When war erupted in the Middle East last fall, the EC formation team pivoted quickly to make alternative plans for the annual EC senior pilgrimage. When communicating the adjusted plans to parents of the seniors, school chaplain Fr. Thomas Salazar, LC, shared:
“In looking for an alternative option, we took into account a few principles that we have regarding this pilgrimage. The first is that this trip is a pilgrimage. We want to maintain the tradition of offering a spiritual experience for our seniors that will prepare them as they leave Everest and face the next step in their young lives. Secondly, we are pleased to take the opportunity to offer them a trip that they may not necessarily have the opportunity to make at another time in their lives.
Barcelona is an exciting city with much to see from a cultural and spiritual perspective. Lourdes is a beautiful pilgrimage destination tucked away in the mountains of France. It was there that the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St. Bernadette in 1858. We will also visit the Monastery of Montserrat, which is a popular pilgrimage site located on a mountainside not too far from Barcelona.”
The students who attended the trip had an amazing experience, the highlight for many of them was the time they spent in Lourdes.
