity for the group to see the wonders of both Barcelona & Lourdes. Words are not enough to describe how grateful the group was for this unforgettable journey)