I can add some details about the Easter Pilgrimage to Lourdes that I mentioned last.
The main body will leave Victoria on Friday, April 7, at 1 p.m., and cross the Channel by Folkestone and Boulogne.
On arrival at Boulogne dinner will be served in the Buffet, a meal that, judging from past experience, will be much appreciated by appetites sharpened by the passage across the Channel.
Plenty of time is allowed, an hour and a half, so that it can be enjoyed in comfort before starting in the special train for the night journey to Poitiers, arriving there at 8.16 a.m.
At Poitiers a halt of an hour is made for breakfast, then straight on to Bordeaux, arriving at 11.50 and staying there for lunch.
After lunch, the last lap of the journey brings the pilgrimage to Lourdes at 5.30 p.m. on Holy Saturday.
The pilgrimage will remain for five days in Lourdes, leaving there on Friday, April 14, in the afternoon.
On Saturday morning a halt will be made at Amiens for Mass in the Cathedral and breakfast in the buffet. Departure from Amiens at 9.15 a.m., and arrival at Victoria at 3.51 p.m. on Saturday ends the pilgrimage.
The inclusive fare is ET 10s. Od. (not £7 5s. Od. as I stated last week), and a reduction is made for juveniles under is years of age.
There is another section of the Pilgrimage for those who cannot face a
night in the train.
This section will leave Victoria on Thursday, April fith, sleep in Paris that night, go to church for the Mass of the Presanctified on Good Friday morning, leave Paris at 12.15 p.m. for Poitiers, stay the night there and continue next day for Lourdes.
This section will leave Lourdes on Thursday, April 13, at 8.20 a.m., and arrive in Paris in the evening, spend the night there, and leave next day, arriving at Victoria at 3.30 p.m. the same day.
The inclusive fare for this section is £10 10s. Od.
Or, if they like, members of thie section, by paying an extra £1 17s, ed., can spend the Friday in Lisieux and arrive back in London on the Saturday afternoon.
Or, for an extra 11 3s. Od., they can stay in Paris on Friday and leave for London on Saturday morning.
I am giving these particulars thus early in order that as many as possible may make up their minds to join the pilgrimage, and in Our Lady's own domain at Lourdes pay for the return of Her Dowry to the Faith.
It will be a great help in making the arrangements in the hotels if intending pilgrims write as soon as possible to the Catholic Association, Et, 13uckingham. Street, Strand, London, W.C.2, for booking forms, till them up and send them back at once.
Rene H. Fiume.