From this season, the Sanctuary is introducing important changes to the Baths and Water Gesture in Lourdes. Our team in Lourdes shares this important update for pilgrims:
THE BATHS
The Baths will be open in the mornings for 2 hours (9am to 11am approximately) for ‘individual’ pilgrims to avail of what is called ‘full immersion’.
Pilgrims will have to join a queue and wait their turn, as in the past, and whether they get in or not will depend on the number of people queuing and the number of hospitality volunteers available to assist at the Baths. This was the way the Baths operated for many years until covid and our representatives at the Sanctuary recommend going down in good time.
Diocesan Pilgrimage Groups who have assisted pilgrims can make ‘reservations’ for the Baths for the afternoon; which means that assisted pilgrim groups with their helpers (in limited numbers) will have priority in the afternoon at a certain time..
Any other pilgrims who wish to avail of the Baths in the afternoon will then wait ‘behind’ the assisted pilgrim groups. There will be times when there will be not be any assisted pilgrims officially booked in the afternoons, which would mean less waiting time for individual pilgrims when this happens.
It is important to highlight the fact that the Joe Walsh Tours team can not make reservations at the Baths for pilgrims. Reservations are strictly for assisted pilgrims within Diocesan Pilgrimages travelling with their helpers.
At the Baths, as elsewhere in the Sanctuary, priority is always given to sick/assisted pilgrims who may arrive to join the queue.
WATER GESTURE
The Water Gesture will be available at different points around the Sanctuary with the taps near the Baths and across the river near the Low Stations, according to information received by our team. When possible, there will be Volunteers at these points to assist pilgrims with the different steps involved in the Water Gesture and help make it a prayerful act.
Diocesan and large Pilgrimage Groups are encouraged to ‘include’ the water gesture in one of their ceremonies whilst they are at the Sanctuary so that there may be less queuing at the Water Gesture ‘points’ in the Sanctuary.
“It is important to underline that Our Lady’s message was ‘go to the spring , drink and wash there ‘ which is what pilgrims accomplish in the Water Gesture; there is no obligation to fully immerse in the water and furthermore it is not physically possible for everyone who comes to Lourdes to go the Baths for full immersion,” explains Caroline Trainor from Joe Walsh Tours in Lourdes.
“This new system may change or be adjusted in the course of the season and we will keep our pilgrims informed”.
You can find more details on the Sanctuary website: WATER GESTURE
You can find upcoming dates here: PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES.
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