Remembering Lourdes - July 2007
A letter from the parents of Aylish - a young disabled staying in the same hotel
Dear Fr Dominic
We are the parents of a young girl, Aylish. Unfortunately Aylish is severely ill and profoundly disabled. Our trip to Lourdes was one of urgency as Aylish was given "No Hope" back in England. Our stay was at the hotel Alliance where a large group of youth from Brentwood were based for their pilgrimage. Hence this short note to you about them.
We have been privileged to meet such compassionate, friendly, and charming young people. They have acted with friendship, courtesy and true concern towards our daughter and brightened the days that she has had here in Lourdes. There are far too many individuals to recall by name, so many have openly and freely given to Aylish their time. They have shown a maturity surpassing their years in entertaining Aylish, bringing joy where mostly pain is known, and adding a tear of laughter to eyes that otherwise shed tears of torment.
I offer my thanks to them all; if I had more time to spend writing I would thank them individually; however at the moment my time is precious with Aylish, so I ask that they forgive me.
I ask you to pass on these words of thanks to all of the youth, the leaders, organisers, etc., and to Bishop McMahon that he might know that some of his youth have brought a smile to the lips of one of God's little angels on earth.
Kind regards.
Our prayers will be for the individual intentions of you all,
Jim, Teresa and Aylish
"Never fear to entertain a stranger for there some have entertained angels unawares"
(Letter to the Hebrews, St Paul)