Roles of people in Lourdes

The Archdiocese of Liverpool pilgrimage to Lourdes involves around 2000 people, each with their own role and responsibility. It’s important to know who the people are that we are going to be working alongside, how they can help us, and how we can help them. Things don’t always go to plan, but at the end of the day we’re all on the same team!

Coach Leader

• Works with Pilgrimage Director to choose members of Staff
• Collects payment from young people
• Plans Preparation Meetings with Staff
• Meets with other Coach Leaders before the Pilgrimage, to discuss common issues
• In loco parentis- Legal responsibility for the safety of members of the coach group
• Responsible for ensuring young people are present for duties and services, etc.

Staff

• Work with the Coach Leader to ensure the safety of all young people on the Pilgrimage.
• Help plan coach preparation meetings

Plane Team

• Perform more specialised caring work in the St Frai
• Assist with care of St Frai pilgrims during the journey
• Join in main pilgrimage celebrations
• Join in Youth Pilgrimage celebrations

Over 18s

• Make themselves available for a number of shifts of practical work (e.g. serving food) and caring work in the St Frai
• Join in with the activities of the rest of the group when not ‘On Duty’
• Allowed to stay out for an extra hour some evenings
• Follow the same rules as the rest of the group

Hospitalité

• Provide caring and practical support for Liverpool St Frai pilgrims in and out of the St Frai
• Work as a team with Hospitalité members from other pilgrimages and Lourdes permanent staff
• Includes doctors and nurses

St Frai Pilgrims

• Travel to Lourdes to visit the Grotto and take part in the services
• Unable to look after themselves in one of hotels; may be seriously ill
• Don’t always want to do what is on the pilgrimage timetable

Youth Pilgrims

• Help the St Frai pilgrims to enjoy their pilgrimage
• Spend time with St Frai pilgrims and help them to get to and from celebrations

Chaplains

• Priests from around the Archdiocese come to Lourdes as part of parish groups
• Each coach on the Youth Pilgrimage has a chaplain on the staff
• Take part in the Diocesan celebrations
• Help with reconciliation services

Pilgrimage Director

• In overall charge of the safety of all young people on the Pilgrimage
• Responsible for booking hotels and coaches for each group
• Point of contact for all matters regarding the Youth Pilgrimage
• In charge of all Coach Leaders
• Works with Coach Leaders to choose Staff
• Responsible for the spiritual dimension of the Youth Pilgrimage (e.g. Youth Masses)
• Organises coach groups so that there are always enough young people for the needs of the St Frai pilgrims.