A 12-Day Pilgrimage to France & Italy  

Including Paris, Lisieux, Nevers, Paray le Monial, Ars, Lyon, Lourdes, Monte Carlo, Monaco, Nice, Pisa, Siena, Assisi, Rome & the Vatican 

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April 16, 2012 - Monday 

NEW YORK / PARIS 

Tour members depart New York for Paris, arriving in Paris the next day.  Meals served on board. 

April 17, 2012 - Tuesday 

PARIS  

After making our way through customs we are welcomed by our Pilgrimage Tours™ tour director who will remain with us until the end of our tour.   We embark on a motor coach tour of Paris to see the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Elysees and more.  In the afternoon, we will visit the cathedral of Notre-Dame, which stands on the banks of the Seine on the site of an early Christian basilica that had in turn been built on the site of a temple from the Roman era.  Here we will see the Gallery of the Kings, its Rose Window and many chapels.  Finally, we go to Rue de Bac where we will celebrate Mass at the Shrine of the Miraculous Medal, where St. Catherine Laboure received her apparitions of Mary.   Dinner and overnight in Paris.    

April 18, 2012 - Wednesday 

PARIS / LISIEUX 

This morning we drive to the town of Lisieux, home of St. Therese the Carmelite nun known as “The Little Flower” and the Newest Doctor of the Church.  Here we will visit the site of the Lisieux family home, Les Buissonets, the Carmelite Convent Chapel where St. Therese and her parents are entombed.  We celebrate Mass at the Basilica of St. Therese before we return to Paris, where upon our arrival back in the City of Lights, we head to the Montmartre District, the “Artists Quarter” of Paris and visit the Romanesque and Byzantine Sacre Coeur Basilica on top of Montmartre Hill.  The basilica with its many domes and arches contain wonderful sculptures, paintings and mosaics.  In the rear of the basilica is the bell tower that houses the “Savoyarde”, a bell weighing nearly 19 tons and one of the largest in the world.  We enjoy some free time on Montmarte Hill before returning to our hotel.  Dinner and overnight in Paris. 

April 19, 2012 – Thursday 

PARIS / NEVERS / PARAY le MONIAL / ARS / LYON 

This morning we depart Paris for Nevers.  Upon our arrival in Nevers, we visit the museum and convent of St. Gildard, where Bernadette Soubirous of Lourdes spent the final 13 years of her life.  Here you will see the incorrupt body of Saint Bernadette kept in a glass reliquary.  Here we celebrate Mass.  We depart Nevers for Lyon, with two important visits along the way.  First we arrive in Paray le Monial, known as the City of the Eucharist, and visit the site of the Shrine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Margaret Mary Alacoque as well as the Chapel of the Visitations.  We continue on to Ars, village of the Holy Cure and visit the house and shrine of St. John Vianney, the Patron Saint of Priests.  Finally, we arrive in Lyon for dinner and overnight.   

April 20, 2012 - Friday 

LYON / LOURDES 

This morning we depart Lyon for Lourdes.  Late afternoon, we arrive in Lourdes, where, in 1858, Mary appeared to a young Bernadette Soubirous.  Here we celebrate Mass at the Rosary Basilica.  We enjoy some free time in Lourdes before dinner.  Following dinner, we join the Candlelight Procession.  Overnight in Lourdes. 

April 21, 2012 - Saturday 

LOURDES  

This morning following Mass at the Rosary Basilica, we see the sites of Lourdes where Mary appeared to Bernadette.  We visit the Grotto, the Spring and the healing Baths, as well as the Basilica of St. Pius X, the Rosary Basilica and Bernadette’s home.  The afternoon is free for private devotion, reciting the Rosary, walking the Stations of the Cross as well as some relaxation before dinner.  Following dinner, we enjoy another opportunity to participate in the evening’s Candlelight Procession.  Overnight in Lourdes. 

