Annual Report and Flnanclalststements forthe year ended 31 December 2023
Hospltallte Of Our Lady of Lourdes- Dlocese of Dromore
Trustees, Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023
The charitable purpose of the Hospitalite of Our La(iy of Lourdes- Dlocese of Dromore Is to promote
devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes and facilitate the sick of the Diocese of Dromore to make a
pilgramage to Lour(fes.
The principal function of the Hospitalite of Our Lady of Lourdes- Dlocese of Dromore is to support
the advancement of the Catholic religion by promoting devotion to Our Lady of Lourcles and the wlder
mission of the church at parish level and at the shrine in Lourdes. This is pursued through pastoral,
evangellstic, social or ecumenical means, being open to and engagingwith soclety as a whole and
offering support forthose wlshing to travelto the shrine at Lourdes.
Hospitalite of Our Lady of Lourdes- Diocese of Dromore Is an associatlon of volunteers who work
underthe auspices ofthe Cathollc Church and meet across the Diocese of Dromore at Parish Level.
We spend time together and go out In the communityto promote the faith , partlcularly devotlon to
Our Lady of Lourdes, and to organise various fund raislng activities In order to facilltate our Assisted
Pilgrims and Workers to travelto the international shrine at Lourdes, France. The Hospltalite has also
considered the Charity Commlssion for Northern Ireland's guidance on public benefit to ensure that
the actlvities entered during the year have helped to achieve the Hospitalite's objectives and
activities, as well as provlding public benef it.
The Executive Committee led by our Splritual Director Fr. Brian Fltzpatrick organise participatlon in
Masses, processions and Ilturgies throughout ourtime atthe shrine in Lourdes that are benficial and
spirituallyfulfilllngfor all piigrlms and for those who followfrom home via the shrine webcam. Our
community meets In the month of Aprilfor volunteer preparatlon before trabel, we make the annual
pilgrimage to Lourdes in May an(J we invite allwho made the piigrlmage together agaln in the month
of Octoberforour annual reunion Mass. Some parish committees atso organise events at a local
level forthe wider parish community in February, makingthe anniversary of the first apparltions in
Lourdes.
Pastoral care is central to the life and witness ofthe Hospitallte of Our Lady of Lourdes- Dlocese of
Dromore. We engage with aspirlng pilgrims early In the newyear in preparation for the journey to
Lourdes In May. We carry out medical and nursing assessment of those who wish to travel as assisted
(sickl pilgrims, including sick children and their parents, and put arrangements in place for those
with life-limitlng conditions and those who require assistance with mobility. In Lourdes we arrange
accomodation for sick pilgri ms In a dedicated care facility and take care of all their needs as pilgrims

Annual Report and Flnanclal Statements forthe year ended 31 December 2023
Hospltallte Of Our Lady of Lourdes- Dlocese of Dromore
Trustees, Annual Report for the yearended 31 December 2023
untilthey return home. We are available at parish levelthroughout the yearto offer practical
assistance when possible.
Hospitalite of Our Lady of Lourdes - Diocese of Dromore is made up of an Executive Committee and
19 Parish Committees who operate across the diocese. All committees operate under the Diocesan
Safeguarding Policy. The various parishes plan events throughout the year to raise funds to help send
their sick parishioners and workers on the annual pilgrimage duringthe month of May. Such events
include raffles. fashion shows, sponsored walks. dances, concerts and many more, Friendship
outings are organised regularly between thevarious committees to promote well-being and a sense
of comrnunity.
Hospitalite of Our Lady of Lourdes- Diocese of Dromore strives to put Our Lady and the message of
Lourdes atthe centre of everythingwe do. We have recently introduced our Financial Policles and
Procedures document to help strengthen our position in Parish life. We are updating our
constitution to ensure clearguidance and we adhere to the Dlocesan Chlld and Adult Safeguarding
policies.
The reservces policy ofthe charity is dlctated by it's two-yearoperational cycle. The openlng reseNes
fortheyear dictate the capacity of the charityto organise the pilgrimages during the yearwhich take
place the followingyear. Forthis reason, the parishes are expected to hold reserves of approximately
twoyears pilgrimage programme funding and the executive to have sufficient funds to coverthe
advanced booking deposits.
The 2023yearwas the first pilgrimage to run since the Covid-19 pandemic. For this reason and
continued associated risks there were no assisted pilgrams on the 2023 pilgrimage to Lourdes.
There was a significant increase in income and expediture from 2022 which reflects the pilgrimage in
the year. Total income is £136,797.09 and expenditijre in the year of £137,332.18. which resulted in
an overall defecit of £535.09.
The2023 accounts include three adjustments whlch have been carryingforward numerous years to
include unpresented cheques and double counted donations which had net effect of {£4.069.28).
The charity has total reseNes of £664.409.63. The restricted amount Is £536,477.07 and the
unrestrlcted amount Is £127,932.56which are adequate.

