Help me volunteer with sick & disabled pilgrims in Lourdes

Every year, the Westminster Diocese takes a group of sick and/or disabled “assisted pilgrims” to Lourdes. We help them make a spiritual pilgrimage to the Shrine, following the instructions Our Lady gave to St Bernadette during the apparitions of 1858 - to go in procession; to wash in the waters; to pray the rosary. A pilgrimage to Lourdes is an enormously beneficial act of faith for those assisted pilgrims - following in the footsteps of the 71 miracle cures and coming closer to Our Lady. It provides not just a spiritual benefit but, for many, a pastoral one too, through the service and attention of volunteer helpers who enable them to enjoy every aspect of their week, from attending mass, processions and other services to enjoying an ice cream, a game of bingo or an afternoon in a scenic garden overlooking the Pyrenees. It also provides a much-needed respite for their families and carers back home. The pilgrimage relies on volunteer helpers to care for the assisted pilgrims and make it possible for those pilgrims to enjoy the benefits of Lourdes.

I have been volunteering in Lourdes nearly every year since I was 17. For the last 15 years, I have served the pilgrimage as ‘Chief Brancardier’, recruiting, training & coordinating volunteer helpers; working with the medical team and our volunteer helpers to provide the best possible care for our assisted pilgrims; overseeing all logistics including complex travel arrangements and the running of the St Frai, the facility where we accommodate and care for the assisted pilgrims; and occasionally embarrassing myself to entertain everyone. I have experienced so many moments that have blown my mind out there, from extraordinary little improvements in our pilgrims’ conditions; to the points when new (or even experienced) helpers discover a strength or compassion in themselves that they’d never suspected; to the profound connections made between the most unlikely people, leading to friendships that last way beyond the week’s pilgrimage; to the comfort of others in moments of exhaustion or overwhelm; to the extraordinary trust our assisted pilgrims place in those who help them.

This summer, I will be joining the Westminster Pilgrimage to care for the assisted pilgrims. In addition to my work around the year, I will be giving a week of my time in service to enable these pilgrims. I will work hard to help those in my care have a truly wonderful week and make a difference to their lives.

As a volunteer, I will be responsible for raising the funds to cover the cost of my service. Travel to Lourdes and accommodation is not cheap and I will need to raise around £1,000 to cover it. As part of this, I will doing a sponsored walk, covering 10 miles from Westminster Cathedral through the parks of London to raise funds on 18th May. If you would like to help enable my work with assisted pilgrims in Lourdes, I would be very grateful for any contribution you can make.

With thanks

Nick