April 22, 2012 - Sunday 

LOURDES / MONTE CARLO / MONACO / NICE 

This morning we celebrate an early Mass in the Grotto.  Following Mass we depart for Nice on the Mediterranean Sea.  We enjoy our scenic drive along the French Riviera.  Prior to arriving in Nice, we stop at a scenic overlook and an opportunity to enjoy the view and take some pictures.  Next we take a motor coach tour through the famous resort of Monte Carlo and the principality of Monaco before going to our Mediterranean seaside hotel.  Dinner and overnight in Nice. 

April 23, 2012 - Monday 

NICE / PISA / SIENA 

This morning we depart Nice and drive along the Riviera with its breathtaking views.  We enter Italy and arrive in Pisa where we see the Campo dei Miracoli with its splendid Cathedral, Baptistery and the famous Leaning Tower.  Next we drive to Tuscany and arrive in the medieval city of Siena, home of St. Catherine.  We visit the historic center of Siena and visit the Sanctuary of Santa Maria in Provenzano and the see the Cross from which St. Catherine received the stigmata.  Here we celebrate Mass.  Dinner and overnight in Siena. 

April 24, 2012 - Tuesday 

SIENA / ASSISI / ROME 

After breakfast we depart Tuscany for Assisi, home of the gentlest of saints.  Here we celebrate Mass in the Lower Basilica of St. Francis.  After Mass we explore the basilica with its wonderful frescoes by Cimabue and Giotto.  We then visit the Basilica of St. Clare, a friend to St. Francis and foundress of the Poor Clare nuns, whose incorrupt body lies in a crystal casket in the crypt.  We will also see the crucifix that spoke to St. Francis at San Damiano.  Next we visit the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli that encloses the tiny Chapel of the Porziuncola, St. Francis’ first retreat and place of prayer and where he consecrated St. Clare as the Bride of Christ.  Next we arrive in Rome where we check into our hotel.  Following dinner, we enjoy a panoramic “illuminated Rome by night” sightseeing tour, to include a stop at the world-famous Trevi Fountain.  Overnight in Rome. 

April 25, 2012 - Wednesday 

ROME – Papal Audience 

This morning we will go to the Vatican for an Audience with the Holy Father.  Following the Papal Audience, we visit one of the great art collections in the world, the Vatican Museums.  We see the Tapestries Gallery, the Belvedere with its marvelous classical statues, the rooms wonderfully frescoed by Raphael, and Michelangelo’s masterpiece the Sistine Chapel, which was recently restored to its original splendor.  Next we enjoy some free time to explore St. Peter’s Basilica, including the tomb of our beloved Blessed John Paul II.  We gather together for the late afternoon celebration of Mass below the Holy Spirit window, situated behind the main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica.  Dinner and overnight in Rome. 

April 26, 2012 - Thursday 

ROME  

This morning we awake in Rome and begin our sightseeing in the Eternal City with a visit to St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, where the Apostle is buried.  While visiting the grounds, we pause for our own celebration of Mass at this wonderful basilica.  Next we visit St. Mary Major, the most important church in the world devoted to Our Lady.  In the afternoon we drive to Palatine and Capitoline Hills including the Imperial and Roman Forums, the Hippodrome and Constantine’s Arch.  We also drive by the Mamertine Prison where Peter and Paul were held and many Christian martyrs died.  We stop for awhile outside the Colosseum, a good opportunity for a snapshot.  Finally, we depart for a visit to St. John Lateran, the Pope’s cathedral church where relics of both Peter and Paul remain under the main altar.  We cross the street and find Scala Santa where we see the Holy Staircase of 28 marble steps (now covered in wood) which is believed to be the staircase from Pilate’s palace in Jerusalem and brought to Rome by St. Helen in the 4^th century.  Here we may climb the steps on our knees in memory of Christ’s Passion.  Dinner and overnight in Rome. 

April 27, 2012 - Friday 

ROME / NEW YORK 

After breakfast, we transfer to the airport for the flight home.  Though our pilgrimage has come to an end, the blessings of our encounters with the Lord, Our Lady, and the saints are certain to strengthen and encourage us throughout our lifelong pilgrimage.