DAY 1: DEPART
We depart USA en route to Paris, with complimentary meals and beverages served aloft.
DAY 2: PARIS / LOURDES
Upon arrival in Paris, we transfer to our flight to the Lourdes area. Our Catholic Travel Centre tour escort will greet us and transfer us to our hotel. After Mass, we are welcome to participate in the Procession of the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed of the Sick. After dinner at the hotel, we return to the Sanctuary this evening for the Rosary and Torchlight Procession, beginning about 8:30PM. After the procession, we return to our hotel. (B, D)
Note: Processions in Lourdes are seasonal, usually taking place from Holy Week to mid-October.
DAY 3: LOURDES: FOOTSTEPS OF BERNADETTE
Breakfast. We begin this morning with Mass. After Mass, we enjoy a walking tour of ‘In the Footsteps of Bernadette.’ We visit the Cachot (former jail cell that once served as the Soubirous family’s home); the parish church; Fr. Peyramale’s Presbytery; the Hospice and the Boly Mill. The balance of the day is at our leisure. This afternoon at 4:30PM we are welcome to participate in the Procession of the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed of the Sick. After dinner at the hotel, we return to the Sanctuary this evening for the Rosary and
Torchlight Procession, beginning about 8:30PM. After the procession, we return to our hotel. (B, D)
DAY 4: LOURDES: EXCURSION TO DAX & BIARRITZ
After breakfast, we are off to visit Dax (the name is derived from the Latin aquae — ‘waters’ ) a village renowned for its beneficent hot water and mud baths. Dax ranks second only to Aix-en-Baines among thermal towns in all of France. Our interest here is the Berceau-de-Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, the house where St. Vincent was born. We celebrate Mass here. We continue to Biarritz for lunch on our own. Biarritz is well-known as an ancient fishing village that later became an elegant resort, complete with thermal baths and inviting sandy beaches. We return to Lourdes for dinner and the evening. (B, D)
DAY 5: LOURDES / PARIS
This morning we attend Mass at the Grotto with groups from around the world, then we prepare for our departing train at 11:00AM Paris. We will ride the TGV, France’s high-speed train that will whisk us across the scenic countryside and deliver us in Paris around 5:00PM. Our motor coach will be waiting for us to transfer us to our hotel for dinner and the evening. (B, D)
DAY 6: PARIS: MIRACULOUS MEDAL & EIFFEL TOWER
This morning we visit the Shrine of St. Catherine Laboure where the tradition of the Miraculous Medal began. Here we celebrate Mass. We visit as well the nearby sights of the repose of St. Louise de Marilac and St. Vincent de Paul, located in the Motherhouse of the Daughters of Charity. Afterwards we enjoy a panoramic sightseeing tour of some of the sites of Paris, including Invalides, the Champs Elysees, and Eiffel Tower. The afternoon is at leisure and dinner is at the hotel. (B, D)
DAY 7: PARIS: NOTRE DAME, SACRE COEUR & MONTMARTRE
Our visit of Paris today includes two of the city’s most famous churches: the Cathedral of Notre
Dame and the Basilica of Sacre Coeur (Sacred Heart). Notre Dame is our first stop, the name synonymous with Paris. Then we are off to Montmartre, an artists’ quarter overlooking Paris. Here we find the Basilica dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. After Mass, our afternoon is at leisure, and dinner is at our hotel. (B, D)
DAY 8: PARIS / LISIEUX: SITES OF ST. THERESE
This morning is at leisure in Paris. This afternoon we depart to Lisieux, home where St. Therese, the Little Flower of Jesus, spent much of her short life. St. Therese entered the Carmelite convent at age 15 and stayed until her death at age 24. We visit the sights of St. Therese, including the Buissonnets and the Basilica. We celebrate a Mass in the Crypt Chapel. The balance of the day is at leisure. (B, D)
DAY 9: LISIEUX: EXCURSION TO NORMANDY BEACHES & MONT-ST- MICHEL
Breakfast. We drive along the Normandy Coast until we arrive at Omaha Beach, where we visit the local museum and re-live the Normandy Invasion. We continue onto Mont-St-Michel a major place of pilgrimage during the Middle Ages. The place is so-named after the eighth century Bishop of Avranches saw St. Michael the Archangel three times in his dreams on this site. A magnificent abbey was constructed here. We return to our lodging in Lisieux. (B, D)
DAY 10: LISIEUX / PARIS / RETURN
We rise early this morning and transfer to the Paris airport for our return flight to the USA. (B)
NOTE: While no changes are anticipated, there might be occasions when certain alterations become necessary to this itinerary due to changes in airline schedules or for other reasons. All Masses are subject to final church schedules.
