SPECIAL EDITION Diocese of Tarbes and Lourdes The Accueil Notre-Dame The Grotto Lourdes News The Journal of the Sanctuary - #16 - Free www.lourdes-france.org DR Accommodation adapted to your needs, in response to the call of the Virgin Mary Welcome to the Accueil Notre-Dame at the heart of the sanctuary of Lourdes You have decided to come on your own You must first contact us to set a date suitable for you, and to receive information about the conditions of stay. Once this first contact is established, a registration form is sent to you confirming your booking.you must imperatively be accompanied by one or more carers. Accueil Notre-Dame Sanctuaire Notre-Dame de Lourdes 65108 Lourdes Cedex Tel: +33 (0)5 62 42 80 61 and-lourdes@lourdes-france.com Share your experiences with #ANDLOURDES You are coming with an organised pilgrimage To find the name of your local Pilgrimage Director, you should contact your local priest or: Conference of Lourdes Pilgrimage Directors of Great Britain, United Irish Pilgrimages to Lourdes, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospitality - North American Volunteers. Sick or disabled persons often make a significant human effort to come to Lourdes. This often entails, in addition, a considerable financial effort. The mission of the employees and volunteers in the Accueil Notre-Dame is to make every effort not to disappoint them. That is why they work hard to make them feel good, and also to ensure that they enjoy a maximum of comfort and safety. They are part of the great chain of solidarity, so that everyone, and particularly the most vulnerable, should be received with dignity in Lourdes. The Accueil mainly receives pilgrims who come in groups, but it is also open to those who wish to come individually. Sanctuaire de Lourdes/François Labadie The Accueil Notre-Dame in a few figures SINCE THE OPENING IN 2014 Means of transport used by the + than 500,000 28,000 persons accommodated persons lodged Sanctuaire de Lourdes/Pierre Vincent The administration and pastoral team. 4.5 million meals served 2 million overnight stays 17% 31% 52%
Accueil Notre-Dame: If it Lourdes, sick or disabled persons have pride of place. I think In we can be proud of the way we welcome them, especially in the Accueil Notre-Dame. Mgr Nicolas Brouwet, Bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes (Extract from his Orientations for the Sanctuary) Did you know? The materials used for the construction of the Accueil are a measure of the genius of those who designed it. The glass surfaces are a perfect example: over 3,300 square meters, distributed mainly on the east, south and west facades. This is particularly efficient thermal blocking double glazing. It blocks nearly 50% of the solar flux and thus improves the comfort of the pilgrims. The roof of the Accueil is made from a beautiful Pyrenees slate extracted from a quarry located 5 kilometres from Lourdes: a thick slate, dense, noble, and very resistant, which further enhances the architectural quality of the building, whilst, at the same time, supporting local enterprise. The Accueil is also committed to an approach based on a social and socially responsible economy. Chapel The Grotto, opposite the Accueil Panoramic terrace N Panoramic view of the Accueil Notre-Dame. W E S
didn t exist, it would have François Labadie Director of the Accueil Notre-Dame The Accueil Notre-Dame is like a family home. Our teams constantly adapt to help our guests to experience their stay in Lourdes in an atmosphere of joy and conviviality. Doctor Alessandro de Franciscis In charge of the Office of Medical Observations of Lourdes The sick pilgrims with their medical records are lodged at the Accueil Notre-Dame under the responsibility of accompanying doctors and nurses. These professionals are assisted daily by many volunteers. It is a fine example of cooperation between the Sanctuary and the world of volunteers. Father Zbigniew Musielak Chaplain of the Accueil Notre-Dame The Accueil Notre-Dame is a favourable place to facilitate the encounter of each person with the merciful Christ, and put into practice the words of Saint Camillus de Lellis: To serve, console and heal the sick, without discrimination, because God wants it so. Sister Marie-Ange Religious Sister of Charity of Nevers, in charge of pastoral care Our guests consider the Accueil Notre-Dame as their home. They like to come back and meet old friends. We endeavour to make their stay as peaceful, enjoyable and convivial as possible. When they arrive, they greet us as if we had only seen each other the previous day. Panoramic lift
to be built! * * Hélène, a pilgrim in the Accueil The spiritual strength of the place, discovered over and over again as we studied it, opened our eyes to our capacity of contributing to the well-being of pilgrims through the design of the Accueil Notre- Dame. Serge and André Grésy, Architects of the Accueil Chapel The Marian City Panoramic terrace The Gave Sanctuaire de Lourdes/Pierre Vincent
A family home In the Accueil Notre- Dame I experience love; I can meet others and exchange smiles. We all greet and help each other. Situated near the Grotto, the Accueil Notre-Dame is my family home Sylvie, a frequent guest in the "home" An unforgettable stay: We shall return! In front of the Accueil Notre- Dame, pilgrims from Katowice attend a concert given in their honour. Roman Koszowski/ Gosc Niedzielny Sylvie at the Grotto. DR Whoever returns from Lourdes is full of joy! This is the gift of the Holy Spirit that we received in the Sanctuary. As an example, on the day of our departure, pilgrims spontaneously started dancing on the platform before an amused Station Master who is no longer surprised at these displays of joy at the departure of pilgrimages How can we forget this stay in the Accueil Notre-Dame! True, it is an immense building, but it retains a human dimension. The staff and volunteers were very caring and supportive both to the sick and their accompanying families. There were 400 of us nonetheless! Many still ask me today: