Scottish Catholic Observer

St Blane’s Primary School in Summerston, Glasgow, is to send former pupils on a pilgrimage to Lourdes for the fifth year running.

Four pupils from John Paul Academy (right) benefited from the £2,122 raised by the school—enough to support pupils on their pilgrimage to France. The sum was raised through raffles and fares held as part of a St Patrick’s Day Ceilidh.

The school has raised more than £9,000 to date from generous donations and commitment from staff, pupils, and the local community. Paul McMonagle, Kevin Gaynor, Emily Sinclair and Gage Thurson will all fly out on Easter Sunday, alongside 500 young people from across Scotland.

The trip to Lourdes will see the young people pray, eat and work together and create lasting friendships and memories that they can treasure for life. The school raises money throughout the year at Halloween and Valentine’s Day discos and Christmas craft fares. The pupils travel with Group 116 each year, which take children from all over Scotland to Lourdes, and fundraise to cover the cost of the fares.

Aislinn Gallanagh, P7B teacher, said she is delighted they could take so many pupils this year. “When we started this out five years ago we were only able to raise enough to send one pupil to Lourdes,” she said. “This year we have been able to send four peoples, the most we have ever sent. The school is delighted about this.”

To donate to Group 116’s fundraising efforts, visit: justgiving.com/fundraising/Group116