HCPT - The Pilgrim Trust

Ten members of Years 12 and 13 from St John Payne Catholic College in Chelmsford travelled to Lourdes at Easter with HCPT Group 718.

A new feature this year was that the group flew from Gatwick to Toulouse, rather than travelling by train as in previous years.

Members of the group joined family groups 8, 13, 26 and 206 for the week, quickly getting to know the children and helpers and earning plaudits from their respective group leaders. The young helpers spent almost every waking hour with ‘their’ groups, coming together each evening as 718 members for trips to the Grotto, cafes and a memorable penitential service organised by Brentwood Group members Fr Dan Mason and Michael Barwick.

It was very good to see former members of 718 who had ‘graduated’ to be full-time members of HCPT, such as Michael Barwick (TBG), Jon Melloy, David Nicholls, Elliott Suett and James Suett (Group 13), Jamie Masters (Group 8) and Rebecca Huish and Gareth Barwick (Group 206).

On May 13^th six members of Year 12 who travelled this year with Group 718 led an evening for the Witham Parish Café group, answering a wide range of questions and giving their impressions of Lourdes and HCPT. A great many guests fed back to the effect that they found the evening very moving and informative. Congratulations to them all.

Group 718 receives great support from St John Payne and its Headteacher, Mr Schular. Plans are already underway for Easter 2012!