Lourdes Volunteers - Volunteer Pilgrimages

Adult Volunteer Pilgrimages

Being a volunteer at Lourdes is both a profound and extraordinary priviledge. All persons of good will with a sincere desire to assist those in need are invited to offer service at Lourdes. All volunteer service is to be offered in humility, obedience and simplicity.

Volunteer Service and Training Volunteer service opportunities are available for many various aspects of serving pilgrims and fellow volunteers at Lourdes. The intention is to place every volunteer at Lourdes in the position desired and requested, but, specific volunteer assignments are not guaranteed and are appointed by meeting the greatest need at the time and the applicable skills of the available individual volunteers.
Pilgrimage Includes: roundtrip airfare with taxes, fuel surcharge and ticketing, ground transportation, shared modest Sanctuaries accommodations, self-service meals, Pilgrimage Chaplain and Group Leader, medical-travel insurance. Hospitalite Notre-Dame de Lourdes provides Formation and Training. Prices are subject to exhcnage rate and/or fuel surcharge increases. STOPOVER: Accommodations, meals, transfers and tours in Paris and Nevers.
Adult Volunteer Requirements Health/Age: Adult volunteers must be in good health and between the ages of 18-65 to officially serve. Time Commitment: A commitment of one week of service is necessary to volunteer at Lourdes. While offering volunteer service, it is essential to be present each day, as committed. The average hours of service per day are 6 to 8 hours, sometimes less and during busy seasons, sometimes more. Language: Truly, the international language of Lourdes is a smile! Bi-lingual and/or multi-lingual skills are greatly appreciated, but not required. The variety of languages spoke in Lourdes is delightful to hear, but at the same time can become a challenge in communication. The generous gift of God's love transcends all languages. The ready smile, helping hands and silent loving welcome is immediately recognized by a person in need. The sincerity and genuine caring LOVE evident in the eyes and faces of Lourdes volunteers is an integral part of the example of Bernadette and the story of Lourdes. Experience: No experience is necessary, but a sincere desire to serve those in need is required. True charity and genuine commitment to be of service bridges any lack of practical experience in providing pilgrim assistance. Health care professionals can provide practiced skills to assist as needed. Home care providers and loving family members often bring inherent practical experience to assist wherever is needed. Priest Reference: Since most of the volunteer positions at Lourdes are not only physically, but also spiritually demanding, a Pastoral or Priest referral and a recommendation are required to serve as a volunteer at Lourdes.
St. Joseph's Mens Service: Each St. Joseph volunteer is assigned to a team for the volunteer week. Volunteers can be assigned to a full range of tasks offering varied interaction with pilgrims. It is possible to be assigned to serve at all of these capacities, therefore flexibility is integral to this volunteer service. Duties include welcome and transfer of pilgrims at the train station and airport, transport of pilgrims to the Accueils, maintaining prayer and order outside the piscines, bath attendant in men's piscines and crowd management at the Eucharistic and Candlelight processions. Schedule varies daily depending on assignment and volunteers can be assigned to more than one volunteer service daily.
Women's Piscines (Baths): The piscines are the pools of Lourdes where pilgrims come to bathe in the waters from the Grotto. Bath attendants have the profound privilege of working intimately with the sick pilgrims who come to bathe in the waters of Lourdes. Piscine service is physically and emotionally demanding, yet very rewarding work. Bending and lifting are required. The schedule is set, so planning free time is easy. You may be requested to stay longer hours during busy times. Duties include assisting pilgrims in and out of the baths and covering and assisting pilgrims during undressing and dressing to maintain modesty. Service hours are Monday-Saturday: 8:15-11:30 am & 1:15-4:30 pm and Sundays & Holidays 1:30-4:30 pm.
Accueil Notre Dame and Marie St. Frai: Accueil is French for welcome. The sick and disabled are housed and cared for in these special facilities during their pilgrimage. The Accueil Notre Dame offers 900 beds; the Accueil Saint-Frai offers 450 beds for special needs pilgrims. Behind the scenes, but necessary duties afford limited interaction with pilgrims. Because of the flexibility of the schedule, a volunteer may have more free time on some days, less on others. Duties include housekeeping (cleaning, room preparation, dining room set-up, dishwashing, etc.) and aide in transport of pilgrims (push wheelchair from Accueil to the Sanctuaries). The schedule varies daily but is often meal-time shifts of 1-2 hours, 2-3 times per day.
Training: Introduction to the Message of Lourdes Formation Training is provided by the St. Bernadette Service to first time volunteers. Specific volunteer position training is provided on-site as on-the-job training. The first four annual service week terms include one day of Formation training focusing on different aspects of volunteer service and the Message of Lourdes.
Volunteer Accomodations
Sanctuary facilities are modest offering shared accommodations. Private shower rooms and bathrooms are available on each floor. Self-service cafeteria dining is provided at two loactions. Three meals are available daily at posted serving times; beverages are not included.
General Volunteer Itinerary
Following is the general volunteer itinerary for all adult volulnteer weeks. Please check specific dates for departure cities from the United States. Detailed and date specific itineraries are issued to registered volunteers with intended travel dates.
Day 1: Depart the continental United States on Air France night flight. Day 2: Arrive in Paris; connecting flight to Pau; shuttle transfer to Lourdes, afternoon arrival. Day 3: International Mass Day 4: Hospitality Bureau Formation includes an in-depth study of the Message of Lourdes with a Sanctuary Tour. Days 5-9: Volunteer Service Day 10: At Leisure. Information about tours, shopping and informal retreat will be provided for reservations earlier in the volunteer week. Day 11: Morning departure for return flight Daily Mass will be available. Satisfactory volunteer service and attendance is mandatory to retain cafeteria privileges and dormitory accomodations.
Financial Requirements
All Lourdes volunteers travel and stay at their own expense. Sanctuary cafeteria and the dormitory accommodations offered are modest, keeping the cost affordable. To save money and obtain reduced travel discounts, group volunteer service weeks are offered to assist those who might otherwise not venture to Lourdes to volunteer alone. Although many of us from North America will travel together in groups, it is important to realize that our commitment as a volunteer and to Hospitality at Lourdes is as an individual a physical commitment to serve and a spiritual promise to Our Lady in all aspects of our life at Lourdes and at home to help the poor, the sick and those in need for our lifetime.