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On Saturday 7 October the Young Helpers from this year's Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes were invited to dinner with Bishop Richard. A delicious meal and warm welcome awaited them - it was a great way to follow up on the pilgrimage for our young helpers who came from all over the Diocese.

After the meal there was an open discussion and Q&A session with the Bishop which ranged over many topics. Bishop Richard gave some words of encouragement to the young helpers to bring their Lourdes joy to their parishes knowing that, in the words of St John Henry Newman:

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"God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another."

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The smiling face of a young person welcoming people to Mass in Lourdes is a highlight which people take back from their pilgrimage - why not in our parish life also, or maybe some other service?

Bishop Richard has said he looks forward to welcoming the young helpers from next year's 50th anniversary pilgrimage - we hope and expect there to be quite a few more, with all the work that is going on, organised by the Pilgrimage Office, to reconnect with the schools after Covid. Application forms will be available in January here.

Lastly James Winton, one of the artistic young helpers, drew a fine cartoon of the Bishop in the thank you card which was presented to him at the end of the evening. Faith, fun and friendship!

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Many thanks to Adam Simon for the photograph and story.