St. Juan Diego Youth Volunteer Service Pilgrimage MSN Departure

Queen of the Apostles Parish Lourdes Youth Service Pilgrimage

June 16-26, 2023- 10 nights – Madison (MSN departure) $3,299.00

An invitation for the youth (14-17), young adult (18-24) and chaperone volunteers of Queen of Apostles Parish with Father Matthew Bowe to serve in Lourdes.

Volunteers support every aspect of our Special Needs Pilgrimage by arriving before and departing after to lovingly serve our pilgrims throughout their stay in Lourdes.

Daily catechesis program is provided to allow youth to better understand our faith through service. We maintain a ratio of 1:4 adult chaperone to youth during training, service and all pilgrimage activities. Youth, as well as chaperones, are expected to fully participate daily in catechesis, prayer and service.

Learn, Live and Love the Message of Lourdes through service

Why come with us?

Celebrating twenty years of service in 2022, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospitality North American Volunteers has collaborated with academic institutions and youth ministries from all over the country to create meaningful service opportunities for youth and young adults. As these volunteers serve Our Blessed Mother on pilgrimage to Lourdes, France, they embody our mission by serving the sick and disabled who travel on our special needs pilgrimage. Youth volunteers, working alongside medical and lay volunteers of all ages, perform a variety of vital duties that include: dining and hospitality service, housekeeping, and most importantly, wheelchair assistance during all our outings. Without the efforts of this volunteer team, it would not be possible for our pilgrims to travel to the Grotto in search of the peace and healing found by pilgrims for the past 160 years.

We look forward to leading your youth on a transformative journey where they experience the fruits of self-sacrifice in service to others. This opportunity for a week of service intends to challenge and strengthen their faith, both mentally and spiritually. We seek to mold the future of our Church, in unison with our volunteers, by immersing your youth in this holy encounter. It is our prayer, that these students will live this experience in their personal lives and future careers, becoming the dedicated Christian service-minded leaders that our Catholic values inspire.

Pilgrimage Highlights

Daily Mass, Grotto Mass and International Mass
Daily catechesis for our youth to understand faith through service
Candlelight Rosary and Eucharistic Processions
Opportunity to understand and receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation
Visit to the Piscines (Baths) – to experience the “Gesture of the Water” in guided prayer while immersion into the tub is not available at this time; volunteers can enter the curtained area, remain clothed and Lourdes water is poured over their hands as Bernadette learned in the 9th apparition to drink and wash of the water as instructed by the Blessed Virgin Mary
Tours of the Sanctuary and town of Lourdes in the footsteps of Bernadette
Form life-long friendships

What’s Included

Flights – Round trip flights from Dane County Regional Airport MSN through Paris- CDG Airport to Pau PUF
Bus Transport- Private transport from Pau Airport to Lourdes
Accommodations- Humble dormitory-style housing at the Maison St. Pierre et St. Paul
Meals-Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Pilgrimage Chaplain- Catholic priests accompany the pilgrimage for daily Mass, spiritual direction, Sacramental of Reconciliation, and Anointing of the Sick
Leader(s)-Experienced pilgrimage leaders to guide travel and scheduled activities
Orientation, Training, and Catechesis –leaders prepare volunteers to serve in the following ways: learning your way around the Sanctuary to be helpful to our pilgrims, understanding different aspects of service and prayer, how to approach our pilgrims, and hands-on training for our different service assignments

Not Included

Travel from your home to Dane County Regional Airport MSN
Mandatory travel/medical insurance
Uniform Kit- drawstring backpack with a set of 8 t-shirts (specific color worn each day, tied to our catechesis and sacrament of the day): uniforms provide us with group recognition as well as modesty on the ground in Lourdes: $75 youth t-shirt uniform, $149 adult chaperone collared shirt uniform

Payments, Cancellations, Terms and Conditions

Application deadline January 7, 2023
$500.00 deposit due with application on or before January 7, 2023
Final payment and paperwork due February 11, 2023
All payments are non-refundable after February 11, 2023
Read full Terms and Conditions 2023

Experience Our Lady’s Love in Lourdes

We come together to serve as a Pilgrimage Family, making it possible for our special needs pilgrims and their families to come to Lourdes. Meaningful service is provided by volunteers in all aspects of our pilgrimage including but not limited to the following:

Housekeeping Service

A clean and tidy space sets the tone for the whole pilgrimage. Housekeeping includes making beds and cleaning the bathrooms and floors.

