Volunteer Service Pilgrimages

Volunteer Service Pilgrimages 2025

Advance Team volunteers support every aspect of our Supportive Care Pilgrimages by arriving before and departing after to lovingly attend to the needs of our special needs pilgrims throughout their stay in Lourdes.

St. Damien Volunteer Service Pilgrimage – June 13-23, 2025 | 10 days/9 nights
Departure City – Detroit DTW- $3,599

St. Noel Volunteer Service Pilgrimage – October 10-20, 2024 | 10 days/9 nights
Departure City – New York JFK – $3,399

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 23 years in service, we continue to accompany volunteer service pilgrimages to support Our Lady’s pilgrims when journeying to the Grotto. Our pilgrimages are accompanied by Catholic priests and leaders faithful to the Church. It is our privilege to assist volunteers in preparation, in travel and on a transformative life-changing journey to the Grotto bringing healing not only to those they serve but for themselves for many years to come.

Pilgrimage Highlights

Daily Mass, Grotto Mass and International Mass
Candlelight Rosary and Eucharistic Processions
Opportunity to receive the Sacrament of 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
Form life-long friendships as you grow in faith in service to Our Lady and her pilgrims.

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

Lourdes: Shared Sanctuary housing

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

Mandatory travel/medical insurance

Payments, Cancellations and Terms

Read full 2025 Terms and Conditions

St. Damien June 13-23, 2025

$1,000 deposit due upon reservation

APPLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE NOW

Seats filled on a first come first serve basis

March 5, 2025 – final application deadline

March 6, 2025 – final payment due

$500 Cancellation fee through March 5, 2025

All payments are non-refundable after March 6, 2025

St. Noel October 10-20, 2025

$1,000 deposit due upon reservation

APPLICATIONS FOR OCTOBER PILGRIMAGE AVAILABLE IN THE SPRING.

Seats filled on a first come first serve basis

June 27, 2025 – final application deadline

July 3, 2025- final payment is due

$500 Cancellation fee through July 3, 2025

All payments are non-refundable after July 3, 2025

Experience Our Lady’s Love in Lourdes

We ask our volunteers to serve when and where as needed! Assignments are subject to change based on the needs of the pilgrimage. Volunteers must be fit for duty!

Housekeeping

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 2025 Terms and Conditions

2. Apply to 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 (medical professionals only)
Delta SkyMiles number (if applicable)
Medication list
Physician and Emergency contact phone/fax number

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!

Accommodations and Flight Information

Pilgrimage Accommodations

We stay together in humble dormitory style housing inside the Sanctuary called the Hospitalet. The Hospitalet is adjacent to the Accueil Notre Dame where the youth will serve our supportive care pilgrimage. Chapel and breakfast room on site. Wifi is available. Private showers and toilets are available in each room.

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

October 10, 2025 – Outbound Flight Itinerary

Depart: 9:30PM AF# 007 New York JFK Airport Terminal 1

Overnight Flight arrives October 11, 2025

Arrive: 11:00AM Paris CDG Airport Terminal 2E

3 Hrs 50 Mins transfer time from Terminal 2E to Terminal 2G

Depart: 2:50PM AF#7496 Paris CDG Airport Terminal 2G

Arrive: 4 :20PM PAU PAF Airport

October 20, 2025 – Return Flight Itinerary

Depart: 635AM AF# 7495 PAU PAF Airport

Arrive: 8:05AM Paris CDG Airport Terminal 2G

3 Hrs 25 Mins transfer time from Terminal 2G to Terminal 2E

Depart: 11:30 AM DL# 263 Paris CDG Airport Terminal 2E

Arrive: 2:00 PM New York JFK Airport Terminal 4

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

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

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

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.

Dress Code, Pilgrimage Expectations and Behavior

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.

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.

To best serve Our Lady, her pilgrims and each other on pilgrimage to Lourdes, we expect each soul to adhere to the following expectations for behavior.

BEHAVIOR CONTRACT

Center my behavior in the teaching of the Catholic Church and take seriously my responsibilities as a volunteer and pilgrim.

Humbly take direction from the leadership team, directors, and those in authority over me.

Be an example of Christ-like love and Marian modesty.

Follow the schedule, be punctual, and participate in all activities, meetings, and volunteer service.

Embrace every person as a fellow pilgrim, respecting that Christ lives in and loves each of us.

Offer charitable assistance to the sick with compassion, caring for individuals with respect and generosity.

Respect the confidentiality of everyone on pilgrimage.

Limit the use of technology as to disengage from our normal activities, to be fully present, and focus on the lessons of Lourdes.

All souls must accept responsibility for their actions. If anyone should fail in any serious way, he or she agrees to accept any consequences and make an honest effort to correct the unacceptable behavior. Understand that should behavior be found unacceptable, you may be required to depart early from the pilgrimage at your own expense.

Volunteer Service Pilgrimages