Annual Report and Flnanclal Statements forthe year ended 31 December2023
Hospltsllte 01 Our Lady of Lourdes- Dlocese of Dromore
Trustees, Annual Report fortheyear ended 31 December 2023
Hospitallte of Our Lady of Lourdes- Diocese of Dromore are governed by a Governlng Document
and Constitution which outlines the structure and management ofthe charity.
As well as constitutional requirements, the Executive and parishes committees are obliged to
implement regulations of the Diocese of Dromore. The diocesan regulations require adherence to the
Child and Adult Safeguarding Policy, to file and pilgrimage report with the diocesan off ice within a
reasonable period oftime on our return frm Lourdes, to remain registered with the Charity
Commission of Northern Ireland, and to submit a copyof our accounts on an annuaL basis to the
diocesan office.
em
All members are volunteers. There are no paid employees.
Hospitslite of Our Lady of Lourdes- Diocese of Domore- Executive is made up of 15 parish
representatives who organise the annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes. There are 19 Parish
Committees who fund raise to send their Parishionerslworkers to Lourdes
tion
The charity engages pro-actively with the legislation, standards and codes which are developed for
the sector. Hospitalite of Our Lady of Lourdes- Diocese of Dromore subscribes to and is compliant
with the following: The Charities SORP {FRS 102).
The Hospitallte of Our Lady of Lourdes- Diocese of Dromore has given consideration tothe Charity
Commission for Northern Ireland's guidance on public benefitto ensure thatthe activities entered
Into during the year have halped to achieve the Hospitalite's objectives and activities, thus providing
public benef it.

Annual Report and Flnanclal Statements forthe year endeql 31 December2023
Hospltalfte Of Our Lady of Lour(les- Dlocese of Dromore
Trustees'Annual Report lorthe yearended 31 December 2023
The trustees have reviewed the budgets forthe yearahead and are satisfied thatthere are adequate
funds in place to ensure thatthe Hospitalite can contlnue its activities. The trustees are also satisfied
the financial statements forthe year end 31st December2023 can be signed off as a going concern.
The Trustees aim to maintain the charities current stable financial structure.
nt5AfAI￿Tr.u5tEeLEsp.O￿5.l.tstLtIfts
The trustees are responslble for preparingthe financial statements in accordance with applicable
law and regulatlons".
Charity law requires the trustees to prepare flnancial statements for each financialyear. Underthat
lawthe trustees have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom
GenerallyAccepted Accounting Practise (United Klngdom Accountingstandards and appllcable law).
Under charity lawthe trustees must not approve the flnancial statements unless they are satisfied
that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the f inancial activities
of the charity forthat period.
In preparingthese financlal statements. the trustees are required to follow best practise and:
Select suitable accounting policies and applythem consistently"
- Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.
State whether appllcable accounting stanoards have been followed, subjectto any material
departures disclosed and explained In the financlal statements"
State whetherthe Charitles SORP (effective January2015) in accordance with FRS 102 has been
followed.
Prepare the financial statements on the goingconcern basls unless it Is Inappropriate to presume
thatthe charitywillcontinue in operation.
The trustees confirm thatthey have complled with the above requirements in preparingthe financial
statements.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which dlsclose with reasonable
accuracy at anytime the flnancial positlon of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the
financial statements complywith applicable law. They are also responsible for safeguardingthe
assets ofthe charlty and hence fortaking reasonable steps forthe prevention and detection offraud
and other irregularities.
Approved bythe Board ofTrustees on 14th October2024 and signed of its behalf by:
Leo McGree
Sean McGreevy