Day 1 Saturday 9th October
After-noon check-in at Boston airport for overnight on Air France flight to Lisbon via Paris.
Day 2 Sunday 10th October
On arrival, you will be met by your guide and take a coach to the 4 Hotel Styler in Fatima.
Check-in for 3 nights with dinner, breakfast and lunch. After check-in and breakfast, we will all
attend the International con-celebrated Mass at 11am. After lunch we take an afternoon tour to
Santarem and visit the Church of St Stephen site of a Eucharistic Miracle over 700 years ago.
Day 3 Monday 11th October
After breakfast we will have morning Mass in the Capelinha, the Apparition site at Cova da
Iria. On our orientation tour of the Sanctuary we see the Rosary Basilica with the tombs of
Francisco, Jacinta and Lucia, the Berlin Wall, the Old Holmoak, Monument to the Sacred
Heart, the Fountain, Basilica of the Holy Trinity, and the Chapel of Adoration. Afternoon
visit to the Museum of Light and Peace. Dinner at hotel.
Day 4 Tuesday 12th October
Morning walk the Hungarian Way of the Cross, through the Olive and Oak trees, to
Valinhos (where Our Lady appeared on 19th August 1917) to the Calvary. Visit Loca do
Anjo where the Angel of Peace appeared to the Children. Continue to Aljustrel and visit
the homes of the Little Shepherds and see the Well in Lucias garden where they also had a
vision. Return to hotel for lunch. This afternoon is free in Fatima to explore the town. After
dinner we join the many pilgrims for the Rosary in the Basilica at 9pm.
Day 5 Wednesday 13th October
This morning we again join the many pilgrims for the Rosary in the Capelinha. After an
early lunch we will transfer to Lisbon airport to take our flight to Lourdes, France, arriving
at 6pm. On arrival, you will be met by your guide and take a coach to the 4 Hotel Astrid
in Lourdes. Check-in for 4 nights with dinner, breakfast and lunch. Lourdes where Our
Blessed Lady appeared to little Bernadette Soubirous 18 times in 1858. After check in and
dinner, time permitting, your guide will give an orientation talk at the Sanctuary and take
you to visit the Grotto of Massabielle.
Day 6 Thursday 14th October
This morning after breakfast we will depart as a group and make our way to celebrate our
first Mass of the pilgrimage. Over the next few days all our intentions, the intentions we
carry from friends and family will be offered up at each Mass. Following Mass, we will
make our way to the sanctuary area where we will have a detailed orientation tour and our
guide will explain where and why the Rosary Basilica was built and introduce us to the
confessional chapel and the baths area. We will return to the hotel for lunch which is usually
served at 12 noon. After lunch we generally meet with our guide at our hotel to embark on
the walking tour which follows in the footsteps of St Bernadette. We begin at the cemetery
where her parents are buried and walk back in time to visit the Boly Mill, the birthplace of
St. Bernadette and the Cachot an abandoned prison where she and her impoverish family
lived. During the walking tour we will hopefully get the sense of how the apparitions had
such an impact on the family and this small village of Lourdes. After our walk we can take
some free time to go back to the sanctuary area for some time of personal prayer before
attending the blessing of the sick. After dinner we will take part in the evening program as
per the Sanctuary schedule which is optional for those who wish to attend the Rosary and
the candlelight procession, beginning at 9pm.
Blessed Sacrament Procession
Each day at 5pm we will have an opportunity as pilgrims to walk with the Blessed Sacrament. The
Blessed Sacrament reminds us all that Jesus is truly walking among us and that Our Lady is always
drawing us back to her Son. The Procession starts in the Prairie of the Sanctuary and finishes in the
Basilica of Saint Pius X in time for Adoration and Blessing of all Pilgrims. This is an optional part of the
program, and will generally not be accompanied by the guide.
Day 7 Friday 15th October
After a restful nights sleep, we leave the hotel as a group and visit the baths. After lunch
there we travel to Bartres. Bernadette held a special place for Bartres in her heart as it
was where she stayed and studied the Catechism to prepare to receive her first Holy
Communion. As a group we will celebrate Holy Mass in the chapel where Bernadette
prayed. We shall return to our hotel for dinner at 7pm. After dinner this evening we again
have an opportunity to take part in the evening programme as per the Sanctuary schedule.
Baths
The baths are a major highlight in Lourdes. Its a time to bring our intentions and needs to Our Lady and
her Son. The baths are, for many, a place of physical and spiritual healing and a conversion of heart. (The
baths may be very busy depending on the day or time and we may need to return on an alternative day.
Our guide will advise the group of this.)
Day 8 Saturday 16th October
We will begin today at the most sacred site at the sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, the
grotto where Our Lady first appeared to Bernadette in 1858. During our time at the Grotto
we can walk in and around the Grotto area placing our hands on the grotto walls where
the original spring is still visible. There is also an intentions box situated within the Grotto
area where we can leave our intentions. Attend Mass in the Lower Dolores. After lunch we
will meet up as a group at St. Josephs Gate with our guide and participate in the High or
Low stations of the cross. The high stations are life size figures which re-enact the passion
of Christ. They are located at the top of the Rosary basilica hill and will take approximately
1.5hr to complete. The low stations are located across from the baths area and have been
designed to facilitate anybody who may have any walking difficulties. Both the high and low
stations are an opportunity to experience Christs unconditional love for us all as we pray
together on the passion through Our Ladys eyes. After dinner we again have an opportunity
to take part in the evening program as per the Sanctuary schedule.
Lourdes Grotto
It was here while gathering wood that Our Lady first appeared to Bernadette in 1858. During the first
two apparitions, little Bernadette prayed the Rosary with Our Lady and left without any exchange of
words. During one of Our Ladys visits to Bernadette, She announced herself saying I am the Immaculate
Conception. Throughout the following apparitions, Our Lady emphasized Gods love for us, penance and
the necessity of performing acts of penance for sinners.
Day 9 Sunday 17th October
After breakfast we gather in the hotel lobby to take our Coach transfer to Toulouse for our
connecting flight to Boston via Paris.
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