Youth & Young Adult Volunteer Service- SFO Departure

St. Juan Diego Youth and Young Adult Volunteer Service Pilgrimage to Lourdes, with visits to Nevers and Paris

June 12-23, 2026- 12 days/11 nights

San Francisco SFO Departure – $3,899.00

(does not include cost of uniform + travel/medical insurance)

An invitation for the youth (14-17), young adult (18-24) and chaperone volunteers of St. Isidore Catholic Church to serve the sick and disabled in Lourdes, France. After our time of service, we will retreat to the Sanctuary of St. Bernadette in Nevers for prayer and reflection by the tomb of St. Bernadette as well as participate in overnight adoration at the Basilica of Sacre Couer in Paris, France, before returning home to the US.

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 over twenty years of service, 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 supportive care 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)
Geste de Leau the “Gesture of the Water” in guided prayer; 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 – Flights from San Francisco through Paris CDG Airport to Pau PUF and flights from Paris CDG Airport back to San Francisco.
Bus Transport- Private transport from Pau airport to Lourdes, Lourdes to Nevers, and Nevers to Paris.
Train Transport– Train ticket from Paris to Paris CDG Airport.
Accommodations- Humble dormitory
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 to San Francisco SFO Airport and back home
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: cost TBD and order information will follow during registration process.

Payments, Cancellations, Terms and Conditions

Deposit $500 due November 1, 2025
Final payment due March 6, 2026
All payments are non-refundable after March 6, 2026

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

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
Delta SkyMiles number (if applicable)
Medication list
Physician and Emergency contact phone/fax numbers

Apply Here!

Accommodations, Flight Information

Pilgrimage Accommodations

We stay together in humble dormitory style housing just outside 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.

We will spend our final night at the Guesthouse of the Basilica of Sacre Coeur in Paris.

June 12, 2026 – San Francisco to Paris to Lorudes

Depart: 3:05 PM Air France #083 San Francisco SFO Airport

Arrive: 10:55 AM on June 13 at Paris- Charles de Gaulle Airport 2E

1 h 20 m transfer from terminal 2E to 2G

Depart: 12:15 PM Air France Flight # 7492 Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport

Arrive: 1:45 PM Pau PUF Airport

Private bus to Lourdes

June 22, 2026 – Lourdes to Nevers

Depart: 6:00 am by private bus to Nevers, France, overnight at Espace Bernadette

June 23, 2026 – Nevers to Paris to San Francisco

Embark Nevers, France by private bus to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport

Depart: 3:40 PM Air France Flight 082 – CDG Airport Terminal 2E

Arrive: 6:00 PM San Francisco SFO Airport

Dress Code, Pilgrimage Expectations, Behavior Contract, & Reporting

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.

Youth, young adult and chaperones wear uniform shirts throughout the entire pilgrimage, beginning with departure from San Francisco and ending with arrival in San Francisco. No jeans, shorts, or leggings are allowed.

Code of Conduct

By signing and returning this document, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to abide by its terms.

Lourdes is a holy place, where miracles occur 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: serving pilgrims at Lourdes, serving each person as Christ.

All individuals are required to uphold the Spirit of Lourdes by strictly adhering to the standards of behavior and appearance outlined in this Code of Conduct. Compliance is mandatory and essential to properly serve Our Lady’s pilgrims and one another during the pilgrimage. Our code of conduct is set in place to protect the safety and integrity of all those on holy pilgrimage and to safeguard our volunteers against any falsifications during their time with our Hospitality.