St. Juan Diego Youth Volunteer Service Pilgrimage
St. Isidore Parish Lourdes Youth Service Pilgrimage
June 16-26, 2023- 10 nights – San Francisco (SFO departure) $3,199.00
An invitation for the youth (14-17), young adult (18-24) and chaperone volunteers of St. Isidore Parish with Father Matthew Murray 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 San Francisco SFO 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 San Francisco SFO Airport
- 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 December 1, 2022
- $500.00 deposit due within 48 hours of submitting your application
- Final payment and paperwork due February 1, 2023
- All payments are non-refundable after February 1, 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.
Accommodations, Flight Information
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: 8:25 PM Air France Flight #085 San Francisco SFO International Airport I
Arrive: 4:20 PM Paris-CDG Airport Terminal 2E (June 17)
3 hour 40 minute transfer time from Terminal 2E to Terminal 2G
Depart: 8:00 PM Air France Flight # 7494 Paris CDG Airport Terminal 2G
Arrive: 9:30 PM Pau-PUF Airport
26 June 2023 – Return Flight Itinerary
Depart: 10:40 AM Air France Flight # 7491 Pau PUF Airport
Arrive: 12:10 PM Paris – CDG Airport Terminal 2G
3 hour 40 minute transfer time from Terminal 2G to Terminal 2E
Depart: 3:50 PM Air France # 082 Paris-CDG Airport Terminal 2E
Arrive: 6:20 PM San Francisco SFO International Airport I
Dress Code, Code of Conduct, & Behavior Contract
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.
Lourdes is sacred ground, a holy place where miracles happen in an atmosphere of prayer. At Lourdes, we follow the saintly example of Bernadette who responded with an attitude of dignity, respect, generosity, compassion, and docility. In a like response, we obediently receive instruction and cooperate with our fellow pilgrims, leaders, and directors by kindly greeting others, being on time, honoring the rules of the Sanctuary, and fulfilling all duties in a responsible manner.
Our conduct recreates the “Spirit of Lourdes” in response to the gracious and kind invitation of Our Lady. You represent Our Lady of Lourdes Hospitality North American Volunteers, the first hospitality of the Americas and should present yourself in a way which reflects the image of God that is asked of each and everyone of us.
I agree to center my behavior in the teaching of the Catholic Church taking seriously my responsibilities as a volunteer and pilgrim. I agree to humbly take direction from the leadership team, directors, and those in authority over me. I agree to be an example of Christ-like love and Marian modesty, following all the rules for behavior, conduct, curfew and dress code. I agree to follow the schedule and be punctual for an to participate in all activities, meetings, and volunteer service. I will embrace every person as a fellow pilgrim, respecting that Christ lives in and loves each of us. I will offer charitable assistance to the sick with compassion, caring for individuals with respect and generosity.