About us
Who we are
HCPT is a registered charity that provides pilgrimage holidays to Lourdes in the South of France for children and adults with varying needs from across the UK and beyond.
Every Easter, around 1,000 children with varying needs enjoy a safe and fun filled week in Lourdes, supported by dedicated volunteer helpers and staying in hotels.
Each summer, more than 1,500 people, many living with disabilities or life limiting conditions, spend a joyful week at HCPT’s Hosanna House in Bartrès, near Lourdes.
Founded in 1956, HCPT is rooted in the Catholic faith but open to all. Our community of volunteers and beneficiaries includes people of all backgrounds, faiths, and none, united by the desire to share hope, friendship, and care.
Our culture and values
Vision
HCPT's vision is its 'dream', its source of inspiration and its ultimate achievement. That vision is something we hope you can identify with:
- Changing lives through pilgrimage, sharing God's gifts of love, friendship and joy.
Mission
HCPT's mission statement describes why it exists, what it does and the path it takes to achieve its vision.
HCPT is a volunteer-based charitable organisation founded in response to Our Lady's invitation to go on pilgrimage to Lourdes. Our aim is to enable those who may need help, especially the young, to experience pilgrimage, and we do that in small caring groups, seeking to share, with joy, the gift of God's love.
Values
Faith - our work reflects our Catholic identity.
- We welcome and respect all faiths and none.
- We treat others with love, as Jesus did.
- We put our faith into action, acting as the hands of the Lord.
- We build community and church.
Compassion – we act with kindness and empathy.
- We treat others as we would wish to be treated.
- We treat everyone with dignity and respect.
- We take care to understand the hopes and needs of others.
- We take time to listen to the stories of others.
Inclusion – we recognise everyone's unique worth.
- We welcome everyone to "come as they are".
- We do all we can to make all we do accessible to everyone.
- We are part of one HCPT family.
- We celebrate everyone's talents.
Service – our pilgrimage is based on giving.
- Our focus is on the needs of others.
- Our focus is not on ourselves.
- We enable and encourage others to serve.
- We are always open to improving how we serve others.