The young winners of the Celorico de Basto Archpriestly Youth Song Festival spent this past weekend in Lourdes, France, on an experience of fellowship, sharing, and prayer. The visit to Lourdes was the prize offered by the Municipality of Celorico de Basto to the winning group, for their song “Nunca andamos sós” (We are never alone).
The trip, undertaken by bus, included stops in Burgos and Vitoria, Spain, with visits to the most significant tourist attractions in these locations. The highlight of the journey was the visit to Lourdes, including the Sanctuary and the city's main religious and tourist sites, namely the Grotto of Massabielle, the House of Saint Bernadette, the Basilica, and the Via-Sacra.
The group also had the opportunity to visit Gavarnie, a small town in the Hautes-Pyrénées, home to one of Europe's most impressive natural monuments, recognized for its dimensions and geological features. The delegation was accompanied by the Mayor of Celorico de Basto, José Peixoto Lima, and the head of Youth Ministry for the Archpriestry of Celorico de Basto, Fr. Carlos Macedo.
The mayor considers these experiences to be memorable for all participants, highlighting "the fellowship, the places we visited, and the opportunity we provided to these young people, who so honorably won the festival." Despite being tiring, the trip was "truly inspiring, proving to be a living extension of learning and self-knowledge." The young people will now travel to Braga to represent Celorico de Basto at the Diocesan Song Festival on November 29th.
