The Social and Spiritual Aspects of stage

Many of the people from the CA who have been on stage find that they actually enjoy the stage more socially. An advantage of all the stage groups is that we are quite small, especially in comparison with the CA, so we get to know each other very well.

Occasionally, you may find that there is little work to do, but the HNDL tries to keep you as busy as possible, because after all, the stage is a time to work, and people who just stand around all week don't want to come back on stage!

Whilst the stage week is usually busy, we tend to have more free time than during the pilgrimage which you can spend in private devotions, or socialising together in the bars, or doing the tourist things that you just don't have time to do during the CA week. You get to see different places in Lourdes, and meet with different friends. stagiaires also have their own private social venue, the Hospitalité Foyer, which is near St Michael's Gate. The bar there serves hot and cold snacks, the cheapest drinks in Lourdes and is often the venue for international parties and sing-songs.

Because we go on stage at approximately the same time each year, we meet old friends from all over the world year after year.

During the week, we normally attend mass daily as a group (especially if we have our own Fr Tony, Fr Nick or Fr John with us), and the entire HNDL gathers for an international mass on Wednesday evening. Because the pace of life on stage is generally more relaxed, you also have more time to find your own private space for reflection.

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