Transportation Service

Hands-on support with wheelchair service and other transportation needs for all outings. This service requires bending and lifting.

Hospitality & Dining Room Service

Meal service including set up, serving and clean up. Welcome and assist pilgrims on arrival and departure. Provide all that is needed for a comfortable stay in Lourdes.

Get Started

Next steps to plan your journey

1. Read; before starting our online application process, please read our Terms and Conditions 2023.

2. Apply: complete our application and health information form. This will take you 10 – 15 minutes, so plan accordingly.

3. Complete registration and payment: upon review and approval of your application, our team will contact you to direct the necessary steps to complete registration requirements and payment.

Apply Here!

Accommodations, Flight Information & Dress Code

Pilgrimage Accommodations

We stay together in humble dormitory style housing just outside the Sanctuary called the Maison St. Pierre et St. Paul. The Maison is located in a pastoral, tranquil setting, providing our youth a quiet and peaceful place for rest to end the day. This is also located a considerable walk from where the youth will serve daily. Private showers and toilets are available in each room.

Breakfast will be eaten at the Maison while lunch and dinner are eaten at the volunteer cafeteria, the St. Michel.

16 June 2023 – Outbound Flight Itinerary

Depart: 1:40 PM Delta Flight #2492 MSN – Madison Dane County Regional Airport

Arrive: 3:56 PM DTW – Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport

5 hour 14 minute transfer time

Depart: 9:10 PM Air France Flight #377 DTW – Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport

Arrive: 10:50 AM CDG – Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport Terminal 2E (June 17)

5 hour 10 minute transfer time from Terminal 2E to Terminal 2G

Depart: 4:00 PM Air France Flight # 7495 CDG Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport Terminal 2G

Arrive: 5:30 PM Pau-PUF Airport

26 June 2023 – Return Flight Itinerary

Depart: 6:30 AM Air France Flight # 7495 Pau- PUF Airport

Arrive: 8:00 AM CDG – Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport Terminal 2G

2 hour 45 minute transfer time from Terminal 2G to Terminal 2E

Depart: 10:45 AM Delta Flight # 097 CDG – Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport Terminal 2E

Arrive: 1:40 PM DTW – Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport

3 hour 19 minute transfer time

Depart: 4:59 PM Delta Flight # 2979 DTW – Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport

Arrive: 5:10 PM MSN – Madison Dane County Regional Airport

Inappropriate dress is not acceptable in Catholic sites throughout Europe and is strictly enforced. Modesty is most important and appropriate in the holy places where we will spend most of our time. The European standard of dress is more formal than the casual dress of the United States.

The following Dress Code will ensure a reverent and unified look at the Sanctuary and help to maintain the respect Our Lady deserves in the Grotto. This code is intended to assure the dignity and modesty expected of Hospitalité and North American Volunteers. We appreciate your cooperation in keeping the spirit of Lourdes by following this dress code to better serve each other, Our Lady and her pilgrims in Lourdes. All youth volunteers are to be neat, clean and presentable at all times.

Mobility, flexibility, comfort and modesty are important in volunteer clothing choices.

MALE VOLUNTEERS:

Lourdes North American Volunteers shirt in designated color of the day.

Pants (no unbelted or drooping pants). NO JEANS OR SHORTS.

FEMALE VOLUNTEERS:

Lourdes North American Volunteers shirt in designated color of the day.

Pants (NO JEANS OR SHORTS) or skirts (below the knee, not tight-fitting).

In addition to the above, all volunteers are required to wear the following during service:

Nametag worn easily visible at shoulder at all times (provided by North American Volunteers).

Hair tied back away from face.

Rubber-soled, closed-toe shoes or sneakers.

UNACCEPTABLE ATTIRE FOR NORTH AMERICAN VOLUNTEERS:

NO sleeveless tops, tank tops or tops with spaghetti straps.

NO tight, low-cut, unbuttoned, transparent or halter tops.

NO short-shorts or sweat pants.

NO tight pants, leggings, stretch pants or stirrup pants.

NO flip-flops or sandals.

NO jeans or jean shorts (denim skirts or jumpers acceptable).

NO drooping, hanging, saggy, baggy pants or clothing.

If you are in doubt or question the appropriateness of an article of clothing, let your well-informed conscience be your guide or ask your chaperone.