Page 15 - QARANC Vol 14 No 8 2014

55th International Military Pilgrimage to Lourdes, 23 to 27 May 2013
THE GAZETTE QARANC 13
For over 150 years, Lourdes has been a site of pilgrimage for those in search of healing and peace. In 1958, this extended to the military forces of France and Germany as they came together in the spirit of reconciliation following years of conflict and animosity. It became an annual event and is today celebrated by service personnel, their family and friends, from all over the world.
The International Military Pilgrimage (IMP) is by denomination Roman Catholic but this is no barrier or prerequisite to participation. All are welcome and as experiences go, spiritual or social, the IMP is uniquely fulfilling. Indeed when trying to explain the feelings that the IMP inspires, I often liken it to a child’s countdown to Christmas. I’m already counting sleeps until the 56th IMP!
As in previous years, the British Military Contingent (BMC) travelled in two bodies with UK based personnel flying from London Stansted and British Forces Germany (BFG), incorporating the Band of the Gurkhas, travelling by train. We had permission to travel in uniform this year and we had a positive response from both the public and staff at Stansted. This was made more poignant by the tragic loss of Drummer Lee Rigby the day before our departure.
WO1 Phil Hall and I travelled from MDHU Portsmouth in the company of Monsignor Andrew MacFadden, Principal RC Chaplain to the Royal Navy. Transport was ‘compact’ at best but fortunately the traffic was with us and we arrived in good time.
Fast-tracked through airport security, our outbound journey continued smoothly. Having had the privilege of assisting on 6 pilgrimages, this year being my 7th, I was delighted to see so many familiar faces. And it was a pleasure, as it is every year, to meet the first-timers. The IMP is open to all ranks across the services and pilgrims range from seasoned veterans to fresh-faced recruits who have no idea what they have let themselves in for. Personnel are deemed to be ‘on duty’ for the duration of the event and wear uniform throughout – either MTP or No.2 dress (or Ss equivalent) as detailed. From the outset, it was clear that we had a group of pilgrims ready to embrace the spirit of Lourdes. Fr Michael Sharkey was successful this year in recruiting a party from Headley Court so we also had the privilege of sharing our pilgrimage with some of our injured and recovering colleagues.
On arrival, our rooms were allocated with personnel spread across four hotels. This was not ideal but fortunately did not present any insurmountable problems. After a short break to freshen up, we launched into our IMP programme. Every year, our schedule is similar. After a Welcome Brief, we are left with some idea of what we are doing, where we are supposed to be and when. As for the ‘why’, I believe that is something we discover during our time together in Lourdes.
The weekend is spent participating in a variety of masses and other activities such as the Stations of the Cross or the nightly torch-lit procession. The accompanying chaplains guide us in periods of reflection and learning about the story of Lourdes, Saint Bernadette and her message and what it might mean to us today, particularly as serving personnel. And it soon becomes clear that ‘pilgrimage’ and ‘party’ are not necessarily mutually exclusive events! I can think of few circumstances where it is possible to drink beer in uniform, whilst chatting to foreign nationals, singing along with which ever band happens to be marching past. For me, that is very
much the spirit of Lourdes – coming together in fellowship and celebration yet being able to reflect and find a sense of peace and calm.
I have found Lourdes to be a space where it is safe to explore and even embrace spirituality. You do not need to be a person of defined faith to have a moment of peace or a moment of reflection. I remember speaking to a young soldier, asking how he was finding his Lourdes experience. He told me he didn’t believe in ‘all this religious stuff’ and that he didn’t even know how to pray. But he went on to share his experience of lighting a candle down at the Grotto, and how that as he did so, he thought about his friends that he had lost on operations, those who had been injured, expressing sadness for loss and gratitude for those who survived. I believe that without realising it, this young man had found his own way to pray. The simple act of lighting a candle as an act of remembrance, as a moment of reflection, to my mind is as much an act of prayer as reciting the ‘Our Father’ with the rest of the congregation.
Although I do not attend the IMP in a clinical capacity, I feel that my time spent in Lourdes aids me in my role as a nurse. We speak of holistic care and this includes meeting the spiritual needs of the individual. In my experience as a student, spirituality was almost a taboo subject and was certainly not explored in any confidence within the nursing curriculum. Through participating in events such as the IMP, I potentially gain a better understanding of others and how they may experience or express their spirituality. It also facilitates my own spiritual growth and understanding of my motivation. I hope that this will enable me to support my patients more effectively and compassionately.
The Lourdes experience is one that I want to share with as many people as possible. It can be difficult encouraging others to participate as I find that the religious aspect can be off-putting for some. I feel obliged to reassure people that I go of my own free will and volition and not as a religious or cultural duty (following much discussion in the AFCO, my paperwork states that I am agnostic). I go to Lourdes to share in the experiences of others, to meet new friends and forge relationships across rank, service and nationality. Whilst there, I can take time to relax, reflect, to remember old friends and to pray for healing in the lives of those I love. All being well, I hope to return again next year with a few more willing volunteers in tow!
Cpl Kerry Fleming, RN(Adult)
MDHU Portsmouth