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HistoryThe British Lourdes Nurses Association (BLNA) was formed in 2001, and is perhaps the ‘youngest’ of the cross-pilgrimage groups. The Lourdes Doctors (Lourdes Medical Association, the LMA) have met regularly for many years, as have the British Stagieres, the Association of British Lourdes Hospitalities (ABLPH) and the Lourdes Pilgrimage Directors. Many of the nurses going to Lourdes on Pilgrimage felt that they needed to speak with other nurses who travelled to Lourdes. As the rapid pace of change in nursing in general continues, the BLNA was formed to help ensure that there was support to ensure current best practice throughout pilgrimage nursing in Lourdes. Whether a pilgrimage is from Lands End or John O’Groates, the problems are often the same! The first meeting was held on 13th and 14th of October, 2001 at London Colney Pastoral Centre. Sixteen nurses from eleven dioceses throughout Britain attended, a committee was formed and office bearers appointed. At all subsequent AGMs, a variety of speakers have been invited, ensuring a lively and informative programme. The BLNA have used other venues since London Colney in an effort to ensure attendance of as many nurses as possible. These include Worth Abbey, Surrey; Hawkestone Hall, Shropshire; The Ghillies Centre, Edinburgh and St Mary’s College, Oscott, Sutton Coldfield. Current BLNA Council / Committee office-bearers
Founder members of the Association
The first chairholder was Claire Callaghan (2001-3). Claire was the Chief Nurse for the Liverpool dioceses and worked as a specialist Lymphoedema nurse. She worked hard during her time of office to develop and consolidate the group. Next was BrotherFrancis (2003-2006), a Benedictine monk from Worth Abbey who was Chief Nurse for Arundel and Brighton at the time. Francis was a Children’s Palliative Care Nurse. Francis tried hard to bring us into the 21st century by developing a database and persuading us to try and have our own website. Then Jane McCafferty chief nurse for St. Andrew’s & Edinburgh pilgrimage was elected (2006-9). Jane is a Clinical Nurse specialist in Gynaecology/Oncology and also a Nurse Colposcopist working in Fife. Her aim was to build on the good foundations that had been laid and to continue the development of a website. Currently Frances Presgraves has been elected to the chair (2009 to 2011), a post normally held for three years. Frances was BLNA Secretary last year and a BLNA Council / Committee member prior to that. Frances recently held the post of Chief Nurse of the Catholic Association for five years (having been a CA Hospitalite Council Elected Member for several years). |
