Every year, students and staff from Xaverian travel together to Lourdes – one of the College’s most cherished traditions. You do not need to be Catholic to come. You just need to be willing to serve.
Lourdes is a place of pilgrimage in the south of France where, since 1858, millions of people have come seeking healing, hope and encounter with God. Xaverian students travel as volunteers, accompanying assisted pilgrims – people with disabilities, serious illness or other significant needs – throughout the pilgrimage.
That means practical things: pushing wheelchairs, helping at mealtimes, supporting people through the baths. But more than that, it means being genuinely present – offering companionship, patience and care to people who may have waited a long time for this experience.
Students who have been to Lourdes consistently describe it as one of the most meaningful things they have done at Xaverian. It is not a sightseeing trip. It is an encounter with something real – with people, with suffering, with generosity, and with a faith that is lived out rather than just talked about.
These students also describe it as unlike anything else they have done at Xaverian. What stands out isn’t the place itself, but the people. They talk about the warmth of the pilgrims they supported, the sense of being genuinely useful, and how quickly the experience gets under your skin. Several students have gone back year after year. Some have stayed in touch with the friends they made there long after leaving College. Others have said it changed the direction they wanted their lives to take. The word that comes up again and again isn’t “religious” – it’s “real”.
Alongside Lourdes, Chaplaincy offers a range of retreat and reflection opportunities throughout the year – from days of quiet stillness to experiences shaped by the seasons of the Church’s calendar.
These may include days or short retreats focused on prayer and reflection, opportunities for stillness and spiritual renewal, and experiences shaped by the liturgical year or particular themes.
Christian Union is a student-led faith group that meets every Thursday lunchtime in the College Chapel. Students shape each session themselves – deciding the focus, the resources and the direction.
Sessions vary from week to week and might include Bible study, open discussion, games, music and prayer, or shared reflection. The group is supported by Chaplaincy, which provides a welcoming space and practical resources, while keeping the group firmly in students’ hands.
You do not need to be Christian to come along – just curious and respectful. Whether you are exploring faith for the first time, wanting to go deeper, or simply looking for a space to ask honest questions, you are welcome.
Some students want to do more than reflect – they want to act. CAFOD Young Leaders is a national programme for students who feel called to put their faith and values into practice through justice, service and leadership.
Through the programme, you will explore the causes of poverty and inequality, connect that understanding to Catholic Social Teaching, and develop the skills and confidence to lead. It is a natural companion to Core RE – taking what you explore in the classroom and bringing it into the real world.
