The Catholic Association’s Stagiaires

Individual members of the Catholic Association Pilgrimage go to Lourdes on stage throughout the year, but for those wishing to join a group of fellow CA pilgrims on stage there’s a choice of two/three groups. The first (consisting of about 10-20 people) goes to Lourdes over a two week period starting before the May half-term week and then during the half-term (perfect for teachers), when Lourdes is quite different from how it is in the summer, with some other English stage and Diocesan Pilgrimage groups present (SOLL, Middlesborough, Plymouth, Birmingham). Traditionally the May stagiaires organise their stage on a fairly individual basis, especially as most of them are very experienced in the workings of Lourdes. Visit the stage contact page to contact members of this group for more information. The main group goes out the week before half term.

The second group of CA people that go on stage together goes in the week before the CA arrives, thus spending a fortnight in Lourdes. This August group normally consists of anything between 20 and 25 men and women. CA members who go on stage in August also make their own practical arrangements, but historically the group has tended to be more centrally coordinated – for example although everyone is responsible for making his or her own travel booking many of us fly to Lourdes together; the stage co-ordinator maintains a database of members to produce a tri-annual mailing; and we try to hold a reunion in the UK once a year in the winter. If time and finances allow, you can of course go on stage with both groups! Visit the stage contact page to contact members of this group for more information.

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