Our Lady in Lourdes

Every year in the second week of September, hundreds of Irish volunteers young and old, make the journey over to Lourdes to help the sick and elderly on their pilgrimage to the south of France.Buried in the foothills of the Pyrenees, Lourdes is most famous for the Marian apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes that occurred in 1858. Lourdes has now become a major pilgrimage site for the Roman Catholic Church, which attracts thousands of pilgrims in search of miraculous healings or Religious fulfilment each year.

My own love affair with Lourdes started in school, as I was told a group from my year would be chosen to make the journey over to Lourdes and volunteer in helping the sick. I chose not to apply, as I was quite sceptical and wasn’t sure what to expect of Lourdes at the time.
 

Pilgrimage

A year later, as I was starting college, I heard back from my friends that went to Lourdes, who couldn’t say enough about the place. The conviction and encouraging words about their ‘Lourdes experience’ really intrigued me, so the next day I applied. Weeks later I got accepted, and now four years on, I can proudly say, I have gone back every year and loved every moment of it.

Over 2000 pilgrims, 700 helpers and 170 sick people travel on the Dublin Diocese Pilgrimage each September. Of these, 180 sick pilgrims stay in the Accueil Notre Dame, where all the helpers carry out their specific duties. It is the equivalent of a modern hospital. 

Another 550 of the pilgrims are voluntary helpers, made up of nurses, and doctors, male and female helpers and a team of chaplains and priests. A further 200 people assist in the care of the sick pilgrims, with many of these coming from secondary schools around the Dublin area. The bond between the helper and pilgrim every year never ceases to amaze me.

In Lourdes you are assigned a number of duties before you go. These range from: working in the wards, being on water duty, stewarding, helping down at the baths, being on reception or working in the refectory (canteen). Each member of the diocese who volunteers is assigned one of these jobs.

 

Me and my fellow helpers

It can get very emotional at times, as some pilgrims are really sick. But, they always keep their chins up no matter what. They make you appreciate how lucky we are to be in good health.

Each day begins with a very early start, usually rising from bed at about 6.30am. Most stroll into work, with a skip in their step and a smile on their face, looking forward to the day ahead. Don’t get me wrong, it does take a day or two to adjust to the early starts day after day, but once you get into the swing of things and a routine, there is no stopping you.

Great craic

After a hard day’s work, most of the helper’s, head to Felix’s bar for a drink or two. This is part of the Lourdes experience, as us helpers need to relax after a long day!
The bar is great craic. It is a tiny pub in the middle of Lourdes. The Irish pilgrimage has been going there for years. About 200 helpers are packed in, where singing is provided upstairs by the ‘Piano man’ Mick Langan, a helper with the pilgrimage. He plays all kinds of songs, as we sing along standing on the tables.

There is something special about Lourdes, something magical, that attracts me, and hundreds of my fellow volunteers back every year. 
 

Memorable experience

Many of my friends ask me why I go to Lourdes each year, get up early every morning, and put myself through the rigours of working such a long day with an inherent lack of sleep. What I say to them is simple. I really love it.

In hindsight, looking back on the last few years, I couldn’t have asked for more. Although, I feel exhausted, fatigued and worn-out every year, Lourdes has been, and will continue to be, a memorable experience for me. I am already looking forward to, and planning my return for next year’s pilgrimage!

By Lloyd Murphy