How to become a Hospitalier
We in the "Hospitalité Notre Dame de Lourdes" (HNDL) will be delighted to
welcome you if you can join usin voluntary service
Ladies within the Notre Dame Service, the Saint John the Baptist Service,
the Marie Saint Frai Service or the Saint Michel Service.
Gentlemen, within the Saint Joseph Service or the Saint Michel Service.
To be accepted for your first stage (period of voluntary service with us) you must
Be at least 18 years old and no more than 75 (at the discretion of the person
in charge of the service)
Complete and send in the stage application form (this is available from the
secretariat or can be competed and sent in via the internet)
Send us an id photo, Attach a photocopy of your passport, Supply a letter
of recommendation, either from the President of your diocesan / pilgrimage
hospitalité or a priest in your diocese (compulsory for the St John the
Baptist Service) or from an existing member of the HNDL.
You have to pay an annual subscription (the cotisation),
currently 9 euros during the first four years of stage then 16 euros
in subsequent years for hospitaliers (full members).
This entitles you to be part of the HNDL, to receive copies
of the Hospitalité newsletter and also means that you are insured
while carrying out your duties with the Hospitalité. A stage should last
a minimum of 7 days and a maximum of 15 days.
For your first four years of service we strongly advise that you arrive on
Saturday or Sunday,since there is an induction programme of formation
and training which begins early on Monday.
On completion of your fourth year of service
on stage you can, if you wish, apply to become a hospitalier
(a full member of HNDL) bymaking your engagement (a commitment
to regular service). Service in Lourdes is completely voluntary & unpaid
and you must be able to pay for your own travel costs, accommodation
and meals. However,to keep these outgoings to a minimum for you, the HNDL does
providea self-service restaurant, accommodation centres and a social club
(the foyer) which you are welcome to use.
Each year around 8,500 volunteers come to serve with us –so why don’t
you join them? A warm welcome awaits you !
What you must do if you wish to make your commitment).
After 4 years of service and if you have completed all the formation specific
to each year of service, you can apply to make your commmitment
to regular service within HNDL.
You must therefore obtain a copy of the yellow form,
a request for admission to HNDL, by asking for it at the office of your Service.
Fill in the front page yourself and ask others (as indicated on the form)
to fill in their parts of the back page attach a copy of your baptismal certificate or,
for priests and religious, the written authorisation of your religious superior
(Bishop, Abbot, Mother Superior ….)
Send your application to: HNDL - B.P. 197 - 65106 LOURDES
Cedex Hospitalité Notre-Dame de Lourdes
- BP 197 - F 65106LOURDES Cedex France
hospitalite-lourdes@wanadoo.fr
+33 (0)5 62 42 80 84
The following info is from the Lourdes official website:
Just press on this link for more info:
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Volunteer Pilgrimages
for North Americans
Our Lady of Lourdes Hospitality North American
volunteers is based in Syracuse, New York.
The following info is all from their website:
Volunteer Assignments
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.
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.
