English-language Lourdes formators meet in York

Our Lady's Parish in York hosted the annual meeting of English-language Lourdes formators.

Every year some seven million people come to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in the French Pyrenees.

The mission of welcoming and accompanying these pilgrims is entrusted by the local bishop to an organisation called the Hospitalité Notre Dame de Lourdes (HNDL).

HNDL comprises 15,000 volunteers from around the world, who serve for a week in the sanctuary's famous grotto and churches, welcoming fellow pilgrims at the airport and railway station, and maintaining the houses of welcome for sick and disabled people.

In their initial years, these volunteers receive practical training and spiritual formation in one of the HNDL's six languages.

The English-language formation team currently includes men and women from the UK, Ireland, Malta and the USA.

Every year they meet shortly after the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes to pray together and plan for the coming pilgrimage season. In recent years, this annual meeting has alternated between London and York. If you would like to know more about HNDL, please visit hospitalite-nd- lourdes.com.

A small group of pilgrims from York