Flaming June has come and gone, and we are now in freezing July! Our American friends have come and gone, and the concert at Westminster Central Hall on 30th June by the American and British youth orchestras and choirs was a great success, and raised over £500 for the admirable Charity, ‘The Passage.’ Our 36 pilgrims are now in Dresden, having journeyed in the steps of St Boniface. Once they come back, London will become a different city for a few weeks during the Olympics and Paralympics.
For nearly two weeks, we at Pax Travel have been hosting two bright 4th formers from the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School. How is it that the Vaughan 4th formers are almost invariably much brighter than 6th form work experience students that Pax Travel host from other Catholic schools in London? The boys are polite, helpful and have been taught to spell!! Long may this wonderful school prosper. Many thanks to Andrew and José who have been helping us to plan for our busy season of autumn and winter pilgrimages.
We are also preparing an exciting programme for 2013 with a pilgrimage to Lebanon for Aid to the Church in Need, and a pilgrimage to the shrines of Our Lady of Europe in Gibraltar and Our Lady of Africa in Ceuta. Further details and brochures for both of these pilgrimages will be out very soon.
Finally, can I share a very humbling comment from a returning pilgrim who took part in one of our pilgrimages to Assisi in June: “It is has been probably the best week I have ever spent. I have longed to visit Assisi since I was a child.” Many, many thanks to the good lady who let us have her thoughts. It makes our job seem very, very worthwhile.
Philip Dean 16/07/12
