Pilgrimage
to Lourdes
What you can expect
Rise & Shine brings children and young people with additional needs on a week-long pilgrimage holiday to Lourdes each Easter. 400 young people with additional needs are invited as guests. This trip is free for our guests as our volunteers fundraise for it. Volunteers pay for their own trip.
Watch some of our videos to get a flavour of this very unique and often life enhancing experience for all those involved.
Each of our groups comprise of around 15 volunteer carers and 10 guests. Every single group includes a group leader, a nurse, and carers. We are accompanied by a team of volunteer doctors who provide additional medical support.
Easter Pilgrimage
Easter Pilgrimage · Volunteers
The groups share a wonderful fun filled week together that includes playing games in the park, day trips to the mountains, the beach, the zoo, or bowling, fancy-dress parties, large masses full of music and colour, the candlelight procession and visits to the Grotto.
Our plan for the week in Lourdes
Groups travel from Shannon, Belfast and Dublin to Lourdes by plane. There is great excitement as they settle in to their hotels in Lourdes.
Monday is a day for strolling around the busy streets and getting to know the story of Lourdes, and taking a first visit to the Grotto. There’s always time for an ice cream though!
Tuesday morning is our wonderful Irish Mass where 1,000 people join in a celebration full of colour, music, song and dance. This is a great day for groups to really get to know each other.
Wednesday is our groups excursion day. They take packed lunches and travel by bus to Gavarnie in the Pyrenees mountains, the beach at Saint-Jean-de-Luz, the zoo or bowling in the nearby town of Tarbes.
Thursday is our International mass – over 3,000 people gather together from our worldwide Trust groups. It is full of music, colour and song. Thursday is also party night and all groups dress-up for loads of fun and games.
Friday is our last full day, time for shopping, revisiting their favourite café, maybe even a tour of Lourdes on the Petit Train. Before we go, we’ll light our group candle and say a prayer for our family at home.
Saturday we’re back on the plane and travel home tired and happy, a lot of sad faces as new friends say goodbye to each other.
Join us and be our guest
Guest Application Form
Join us and become a volunteer
Volunteer Application Form
Make an impact today
At Rise & Shine we bring people with additional needs on pilgrimage holidays to Lourdes and on holiday in Ireland and we fundraise and rely on private donations to cover their costs.
Help us continue this wonderful work
Rise & Shine ('The Irish Pilgrimage Trust') is listed on the Charities Regulatory Authority register of charities as required under the Charities Act 2009.