Supportive Care Pilgrimages

Supportive Care Pilgrimages 2024

Pilgrimage for the sick, suffering and those in need of special accommodations.

St. Marianne Supportive Care Pilgrimage – June 15-22, 2024 | 7 days/6 nights

Departure Cities- New York JFK Departure – $3,299 / Atlanta ATL Departure – $3,299

St. Bernadette Supportive Care Pilgrimage- October 6-13, 2024 | 7 days/6nights

Departure Cities- New York JFK Departure- $3,099 / Los Angeles LAX Departure $ 3,299

Please read through this entire webpage before applying to join us.

Why come with us?

It is our blessing to join pilgrims on their journey to Lourdes and to pray with them in the Grotto. Celebrating 22 years in service to the sick, we continue to accompany pilgrims with diabetes, end stage cancer and many other illnesses and needs. These pilgrimages are accompanied by Catholic priests and leaders faithful to the Church. It is our privilege to assist pilgrims in preparation, in travel and on pilgrimage.

Supportive Care

Thanks to our medical volunteers, we are able to provide supportive medical care for each pilgrim. We support pilgrims who might have diabetes and are in need of wheelchair assistance to those who are end-stage cancer and might need oxygen.

Pilgrim supportive care is reviewed by our medical team, including our medical director and head nurse who have been to Lourdes over twenty times. A pilgrimage physician and a pilgrimage nurse is assigned each special needs pilgrim.

In addition to our medical team, our pilgrims are supported on pilgrimage by our experienced pilgrimage leaders, lay companions and advance team volunteers. Lay volunteers provide for all the personal and practical care. Every detail is lovingly considered to make for a happy and holy journey to Lourdes, France.

Pilgrimage Highlights

Daily Mass, Grotto Mass and International Mass
Candlelight Rosary and Eucharistic Processions
Opportunities to receive the Sacraments, including Anointing of the Sick and Reconciliation
Visit to the Piscines (Baths) – the Baths are open limited hours, but immersion into the tub is not available at this time. Families can enter together, remain clothed, and experience the “Gesture of Water” in guided prayer, similar to Bernadette during the 9th apparition with Lourdes Water poured over the hands for personal use
Tours of the Sanctuary and town of Lourdes

What’s Included

Included

Flights

Round trip flights from departure city through Paris- CDG Airport to Pau PUF

Bus Transport

Private transport from Pau Airport to Lourdes

Accommodations

In support of pilgrims needing supportive medical care, our group accommodations are at the Accueil Notre-Dame. In French, accueil means a place of welcome. The AN-D is a hospital-bed facility located on the grounds of the Sanctuary of Lourdes. The AN-D offers medical equipment necessary to support our pilgrims including wheelchairs, handicap bathrooms, shower chairs, and wall oxygen.

Meals

Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Pilgrimage Chaplain

Catholic priest(s) will accompany the pilgrimage; Mass daily, available for spiritual direction, Sacramental Confession, and Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick

Leader(s)

Experienced Pilgrimage Leaders to guide travel and scheduled activities

Not Included

Travel from your home city to departure city airport for group departure, mandatory travel/medical insurance, airport snacks or meals, bistro snacks, drinks, desserts; musuem or show entrance fee/tickets, taxi or private transportation, tips (our Lourdes Volunteers Leaders do NOT accept tips); ambulance transportation, medical visits, medication or hospitalization (see travel/medical insurance coverages).

Payments, Cancellations, and Terms

Read full 2024 Terms and Conditions

St. Marianne June 15-22, 2024

$1,000 deposit due upon reservation

Seats filled on a first come first serve basis

March 1, 2024 – final application deadline

March 7, 2024- final payment is due

$500 Cancellation fee through March 7, 2024

All payments are non-refundable after March 7, 2024

St. Bernadette October 6-13, 2024

$1,000 deposit due upon reservation

Seats filled on a first come first serve basis

June 21, 2024 – final application deadline

June 28, 2024- final payment is due

$500 Cancellation fee through June 27, 2024

All payments are non-refundable after June 28, 2024

Accommodations and Flight Information

Pilgrimage Accommodations

In support of pilgrims needing supportive medical care, our group accommodations are at the Accueil Notre-Dame. In French, accueil means a place of welcome. The AN-D is a hospital-bed facility located on the grounds of the Sanctuary of Lourdes. The AN-D offers medical equipment necessary to support our pilgrims including wheelchairs, handicap bathrooms, shower chairs, and wall oxygen.

