The Middlesbrough Diocesan Lourdes Sick Fund has been in existence since the inception of the Pilgrimage in 1952 and is available specifically for the use of sick pilgrims in Lourdes and to aid any person who is unable to accompany us on pilgrimage due to financial reasons. All help is confidential and agreed by the Spiritual Director of the Pilgrimage.

The cost of taking one of our VIP’s to Lourdes is £550 which like everything else increases by about 5% per year.

The fund has been generously supported in the past and we are extremely grateful for that support, but we do need your help still. For this reason we are launching a new initiative ‘Friends of Lourdes’ where we are requesting a regular commitment from people on a monthly standing order basis. This could be increased by 27% by the use of covenanting which enables the fund to claim the extra funds from the Inland Revenue.

For example if 10 people gave £5.00 per month this would pay for one VIP .

To set up a regular payment to the Middlesbrough Diocesan Lourdes Sick Fund, please complete the attached form and return to Finance Department, Diocese of Middlesbrough, Curial Office, 50a The Avenue, Middlesbrough TS5 6QT.
Registered Charity Number: 233748

Designed in the form of “open arms” like the Rosary Basilica the Accueil Notre-Dame reminds us that, in Lourdes, everyone is made welcome and cared for.

Lourdes 2007 is almost with us again and this a gentle reminder of our last and main meeting before we depart. All, of course, are welcome even if not coming this year and we can also take the opportunity for a social gathering.

Lourdes is best known for its Grotto, the cave area in the Domain where Bernadette saw Mary and spoke to her. Over 6 million people a year visit the Grotto to pray there.

Maria Murphy, a Year Six pupil at St Peter’s School in Scarborough, completed the ‘Walk for Life’ on Sunday 25th March, an annual event in Scarborough held specifically for fundraising, and realised over £1,000 for the Lourdes Sick Fund - Coastal Region.

photo of Maria Murphy

Sunday 11th February saw the Annual Hull Lourdes Sick Fund Rally for Hull and district at the church of Our Lady of Lourdes and St Peter Chanel in Hull. Due to Bishop John being unwell, the principal celebrant was Canon Michael Loughlin, the Episcopal Vicar for the city of Hull and the East Riding.

Friday 25th 2007

16:30 Mass for pilgrims, St Cosmos and Damien Chapel

17:00 Mass for sick pilgrims, Accueil

21:00 Marian Torchlight Procession

Saturday 26th 2007

Morning Walking tours of Lourdes

11:00 Stations of the Cross, Bottom Stations

14:00 Opening Mass of the Pilgrimage, St Bernadette (Carmel)

17:00 Blessed Sacrament Procession, Underground Pius X

20:30 Welcome for Young Pilgrims, Hemicycle

21:00 Marian Torchlight Procession

Sunday 27th May 2007

Pentecost

10:00 Reconciliation Service, St Bernadette (Carmel)

14:00 Youth Mass, St Bernadette (Grotto)

17:00 Blessed Sacrament Procession, Underground Pius X

21:00 Marian Torchlight Procession

Monday 28th May 2007

9:45 Mass with other English speaking Pilgrimages, Grotto

Diocesan Photograph, Basilica Steps

14:00 Baths

17:00 Blessed Sacrament Procession, Underground Pius X

20:00 Holy Hour Taize, St Joseph’s Chapel

21:00 Marian Torchlight Procession

Tuesday 29th May 2007

10:30 Mass with Children’s Liturgy, St Bernadette (Carmel)

12:00 Excursion to Lac d’Estaing

17:00 Blessed Sacrament Procession, Underground Pius X

21:00 Youth Prayers, Hemicycle

21:00 Whole pilgrimage joins the Marian Torchlight Procession

Wednesday 30th May 2007

09:30 Youth Trip to Mountains

10:00 International Mass, Underground Pius X

13:30 Shopping and Leisure

17:00 Blessed Sacrament Procession, Underground Pius X

19:00 Youth Party, Solitude Hotel

21:00 Marian Torchlight Procession

Thursday 31st May 2007

10:30 Anointing Mass, St Bernadette (Grotto)

14:00 Closing Ceremony and Blessing, St Bernadette (Grotto)

Negotiating Kerbs

Whenever possible, it is best to avoid kerbs. Always try to use dropped kerbs or ramps. If you wish to negotiate kerbs unaided, do not do so until you have had proper instruction. Ask a nurse, handmaid or branc for help.

Pushing an Occupied Wheelchair Down a Kerb

It is safer to go down a kerb backwards. It requires less strength and gives a gentler ride. Care needs to be taken though, because you will be stepping backwards into the road.

1. Practise with an empty wheelchair first.
2. Always tell the person in the wheelchair what you are about to do.
3. Make sure the road is clear, then back the wheelchair to the edge of the kerb.
4. Pull the rear wheels carefully down onto the road surface, making sure that both wheels touch down at the same time.
5. When the front casters are at the edge of the kerb, pull back on the handles and at the same time push down and forward on the tipping lever with your foot. This will balance the wheelchair and its occupant on the rear wheels. Do not tip the wheelchair back more than necessary.
6. Carefully pull the wheelchair further back into the road and, when the occupant’s feet are clear of the kerb, gently lower the front to the road. Check that the road is clear before turning around and crossing.

Pushing an Occupied Wheelchair up a Kerb

It is safer to go up a kerb forwards; it requires less strength and gives a gentler ride.

1. Practise with an empty wheelchair first.
2. Always tell the person in the wheelchair what you are about to do.
3. When the occupant’s feet are nearly touching the kerb, pull back on the handles and at the same time push down and forwards on the tipping lever with your foot. This will balance the wheelchair and its occupant on the rear wheels.
4. When the front casters are just clear of the kerb, push the wheelchair forwards until the casters rest on the pavement. Do not tip the wheelchair back more than necessary.
5. Push the wheelchair forwards until the back wheels just touch the kerb and then lift up on the handles as you continue pushing forwards to place the rear wheels on the pavement. The occupant can help with this stage by pushing forwards on the handrims.

Carrying Bags on a Wheelchair

Never hang bags on the back of the wheelchair because this can make it unbalanced and more liable to tip over backwards.

Booking forms available NOW for air travel via Parishes or Father Brian Nicholson, Redcar. Hope to see you there.

Saturday 3rd March, 2pm

at St Clare’s Church

Low Lane, Brookfield, Middlesbrough.

Any Handmaids interested in joining the 2007 Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes in May please come along.

Further details available from Helen Pennington, tel 01642 591623