Day 1 Wednesday, September 14
Check in for overnight flight to Toulouse via
Frankfurt with in-flight meals served on board.
Day 2 Thursday, September 15
Upon arriving at Toulouse airport, make your way
to the baggage claim area and collect your luggage.
Proceed to the arrivals hall, where you will be
greeted by your tour guide and/or driver. You will
embark on a scenic drive to Lourdes. On arrival in
Lourdes, we will check-in to the 4 Hotel Astrid
and relax before dinner. After dinner, we can take
a short walk down to the Sanctuary to observe the
candlelight procession and to pray the Rosary.
Day 3 Friday, September 16
This morning after breakfast we will depart as
a group and make our way to celebrate our first
Mass of the pilgrimage. Following Mass, we will
make our way to the sanctuary area where we will
have a detailed orientation tour. We will return
to the hotel for lunch. 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. 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.
Day 4 Saturday, September 17
Following breakfast, we will take our transfer to
the medieval city of Carcassonne where we will
have Holy Mass and visit Carcassonne Cathedral.
Carcassonne, a hilltop town in southern Frances
Languedoc area, is famous for its medieval
citadel, La Cit, with numerous watchtowers
and double-walled fortifications. After Mass we
will visit the old historical center and have some
free time for lunch and sight seeing. After lunch
we will continue on to the city of Nimes, where
we will check into our hotel for 1 night. After
Dinner we will have the chance to visit the many
wonderful sights of this beautiful city. Nimes
was an important outpost of the Roman Empire
and is well known for well-preserved Roman
monuments such as the Arena of Nmes, a doubletiered
circa-70 A.D. amphitheater still in use for
concerts and bullfights.
Day 5 Sunday, September 18
Following breakfast in the hotel we will drive to
the town of Sisteron in Provence where we will do
some lovely sightseeing and visit the famous La
Citadelle de Sisteron. After lunch we will travel to
La Salette and check into the Sanctuaire de Notre
Dame de La Salette for 2 nights. We will have some
free time before dinner. Fr. Slight will celebrate an
English Mass in La Salette before or after dinner.
Day 6 Monday, September 19
Following breakfast we will take time around the
Sanctuary and celebrate the anniversary of the
Apparition of Our Lady to two children Melanie (15)
and Maximin (11) 176 years earlier.
Day 7 Tuesday, September 20
After breakfast we will travel to Paray Le Monial. This
shrine is the home to the devotion of the Sacred Heart
of Jesus. Here God chose St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
to be the instrument that would lead the world back
to Christ, favoring her with a number of apparitions
between 1673 and 1675. We will celebrate Holy Mass
at the most venerated spot, the Chapel of the Visitation,
where most of the apparitions to Blessed Margaret
Mary Alacoque took place. Next comes the Basilica
of the Sacred Heart, in charge of secular chaplains,
formerly the church of the monks, which is one of the
most beautiful monuments of Cluniac architecture.
During your visit to this Holy place, you will have
the opportunity to view relics of the beloved Saint.
Following free time for lunch in Paray Le Monial,
we will drive to Nevers via the picturesque Loire
Valle. Nevers is the site where St. Bernadette lived for
twelve years as a member of the Congregation of the
Sisters of Nevers. The Saint suffered from a number of
illnesses such as asthma, tuberculosis of the lungs, and
a tubercular tumor in her right knee. For this reason,
St. Bernadette received The Last Sacraments three
times and eventually passed away in 1879, at the age of
thirty-five. Visit of the Convent of Saint Gildard, before
enjoying a delicious meal and retiring for the evening
at a hotel in Nevers.
Day 8 Wednesday, September 21
Upon waking up in Nevers, enjoy breakfast and
Mass. Following Mass, you will depart for Chartres.
Upon arrival, you will have free time for lunch in
the quaint town, followed by a visit to the massive
Cathedral Notre Dame, which is known worldwide
for the incredible stained-glass windows, created in
the twelfth and thirteenth century. A World Heritage
site, by UNESCO, calls the Cathedral the high point
of French Gothic art and a masterpiece. After lunch,
we will continue will continue to Lisieux for dinner
and an overnight.
Day 9 Thursday, September 22
After breakfast, you will explore the life of St. Therese.
