Whilst most of the staff and students at St Edmund’s enjoyed a well-earned half term holiday, Mrs Hazeldine (Principal), Mrs Letheren (Vice Principal), Mrs Gallagher (Chair of Governors) and four sixth formers (Jessica Bradley, Abigail Caron, Caitlin Grady and Lorna Shorthouse) began a week of volunteering that they all agreed was a truly amazing experience.

The staff and students escorted a group of Birmingham pilgrims to Lourdes, France, where Our Lady appeared to Saint Bernadette in 1858. The shrine sees pilgrims from all over the world gather to celebrate their faith and devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes.  Indeed, the international Mass saw 25000 Catholics, from across the globe, gathered in prayer.

Team St Edmund’s worked tirelessly with sick, disabled and elderly pilgrims, supporting them with flight travel, cleaning rooms, mopping floors, setting tables, serving lunch and escorting them around the Basilica and the town. They all became very adept at manoeuvring wheelchairs around the shops and restaurants of Lourdes, ensuring the pilgrims had plenty of opportunity to enjoy every aspect of their trip.

Mrs Hazeldine was extremely proud of the staff and students who gave so much of their time and energy to serve others, “This was a truly momentous trip for St Edmund’s. Our first pilgrimage to Lourdes was very special indeed. I was bursting with pride to see staff and students living our CARE values and our motto “To Love and Serve the Lord”. Our sixth formers carried the banner high for St. Edmund’s and for our faith community, meeting sixth formers and pilgrims from all over the Birmingham diocese.”

We look forward to next year’s trip as this is bound to be the start of a new St Edmund’s tradition.