The Accueil Notre-Dame Hospitial was built in 1997 and has a floor area of 27,000 sq m (290,630 sq ft). It provides a maximum of 904 beds in 290 rooms of one, two and six beds with eight dining rooms. In addition there are sixteen treatment rooms on the various levels to allow the pilgrimage medical teams to work in the best possible conditions.
The Birmingham Diocesan Pilgrimage sick are housed on the fourth floor. Kitty Collett from St Ambrose’s, Barlow says: ‘I have been to Lourdes eleven times. A few years ago I went into heart failure but Dr Crosby gave me an injection which made me well again. I am 85 but I keep coming back to Lourdes because I love it. I feel great and will keep coming here as long as I can and Dr Crosby lets me come.’

On entering the hospital one is struck by the joy and friendliness about the place. There is a sense of family and of coming home. Dr Crosby seems to know everybody. She ‘greets’ she ‘meets’ she ‘helps’ she ‘embraces’ she ‘directs.’ Everyone seems to know her. She says to one pilgrim: ‘Good Morning Kath, how are you?’‘How is your day going today.’ Kath Porter comes over and says: ‘Would you have such a thing as a hot water bottle.’ ‘I haven’t I’m afraid’ says Dr Crosby, ‘What sort of doctor are you’ Kath says jokingly!

Paradoxically despite the sickness and illness, joy and humour abound. Kath Porter says: ‘I remember helping you out at the duty free once you hadn’t enough money so I had to pay your bill for you.’ They both are in stitches laughing at the memory!!

Kath, a parishioner of St Mary’s Harbourne explains why she comes to Lourdes: ‘I have been coming for 35 years and come because I love Our Lady and St Bernadette. As a child at school we had two teachers Helen Darley and Edith Lloyd who came to Lourdes every year. They used to teach us about St Bernadette and I wanted to be like them. The first year I came I worked with Miss Darley but it took me years before I could call her Helen! I often wonder if she’s looking down on us! I have had chemotherapy and my consultant, who calls a spade and spade, said to me recently, ‘Kath, I can’t understand it, you’ve had one lot of chemo and the tumour is shrinking.’ I said to him, ‘People have forgot the power of prayer.’ And he replied cynically: ‘If you say so.’

Alison Reed, an occupational health nurse, is the Matron and the youngest Matron the pilgrimage has ever had.

It had been raining very heavily but this did not stop the sick going to the Grotto. ‘The Mass was in the Grotto and despite the rain if the sick wanted to be there they needed to be there. Coming to Lourdes and being able to go to the Grotto and spend time and celebrate Mass there is just such a special thing for them. The rain drove a few people out but those who wanted to stay remained. We made sure the sick had double blankets and were kept warm. I remember one year when the theme was water - it rained all week!’

Alison is in charge of the nursing section and co-ordinates all the nursing and caring staff. There are 15 qualified nurses and 11 carers who offer 24 hour round the clock care. ‘This is my second year as Matron’ Alison explains, ‘Once you’ve been once you get addicted to coming to Lourdes. This is my annual holiday but you don’t think you’re using up your holiday time. I enjoy it immensely from a nursing point of view because we get to spend time sitting with patients, spending time with them and listening. We are able to offer a quality of care here and it is very encouraging to see people go away after the pilgrimage so uplifted.’

Dr Crosby shows us the dining room at the Accueil which is full of buzz and excitement as people gather to share a meal, exchange stories and enjoy a time of fellowship. There is a great sense of just enjoying fellowship and being together.

After lunch we meet up with John Barron, known as ‘The Baron’ who has been coming to Lourdes for 58 years. ‘I started coming to Lourdes as a youth. For me thanksgiving has always been a big part of my pilgrimage – just thanking God for all my blessings. Lourdes is also for me a big reunion of a big family.

Monica Mary Barratt, a retired nursing sister says: ‘I came for the first time last year. I just love it, everybody is lovely. The first year I came I was so deeply impressed. The Masses and the liturgy are wonderful but also just mixing with the youngsters. How at my age am I going to mix with young people? I adore young people, I can’t get enough of them. I was up last night playing bingo! It is amazing to see young lads involved in all the helping. You sort of expect that of girls but so many lads. I wish I was a bit younger!!

Mary Hughes, a parishioner from Holy Name, Great Barr said: ‘I’ve had chemo, I’ve had surgery and I’ve got one more chemo session to go. I hadn’t been to Mass since October and this was the first Mass since then – I haven’t been well at all but coming to Lourdes and being with such lovely people is such a tonic. I feel better in myself.’

Jack Ferber (10) came on the Jumberlance and then the train to Lourdes. Jack has Perthe’s disease and has developed a range of debilitating allergies as a result. Jack says: ‘I like meeting new people at Lourdes and I love the torchlight procession – I like seeing all the flags and seeing Mary carried. It’s cozy staying here in the Accueil and lots of fun. This is my third time. We pray a lot and meet new people. I feel happy when I come to Lourdes.’

Maryelen Loughran and her mother Angela are from Corpus Christi parish, Stetchford. They are on their third visit to Lourdes. Maryelen, like Jack, is very brave and has a lot to cope with. She has had numerous operations and has suffered a lot over the years but remains hopeful, joyful and optimistic. Angela says: ‘We love coming to Lourdes, there is so much kindness and nothing is too much bother – there are not enough words to say what it means to us.’ Maryelen, is an exceptional young girl and despite her own problems is always looking out for others.

Dr Mike Moloney, the Chief Medical Officer unpacks why he thinks it is good that young people come to Lourdes. ‘Having the young people here is great – they return home having a sense of knowing a little bit more about themselves and how lucky they are in so many ways. They see folk much worse off than they are and it gives them a sense of proportion and value.’ As an NHS Consultant he says that his experience of Lourdes is one he would recommend to his colleagues - especially newly qualified ones.

‘To be working in a team where you are all pulling in the same direction with one purpose in mind - to get the sick out to Lourdes and safely back - is a very good experience for us all’.
Fiona Bonham, a parishioner of Holy Trinity, Sutton Coldfield, and teacher at St Patricks Primary School, Chelmsley Wood, holds the exalted and coveted position of: General Gopher. She says: ‘The Gopher involves photocopying, proof reading, making cups of coffee. Putting liturgies together, anything that needs doing basically. Anything that needs an extra pair of hands really. I’ve been doing the job for a while but I’ve only just got the title!!!!

Fr Philip Griffin, Parish Priest of Holy Trinity, Newcastle Under Lyme, is the Chaplain to the Sick at Lourdes. ‘I am just here to be someone else that people can turn to and guide people in the right direction. My role is a supporting one: the sick, the youth, the handmaids, the brancardias. The truth is everybody has needs and I just try and give support where I can. I get a lot of hope and encouragement in my priesthood from coming to Lourdes.’

That is the point about Lourdes, everybody receives so much hope and encouragement from coming. This year is the 150th Anniversary of the Apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes. It will be a special and wonderful occasion for the diocese and if you have not been before – take the plunge, and come, you will love it and a warm welcome awaits you.