OMV Lourdes Pilgrimage 2023

About:

The OMV's annual pilgrimage to Lourdes is the biggest and longest standing event of the OMV. The week is very busy, sociable and spiritually profound. As a volunteer, your week will be filled with duties in the St Frai; masses and processions in wonderful places around Lourdes; and getting to know our guests.

There many unique aspects to the OMV’s pilgrimage which make it so special but a particular highlight is Night Prayers, held each evening overlooking the candlelit Grotto where Our Lady Bernadette.

Please find below the basic information you need to know before applying to join us in Lourdes this summer.

Volunteer Requirements:

1. Minimum age – all volunteers must be 17 or over. If you are not yet 17, you must turn 17 before 21 July 2023.
2. First Aid Training – volunteers must have undertaken First Aid training by attending the OMV training day (29 May at the London Oratory School – further information is below).
3. DBS checks – all volunteers must have valid DBS clearance through BASMOM or other entities with “enhanced clearance” which the Lourdes Volunteer Coordinator and OMV DBS Officer will need to review and sign off on. Volunteers will complete a DBS form at the OMV training day. Please note that if you do not have a valid DBS form before the pilgrimage you will not be able to attend.
4. Safeguarding – all volunteers will need to take a safeguarding test ahead of the pilgrimage. This is an online test and will be circulated to volunteers closer to our departure date.

Training Day:

The OMV Training Day is Monday 29 May 2023 at the London Oratory School, Seagrave Road, SW6 1RX (nearest tube is West Brompton).

This day is compulsory for ALL volunteers. There will be no other training day run by the OMV and if you have any questions/concerns do please contact the Lourdes Volunteer Coordinator (Kate Hamilton).

Costs:

The cost of this year’s pilgrimage is £600.

This price includes flights, travel insurance, food, accommodation and transport within Lourdes.

The OMV offers bursaries to volunteers and please see further information on this below.

Bursaries:

Bursary applications have now closed. Please get in touch with Kate if you have any queries.

More information:

For more detailed information about the Lourdes Pilgrimage, please contact Kate.

Please note that the majority of communication is through email. Please only sign up to this activity with an email you check regularly and have access to outside of school/university/work. Please also make sure to check your spam emails. It is each volunteer’s responsibility to respond to any communications from the Lourdes Team.

Spring Drinks:

The OMV are looking forward to their annual Spring Drinks on Friday 14 April 2023 with celebratory drinks and canapes at the Brompton Oratory from 7pm. You are warmly welcomed to join us and meet volunteers who will be going to the Lourdes Pilgrimage this summer, volunteers who have been previously and meet the Lourdes Organising Team.