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three intended, if they got their permits, to travel directly to Romc. At present there is no further news of them.
THE last-minute formalities men tioned above included, for several score of the pilgrims, becoming members of the Y.C.W. It was possible for them to travel as guests but they naturally preferred to make this great pilgrim age as full-blown Young Christian Workers. Since they had completed the necessary period of preparation, arrangements were made to enrol them in St. Peter's Hall, adjoining the Cathedral. 'I he Dialogue Mass in the Cathedral, even for those of us who were not going on the pilgrimage, was a moving, an exciting experience. Many of the pilgrims were dressed in garments seldom seen in the parish church on Sunday morning—jeans of many colours were much in evidence but nobody frowned. After all they had a 36-hour journey by rail and sea to face, and nothing could hide their fervour and devotion.
Most of them have made considerable sacrifices in order to save for the pilgrimage.
TN his sermon, Bishop Petit corn' pared the Young Christian Workers to the 72 men whom Our Lord sent before Him to the towns and cities which He Himself was to visit.
" When you joined this movement you were sent out, like they were, into an unbelieving generation, to tell them that the Kingdom of God had come. You were sent out as his disciples to help them to work out their individual salvation . . . .
" Now you are on your way to report back to Our Blessed Lord, in person of His Vicar, what you have done with your mission; and, following the example of those disciples, this report is not to be a paean of praise for the efficient way in which you have conducted your mission, nor even, perhaps, a confession of times of frustration and failure."
They were going, he told them, " to receive from the Vicar of Christ further exhortation and further instruction, and the comfort of knowing that if you have done what lay in your power the result lies with Almighty God and not with you."
Eight priests assisted Bishop -Brunner to give Holy Communion to the packed congregation, hymns were sung (the Y.C.W. prayer was used as an Offertory hymn) and then the procession with its banners streamed out of the Cathedral.
At Victoria, excitement mounted higher and higher as the pilgrims banded together on the continental
departure platform. There were the usual last-minute hitches; one girl lost her ticket but it was promptly found and handed in (perhaps St. Anthony had his eye on it). Soon, the young but highly efficient Y.C.W. officials had the laughing. singing crowd safely on board the two trains. Then as the darkness crept down over London. they were off at lastRomeward bound 1






