Wednesday, 30th July 2008
Renal patients in Lourdes hear Mass by Gozo Bishop
Renal patients in Lourdes on a trip sponsored by HSBC Lifecycle yesterday heard Mass, said in Maltese by Gozo Bishop Mario Grech at the famous grotto.
The patients, aged between 14 and 84, form part of the national pilgrimage organised by the Għaqda Maltija għat-Trasport tal-Morda f'Lourdes. Eighteen of them are on haemodialysis, 10 on peritoneal.
Spokesman Louise Bugeja said that those on haemodialysis were divided into two shifts and went for their treatment to the Centre de Dialyse Saint Jean Le Baptiste, which was built by a renal patient on the spot where St Bernadette of Lourdes used to tend her flock.
On Monday, the patients were given the opportunity to confess and also attended a penitential celebration.
Today, they will be attending an international Mass, go for a walk in the footsteps of Bernadette and take part in a procession with the Holy Eucharist.
The group returns to Malta tomorrow.
The 10-day HSBC Lifecycle Strait to Africa will this year be held from August 14 with the challenge starting in Lourdes from where the cyclists will cross to Spain and Gibraltar, finishing in Morocco. It is the first time that Lifecycle is venturing out of Europe.
Donations to Lifecycle can be made via SMS on 5061 7378 (€2.33), 5061 8927 (€6.99) and 5061 9219 (€11.65).
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