When are we going back? So, with joy in my heart, I tell them that 35 hours in the train will not stop us. We shall return to Lourdes, I promise you! Father Roman Chromy Pilgrimage Director of Katowice, Poland The Accueil Notre-Dame: a special place are the little heroes of life," said Pope You Francis to seriously ill children aged 2 to 14 years. He declared: "The time spent beside a patient is sacred". The history of the Sanctuary of Lourdes has always been linked to the presence of sick or disabled people. Wasn t Bernadette Soubirous the first of them all? As early as the 1870 s, with the inauguration of the great pilgrimages, pilgrims with reduced mobility participated in the celebrations of Lourdes. They have always had pride of place. In 1877, the Sanctuary built the Asile Notre-Dame on the left bank of the Gave. Years later, it decided to increase its capacity: the Accueil Notre-Dame came into being, this time on the right bank of the Gave. It was opened in 1997. The Accueil Notre-Dame is a special place, in particular by its proximity to the Grotto and procession route, explains GILLES Bartoloméo, President of the Association of the Presidents of French-speaking Hospitalities. A pilgrim, too tired to go out, can participate at a procession from his room or the terrace, or simply turn to the Grotto to pray. The meals in the refectory are conducive to exchanging views and experiences. We experience deeply moving occasions in the chapel, and during the festive evening which takes place in the transit lounge, during which we share the grace of living together, both healthy and sick. Everyone's satisfaction is often summed up in these words: "Paradise must be something like this". Archives et Patrimoine_SNDL In 2004, Pope John Paul II, very diminished in health, came on pilgrimage to Lourdes. He opted to stay at the Accueil Notre-Dame, a sick person among the sick (in this photo we see him using the panoramic lift to go to the Grotto). Sanctuaire de Lourdes/François Labadie
The Accueil Notre-Dame is their home Brother Serge Tyvaert Hospitality of the Rosary Pilgrimage (France) The Accueil Notre-Dame, the spirit of the home can be resumed in three words: availability, professionalism and the grace of joy. Father Tobias Bluitt Cloyne Diocesan Pilgrimage (Ireland) The Accueil had an air of restfulness and peacefulness which is conducive to a spirit of prayer, and a homely atmosphere is always evident. Claude Renaudeau Hospitality Notre-Dame des Armées Thanks to the Accueil Notre-Dame, an accommodation facility - which is well adapted, functional, convivial, and ideally placed - sick, injured or disabled pilgrims can experience total immersion in the Sanctuary. Serena Zapponi Pilgrimages of the Order of Malta Every year, during our international pilgrimage, our sick pilgrims from throughout the world, practically occupy the whole of the Accueil Notre-Dame: it is an immense privilege for them to stay there. Mgr Gian Paolo Angelino Pilgrimages OFTAL (Italy) OFTAL is always anxious to accommodate its sick or disabled pilgrims at the Accueil Notre-Dame, very near the Grotto. In 2004, they were privileged to find themselves there at the same time as the sick John Paul II, who was himself a guest. Bertrand Clerc-Renaud Hospitality OL of Lourdes What strikes me in the Accueil Notre-Dame is the spirit of openness and the great availability of the volunteers. Elisabeth de Place Hospitality Notre-Dame de Salut (France) ''Accueil Notre-Dame'': there was never a name more apt! Following the example of the Virgin Mary, it opens its arms to embrace you, and offers a place of peace and harmony to each one. Within its walls, it is the heart of Mary which beats in each person who looks after us. Valéry Rigaud EHPAD of Limoux (France) From our arrival at the Accueil Notre-Dame, everything is put in motion to facilitate the transfer of our guests, some of whom are very elderly. Our stays in Lourdes are never a problem. Bernadette Douillet Lourdes Cancer Espérance The Accueil Notre-Dame is a home where the words "take care" and "serve" assume their full meaning. It is also a place where everything is possible. Marco Torri Hospitality of Varallo (Italy) The Accueil Notre-Dame is the first and the last contact of our pilgrims with Lourdes, after and before a long journey. Caring there is of the highest quality: it is priceless Pablo Garamendi Lecanda Spanish Hospitalities The Accueil Notre-Dame is an accommodation centre, but above all a place where we are all cared for under the cloak of Mary. Mgr Georges Pontier French Bishops Conference For years, during the plenary assembly, the Conference of the French Bishops has been accommodated in the Accueil Notre- Dame. Our thanks go to the whole team which ensures a service of quality which greatly facilitates our work. Bruno Michel Director of the Hospital of Limoux-Quillan (France) "When age is felt or disease occurs, the quality of service for guests and their carers at the Accueil Notre-Dame enables them to appreciate the beauty of the Sanctuary of Lourdes. Respecting the convictions of each person in a public establishment, their stay here facilitates their wish to pursue their own spiritual path and is also the occasion for some to discover or rediscover the pleasure of meeting others and sharing their experiences." Christophe Cieslar Publication Director: Thierry Castillo Managing Editors: Mathias Terrier and Father Horacio Brito Contributors to this edition: Martine Korpal, Joël Luzenko, Laurent Jarneau and the Chaplains of Lourdes Graphics and layout: Caroline Tillié, Freddy Mengelle Distribution: Christian Sassus, Jean-Claude Barthe and Jean-Marc Tertacap Translation: Nicole & Barry Griffin With the participation of: Benjamin Foussier, Claudie Lautel, David Torchala Print run: Conseil Imprime 65000 Tarbes Lourdes News 1 av. Mgr Théas 65108 Lourdes cedex For all correspondance: Service communication Tel. + (33) (0)5 62 42 78 01 Email: communication@lourdes-france.com ISSN: 2273-4783 Registration of copyright: at publication date