Fr. Mariusz predicts what the trip will be like. Under the trees, on an airport in the South of France before arriving in Lourdes

"In the name of the Father, Son & Holy Spirit. Lord we thank you for the beginning of this day and the beginning of this pilgrimage. We thank you for bringing us here safely. As we begin this journey of faith we ask you to send your spirit upon us.

On the evening of that first day of the week. The doors were locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and He stood in their midst and He said to them, ‘Peace be with you.' And when he had said this He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. And Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ And when He said this He breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.'

And I would dare to say that God will speak to us not only in prayer. It will be those quiet moments alone, more important will be the time we just get away, find a little corner and either spend some time in silence, or say the rosary, or just listen to what God is saying. 

So I just want to encourage you that everyday you have a little bit of time to be with somebody here that you don’t know, that you haven’t met and I would say it’s almost going to take as long as we’re together to get to know each other. 

But also to find time each day to be alone and just to reflect on the Word of God or just to be present to the Lord and to listen to what He has to say. 

One of the other differences with a pilgrimage is that we are in some ways responsible for each other. 

One day we’re gonna wake up and feel grumpy and we’re not gonna feel like smiling or talking, and that’s a day where we’re gonna have to be a brother or sister to each other as well. 

So let’s try to let go of ourselves and not think about ourselves. As I said, yesterday, now, each of us comes with things in our hearts. Some of you may be searching for your vocation in life. Some of you may have problems at home which are heavy. 

I know before I came here people gave me their intentions, some very serious, they asked me to bring them with me and I’m sure some people have done that as well. 

But even if they haven’t I know you have things in your heart because all of us do, situations in your families, situations that you’re dealing with, maybe the suffering of someone that you love dearly, you bring that to the pilgrimage as well. 

In the old days pilgrimages were pretty much walking realities that went on sometimes for weeks and months and the pilgrims would offer their sores and their pain and their inconveniences. We may just have to offer getting in and out of the bus or going when we don’t feel like going.

Now we’re all at different places in our human journey as well. For some of us, faith is the guiding light of everything we do, and for some faith is just something that has touched our lives and maybe on the periphery, the Lord isn’t the heart of our life, he’s there but we’re just searching for Him. 

And I think that’s real important to know, that wherever we are is fine, because if faith is a journey then the Lord knows where we’re at, it’s for us and maybe He’s just given us each other for this journey. 

Maybe those who are struggling with something in their life just need to have this experience to find what it is that the Lord is trying to tell them. 

So find some time for private prayer. Find some time to be alone. Find some time to meet another brother or sister. Find some time to reach out, to be a source of healing."