According to Pope Pius X, St. Therese of Lisieux was
the greatest saint of modern times. Her extraordinary
love for God and service to humanity will come alive
as you walk in the Great Saints footsteps. During your
visit, you will see the beautiful Basilica of St. Therese,
and the magnificent mosaics and stained glass
contained within. Following your visit to the Basilica,
you will have the opportunity to view relics, clothing
and personal objects of St. Therese, when you visit her
family home, Les Buissonets. Additionally, you will
tour the parish of St. Therese, the Cathedral of St. Peter,
and the Carmelite Convent, where St. Therese entered
in 1888, and is currently entombed in with her parents.
Your tour of the Little Flowers life culminates as you
board bus to transfer to the City of Lights - Paris.
Upon arrival enjoy dinner and an overnight.
Day 10 Friday, September 23
Today, you will enjoy a full sightseeing tour of Paris.
After breakfast, you will visit and celebrate Mass at the
Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, where
you will view the in-corrupt body of St. Catherine
Laboure. The Saints guardian angel led her to the
chapel, where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared
to her. During apparitions, Our Lady repeatedly
instructed the making and purpose of the Miraculous
Medal, as well as the green scapular. According to the
Blessed Virgin Mary, those who wear the Miraculous
Medal and scapular will receive special protection
and abundant graces. Following your prayerful and
reflective experience at this elegant chapel, you will
begin your sightseeing tour of Paris. Your panoramic
sightseeing tour, via motor coach, continues on to the
most recognizable symbol of the city of Paris, the Eifel
Tower. Historically, the Towers original intent was to
commemorate the centenary of the French Revolution,
but later on, assisted in meteorology, telegraphy during
World War I, radio, and television. Pass by the LArch
de Triomphe, a monument that symbolizes gratitude
for those who fought for France. This monument
stands at the West end of the Champ-Elysees, one of
the worlds most famous boulevards, and another one
of our stops on the sightseeing tour. We will also pass
by the ever famous, Louvre Museum. Return to your
hotel for dinner before taking an evening cruise on the
River Seine (Under the Bridges of Paris).
Day 11 Saturday, September 24
After breakfast depart to the airport for your flight
to Munich. Upon arrival at Munich Airport, make
your way to the baggage claim area and collect your
luggage. Proceed to the arrivals hall, where you will
be greeted by your tour guide and/or driver and take
our transfer in Munich city. Munich is the capital of
Bavaria, one of Germanys popular destination. Upon
arrival we will enjoy a guided tour, visiting many of
Munichs top sites; Marienplatz with its world famous
Glockenspiel ; the twin-towered Frauenkirche (the
Church of Our Lady), which serves as the cathedral
of the Archdiocese of Munich . The Cathedral is
widely considered a symbol of Munich. Celebrate
Mass followed by free time for lunch and/or shopping.
Dinner and overnight.
Day 12 Sunday, September 25
After breakfast we will transfer to Oberammergau.
Enjoy some time to explore Oberammergaus colorful
frescos known as Luftlmalereien. Following lunch,
we will make our way to the world famous theatre
to attend the performance of a lifetime, the 42nd
Oberammergau Passion Play. The sleepy village
springs to life every ten years to put on a play that
draws the world upon it! We, too, will become part
of mission of the Passion of Christ, the greatest story
ever told. There are 2,000 actors (and live animals),
they include local wood carvers, hotel owners,
students, teachers, children, all of them interrupt
their schedules to become actors, singers, orchestra
members and stagehands. Requirements are strict:
all actors must be born in Oberammergau, or have
lived there 20 years, or be married to a villager and a
resident for 10 years. All natural makeup, such as men
let their hair and beards grow a year before the play.
The Play is approximately five and a half hours long
and is performed in two acts.
Act I : 2:30pm - 5:00pm
Intermission: 5:30pm - 7:30pm dinner at a local restaurant
Act II : 8:00 pm - 10:30 pm.
Day 13 Monday, September 26
Today we fondly say auf wiedersehen to Germany
and farewell to our fellow pilgrims and new friends!
After breakfast we will transfer from the hotel in
Oberammergau to Munich Airport for our flights
Orlando via Frankfurt. Although its an end of this
journey, graces and blessings from our pilgrimage will
last a lifetime.
This itinerary is subject to change and should not be considered a contract of events or places to be supplied or visited. Evrey effort is made to follow the itinerary as set out, however eevnts outside of our control may force alterations.
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