The Accueil offers a walking bridge from the front door to the Grotto and is located in the midst of the Rosary candlelight and the Eucharistic processions. The Sanctuary is surrounded by the town of Lourdes giving quick access to bistros, cafes and shopping.

Specific flight itineraries will be sent during the registration process once you have worked with a member of our team to determine your service placement and dates.

Please make your deposit and work with Kathleen, our Special Needs Pilgrimage Manager before buying any connecting travel!

Delta Airlines and Air France are Sky Team partners. It is highly recommended ALL connecting travel be on Delta Airlines flights. IF YOU CHOOSE another carrier and do not arrive on time for your group flight, Air France will not be obligated to assist you.

Please allow at least 3 HOURS OR MORE to arrive prior to international departure.

Please allow at least 3 HOURS OR MORE to depart for your connecting flight home upon return.

Please submit your application, make your deposit and work with Kathleen, Special Needs Pilgrimage Manager, before buying your connecting travel to any departure city!

We suggest you join Delta SkyMiles frequent flier program earning miles. Sign up through Delta Airlines. Only a SkyMiles number can be provided to the group desk before travel. You earn miles on fares based on a percentage of the distance flown on your flight. The percentage is determined by the fare of your ticket. Other Sky Team frequent flier numbers must be presented at check-in. Please provide your SkyMiles number to our office when completing the application.

Pilgrimage Expectations & Dress Code

PILGRIMAGE EXPECTATIONS in the “Spirit of Lourdes”

Lourdes is a holy place. A place where miracles happen in an atmosphere of prayer. The opening words of the invitation of Our Lady to Bernadette in the Grotto, “would you be so kind as to come here . . .” give us the “Spirit of Lourdes” and Bernadette’s docile and joyful response provides the example for our behavior to serve pilgrims at Lourdes, serving each person as Christ.

Our dress code ensures a reverent and unified look at the Sanctuary and helps to maintain the respect Our Lady deserves in the Grotto. 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. Inappropriate dress is not acceptable in Catholic sites throughout Europe and is strictly enforced. We appreciate your cooperation in keeping the spirit of Lourdes by following our dress code to better serve each other, Our Lady and her pilgrims in Lourdes.

Pilgrims and lay volunteers wear casual, comfortable clothing.

Physicians wear a white lab coat.

Nurses wear a white nurse dress uniform for daily service.

Advance Team volunteers wear a uniform shirt, blouse or collared shirt (no t-shirts) with solid color, preferably dark pants or skirt. No jeans or shorts allowed during service.

All volunteers are to be neat, clean and presentable at all times.

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

Upon placement, the dress code for your specific service will be reviewed with you.

Get Started

Next steps to plan your journey

1. Read: before starting our online application process, please read our 2024 Terms and Conditions.

2. Apply: complete our application and health information form. This will take you 20-30 minutes, so plan accordingly. Please have the following checklist prepared to apply. Incomplete information could delay your application process!

Image of passport to upload
Image of medical license to upload (for medical professionals only)
Delta SkyMiles number (if applicable)
Medication list
Physician and Emergency contact phone/fax numbers
Complete contact information for your diocesan reference (1st year volunteers only)

3. Application interview/placement and make $1,000 deposit to reserve your seat!

4. Finalize all registration requirements, travel logistics and final payment.

5. Pray, pack and go!

Apply Here!

Experience Our Lady’s Love in Lourdes

Over 2,000 Special Needs Pilgrims have entrusted us with their care on 57 pilgrimages! Join us as a pilgrim, companion or medical volunteer!

Supportive Care Pilgrims

For the sick, disabled, suffering and those in need of special accommodations.

Advance Team Volunteers

Our Volunteer Service Pilgrimages are for lay volunteers that support the behind the scenes duties necessary to bring the sick to Lourdes.

Medical Volunteers

For doctors, nurses and practitioners willing to make the impossible possible!