Hospitalité Notre Dame de Lourdes

Hospitalités were originally Catholic charitable organisations which welcomed and sheltered travellers, particularly those in need; in the 2020s, HNDL is the central co-ordinating Hospitalité for pilgrims to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, organising the reception of pilgrims, training of volunteers, crowd-control and other needs.

[1][2] Five million visitors a year are welcomed by the volunteers who work in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes.

[3] Some of these volunteers work in the Forum-Information Centre welcoming individual pilgrims and small groups.

Other volunteers work in the Youth service, or give of their time and talent in one of the pavilion tents around the Domaine.

Today HNDL builds on that tradition, welcoming pilgrims to Lourdes (especially, but not only, the sick and disabled), and assisting at religious ceremonies.

It is active in Lourdes during the main pilgrimage season (which normally lasts from Easter until November), and it also provides people to welcome pilgrims at the Piscines (Baths) during the winter.

Members, known in French as hospitaliers, strive to do this not only in Lourdes but also in their home parishes and institutions, for the good of the church and the world.

Note that if you have specific restrictions which for example may not enable you to lift someone, this is not a problem, as there are plenty of other things to do; just make sure your "limitations?!"

Usual topics for discussion include: our attitudes to the sick; the symbolism of the grotto and its water; a tour of the places where Bernadette lived; the history of the domain; Christian approaches to suffering; etc.

This is a sign that the volunteer has made a promise to commit to the service of the sick, specifically by coming on stage regularly.