Connection, Faith & Service: Canterbury Celebrates 33 Years at Lourdes

Compassion and Spirituality are two of Canterbury’s Five Values and are lived out every day on campus. But beyond the hilltop, one of Canterbury’s most meaningful traditions has exemplified those virtues since 1994. The School’s annual service trip to Lourdes, France, offers students a chance to serve the malades (people who are ill) who travel to the Marian shrine to bathe in its healing waters. The pilgrimage is run by Our Lady’s Pilgrimage (OLP), a non-profit organization led by Trustees Emerita Hope Carter P ’86, ’87, ’88, ’91,’95, GP ’09, ’10, ’14. Now in its 33rd year, the latest pilgrimage in August proved to be a powerful and inspiring experience for all of the Canterbury pilgrims.

“Everyone was there for the same reason: to share healing and love with the malades and one another,” says Kennedy Blake ’27.

Kennedy, Madison Dunaj ’27, Hannah Chang ’27, Naomi Mwanza ’28, Zachary Mwanza ’27, Alex Ortega ’27, Luke Panasci ’27, Joseph Pieska ’27, Theadora Rowbotham '28, Samanatha Salmans ’27, Sophia Somma ’27, and Chase Sukow ’27 were accompanied by Director of Health Services Colleen Cook, R.N. ’02, Theology Teacher Tracy Garcia-LaVigne P ʼ14, ʼ16, ʼ17, ʼ20, ʼ23, and Director of International Travel Programs and Language Teacher Julio Omaña P ’19, ’20 for 10 days of prayer, service, camaraderie, and spiritual growth.

Days were largely spent helping the malades navigate the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in their voitures (wheelchairs) alongside peers from the French National Pilgrimage. The Canterbury students quickly earned praise for their remarkable work ethic. “Our wheelchair ‘parking’ teams are top here!” Mr. Omaña shared. “I overheard several unsolicited comments around our group's diligence, organization, determination, and efficiency. I even heard one person suggest ‘the Americans should take over and we should be their supporting cast!’”

When they weren’t busy serving others, our Saints spent time in Mass, in prayer, or learning more about the holy site. Three times throughout the trip, Canterbury students had the honor of carrying a statue of the Virgin Mary at the head of the nightly candlelight procession.

“That does not happen every year,” notes Ms. Cook. “It was very special.”

Equally special were the bonds that were formed at Lourdes, not just among Saints, but with their French peers and the many malades they all served. In some cases, those relationships began a year before.

“I had met with one of the malades last year, François, who I grew really close with,” says Samantha, who has made the pilgrimage twice. “I saw him again this year, and he started crying when I saw him. And it was a really special moment that I didn’t expect.”

Already, other pilgrims have begun to talk about their goals for next year in Lourdes. 

“Returning is not something that we present to them, but an idea that grows organically,” says Mr. Omaña. “Pilgrims are drawn to return to Lourdes because of the special connections they make with each other, fellow volunteers, and strangers they meet along the way.”

“Part of the reason why I came back after last year is that I felt like I sort of left a piece of myself there, and so I came back looking for it,” Zachary adds. “I definitely found it.”