Roman Catholic Bishopric Of The Forces
"Defende nos in Proelio"
Hosanna House Children's Pilgrimage Trust
(HCPT)
"The selfless commitment and hard work of our helpers at Lourdes is a great advert for the ethos of our Armed Services. Getting stuck in, putting the beneficiaries first in everything and doing it all with such great spirit helps make the HCPT annual pilgrimage the success that it is. I am proud to be associated with such generous individuals."
Bishop Paul
Introduction
For over 40 years, groups from the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and Army have travelled on a pilgrimage holiday to Lourdes at Easter and during the Summer under the banner of HCPT (please can you hyperlink to the HCPT website). There are different categories of groups within the Armed Forces Region and they support children aged 7-18, young adults 18-25 and older adults and veterans. All the beneficiaries who travel to Lourdes traditionally have a connection with the Armed Forces Community and will have some form of physical, mental, social, educational and/or
developmental needs.
Wg Cdr Olivia Steel
HCPT Armed Forces Regional Chair
They will be supported throughout their time away by a specially trained Helper and each group has medically trained personnel, usually a nurse, who can provide medical cover. The aim of our week in Lourdes is to offer an all-expenses paid pilgrimage holiday and simultaneously provided respite care for the families at home. Activities are tailored to the beneficiaries but are always super fun and give everyone the chance to be involved and play their part. If you think you know someone who might benefit from our trip, then please have a read of the information contained in each of the groups pages and get in touch. If you have read this and think you would like to support our trip by becoming a helper, then please get in touch and find out more.
Interested In Travelling With HCPT?
To find out how you can get involved with HCPT, whether as a helper or if you know of a child or young adult who would benefit from coming along please contact the particular Group Leader by clicking on the Group link below.
Group 150 -RN
To get involved:
HCPT Group 150
Serving Naval personnel
and their families
Region: Armed Forces
Easter Group
Founded in 1984
We are a friendly and enthusiastic group dedicated to helping disabled children with naval connections enjoy and benefit from a pilgrimage to Lourdes with HCPT. As part of the Armed Forces Region our helpers include serving and retired personnel from the Royal Navy and Royal Marines from units and establishments across the South West as well as a number associated with the baseport and establishment communities. We are fortunate to have as regular travellers a number of dedicated nurses, often fresh from the front line at sea or ashore in the world's trouble spots, and some very experienced carers. Each year we welcome new helpers, of whatever age, who bring fresh ideas and fun to the pilgrimage. Why not join us?
Group Leader: Kathy
Group 186 - RN
Serving active and retired naval personnel and their families from the East of England and elsewhere
Region: Armed Forces
Easter Group
We are a friendly and enthusiastic group dedicated to helping disabled children with naval connections enjoy and benefit from a pilgrimage to Lourdes with HCPT. As part of the HCPT Armed Forces Regionï our helpers include serving and retired naval personnel as well as a number associated with the Royal Navy, Royal Marines or the baseport and establishment communities. We are fortunate to have as regular travellers a number of dedicated nurses, often fresh from the front line at sea or ashore in the world's troublespots and some very experienced carers. Each year we welcome new helpers, of whatever age, who bring fresh ideas and fun to the pilgrimage. Why not join us?
Group Leader:
To get involved:
Contact the GL: group186@hcpt.org.uk
Group 182 - Army
Serving the Army community
Region: Armed Forces
Easter Group
We are an HCPT Easter pilgrimage group taking disabled and disadvantaged children to Lourdes. Children are usually Service dependents, from the wider Ministry of Defence community or affiliated through local schools. Helpers are predominantly British Army personnel and provide care on a minimum of one to one basis; children requiring more assistance have a higher ratio of helpers to look after them.
Group Leader: Jez Shazell
To get involved:
Contact Jez: group182@hcpt.org.uk
Group 187 - RAF
Serving RAF personnel across UK and overseas
Region: Armed Forces
Easter Group
We take children to Lourdes who have learning difficulties, physical, medical or social needs. Children are usually Service dependents, from the wider MOD community or affiliated through local schools. Helpers are predominantly RAF personnel and provide care on a minimum of one to one basis; children requiring more assistance have a higher ratio of helpers to look after them.
Group Leader: Katie Walker
To get involved:
Contact Katie: group187@hcpt.org.uk
Group 360 - Jet Set
This is group 360 last year, we are the smallest contingent within the Armed Forces Region, however I believe we have a very large heart and we share it with all the others in Lourdes during this valuable and precious time. The group consists of Helpers, Nurses and young Adults who are 18 - 26 years of age enabling us to do the things that are special in Lourdes like the candle light procession and stay out a bit later to experience the evening atmosphere.
Although we are a small group we have very talented individuals who play instruments during Mass, enabling the younger children to sing out loud within the Region. Of course our Group is only as successful and the people who join us and a massive thanks to Deacon Dave who keeps us on the straight and narrow.
2020 Pilgrimage that never happened will always be remembered for a sad reasons, the loss of our founder Brother Michael Strode and of course all those people who didn't get the chance to return to Lourdes our to the Coronavirus.
Group Leader: Andy Effer
Serving Armed Forces young adulkts and their families
Region: Armed Forces
Easter Group
To get involved:
Contact Andy on group360@hcpt.org.uk
Group 720
Serving Hampshire and further afield
Region: Armed Forces
Easter Service Group
Group 720 is the Regional Support Group dedicated to helping HCPT Easter groups from the Armed Services (Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force).
We are a mix of young and fit first timers from all three services (who may not yet be ready for the responsibilities involved in one-to-one care of children), plus some new helpers from local parishes and a few pilgrims who have travelled with HCPT before.
We are predominantly from Hampshire but welcome those from elsewhere if they can join us for the training and other group activities.
We have talents in many areas including some great voices, accomplished instrumentalists and even a magician.
If you have connections to the Armed Services or even if you haven't why not consider joining us for the pilgrimage holiday of a lifetime?
Group Leader:
To get involved:
Contact the GL: group720@hcpt.org.uk
Group 507
Serving ex service personnel nationwide
Region: Armed Forces
Summer Group
Group 507 "Joint Services" takes ex service personnel with disabilities, from all over the UK, to HCPT's Hosanna House near Lourdes every May. All helpers are service or ex service personnel. The group's pilgrimage is part of the annual International Military Pilgrimage, where over 20,000 military from 20 countries take part in a pilgrimage of peace.
