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| Working in Lourdes as a volunteer is an incredibly rewarding and, for many, a life changing experience that they treasure. It is an experience which many feel they need to repeat year after year!
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 About Lourdes…
Lourdes is a small town situated in the southwest of France lying in the foothills of the Pyrenees.
Originally a small market town its most prominent feature was the fortified castle that rises up from the centre of the town on a rocky escarpment. Following apparitions to a young local girl, Bernadette Soubirous, of a ‘Beautiful Lady’ in 1858 and who was later to be recognised as the Blessed Virgin Mary, Lourdes has developed into a major place of Christian Pilgrimage. Today Lourdes has a population of around 15,000 inhabitants but is able to take in some 6,000,000 pilgrims every year.
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 Being a volunteer member of the medical team in Lourdes…
A typical doctor or nurse who volunteers with the Salford Diocesan Pilgrimage usually travels with the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes on the pilgrimage flight from Manchester Airport. Doctors and nurses work hand in hand with lay volunteers to help sick pilgrims on to the plane and assist them with any of their needs during the journey.
Arriving in Lourdes the medical team assist pilgrims settle into the various rooms (known as wards) in the Accueil Marie St. Frai in the centre of Lourdes. The Accueil is a specially equipped care facility which allows sick pilgrims to have a comfortable place to stay during their pilgrimage. (While it is sometimes referred to as a ‘hospital’ it does not have specialist equipment one expects of an acute hospital).
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 During the pilgrimage volunteer doctors cover a variety of periods and nurses work on a rota to cover various periods of the day to ensure the welfare of the sick pilgrims both in the accueil and when they journey to the various Masses, celebrations and social activities that are planned throughout the week. There will always be an experienced nurse in charge with a doctor to take responsibility of the activities of the ‘Accueil Pilgrims’.
In particular the nurses work in partnership with lay volunteers to help care for the sick during their time in Lourdes. Many of these volunteers have many years experience in Lourdes. In addition young people also participate in various different activities with the sick pilgrims during the course of the sick, usually helping to transport and accompany them around the town of Lourdes or carrying out the most important duty in the Accueil – brewing up!
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Applying to become a volunteer doctor, nurse or health care assistant. |
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Three of our doctors during the 2008 pilgrimage. |
As with all volunteers on the pilgrimage as a doctor or nurse on our pilgrimage, you will be required to complete an Over 18 volunteer application form (available on this website from January 2009) and must be prepared to receive an enhanced disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau. Additional you will be expected to have current registration with the appropriate governing body (e.g. the General Medical Council or Nursing & Midwifery Council). In addition to qualified doctors and trained nurses, we also welcome student doctors and nurses, recently retired nurses and professional healthcare assistants who will work under supervision.
You will need a current passport and also an EHIC card. If your passport is not a British or European one, you may need a visa.
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For qualified nurses and healthcare assistants the pilgrimage will provide you with a uniform to clearly identify you to the sick pilgrims and the lay volunteers in case they need a nurse.
The cost of travelling to Lourdes…
Travelling to Lourdes can be very expensive and through some fundraising it may be possible to help reduce the cost of your pilgrimage. Many local deanery and parish groups offer financial support and assistance to those who wish to volunteer as part of the medical team. If you require any assistance though or additional support you can contact the senior nurse or the pilgrimage director who will be able to discuss supporting you for your volunteer work.
Still Interested? Please contact:
We warmly welcome you to join us in volunteering as a doctor, nurse or health care assistant in Lourdes. For more information please contact the Assistant Director of the pilgrimage, Patrick O’Dowd (patrick.odowd@salfordlourdes.co.uk) who will be able to offer advice or information on travel, volunteering and to put you in touch with your local group or the group of nurses who travel together.
Pilgrimage Office:
Diocese of Salford, Lourdes Pilgrimage Office
Cathedral Centre, 3 Ford Street,
Salford, M3 6DP
T:0161-817 2209
F:0161-372 9992 |
