Pilgrimage to France and Italy with Fr. Humberto Marquez

Upon arrival in Paris, we meet our Catholic, English-speaking, tour manager, who will accompany our group while in France. Following a panoramic bus tour that includes the highlights of Paris, we head to the Montmartre section of Paris, where we visit the magnificent Sacre Coeur Church. Here we celebrate Mass. We check into our hotel. Tonight we have a spectacular welcome dinner cruise on the Seine River. Overnight in Paris. (B. Special Dinner)

This morning, we visit the Miraculous Medal Shrine for Mass and to see the incorrupt remains of St. Catherine. Nearby we see the heart of St. Vincent de Paul in the Chapel of the Daughters of Charity. We are transferred to the train station, where we board the bullet TGV train, which takes us across France to Lourdes. Upon arrival, we are transferred to our hotel in Lourdes. Following dinner, we join pilgrims from all over the world for the Candlelight Procession. Overnight in Lourdes. (B.D.)

We celebrate Mass, visit the Basilica and the Grotto, where Our Lady appeared to Bernadette. We visit the miraculous baths that have healed many with their healing water. Our group will have the opportunity to see Boly Mill, the birthplace of St. Bernadette, and the “Cachot,” an abandoned prison where Bernadette’s impoverished family lived, to pray Stations of the Cross, and to attend Blessing of the Sick in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight in Lourdes. (B.D.)

After breakfast we celebrate Mass at one of the chapels at the Basilica. Rest of the day at leisure to explore on your own. Dinner and overnight in Lourdes. (B.D)

We are transferred to Pau airport that takes us to Florence- Italy. Upon arrival we have a twohour walking tour that takes us to see the Duomo and the Baptistery next door (outside view), the Church of the Holy Cross, Signoria Square, Ponte Vecchio, and other highlights of the city. Mass will be celebrated at San Lorenzo Church (TBD). We check into our hotel and have dinner and an overnight stay in Florence. (B.D)

After breakfast we visit the Academia to see the beautiful statue of David by Michelangelo. Concelebrated Mass (TBC). Rest of the day and dinner are at leisure to explore Florence on your own. Overnight in Florence. (B.)

We check out of the hotel and drive through the beautiful scenery of Tuscany and Umbria to Assisi. We visit the Basilica of Santa Maria Degli Angeli (St. Mary of the Angels) to explore the Basilica, including the Porziuncola (the chapel where St. Francis started his order). We celebrate Mass. After Mass we check into our hotel where we have dinner and overnight in Assisi. (B.D)

We start the day on our pilgrimage in the footsteps of Saint Francis with a guided visit to the Basilica of St. Francis, where St. Francis’ body is entombed. The church is adorned with beautiful frescoes painted by masters of the high Middle Ages like Giotto and Cimabue. We celebrate Mass in one of the chapels before walking through the Franciscan sites in the medieval part of Assisi. Rest of the day at leisure to explore on your own. Dinner and overnight in Assisi. (B.D)

After breakfast we proceed to the Basilica of St. Clare and the Chapel of San Damiano, where St. Francis received his call to rebuild the Church and where St. Clare lived and died. We celebrate Mass. Our last stop is the Sanctuary of the Spoliation to see the tomb of Blessed Carlo Acutis in the Church of St. Mary Major. Rest of the day at leisure to explore on your own. Dinner and overnight in Assisi. (B.D.)

We board our motorcoach and travel to Rome. Our first stop is the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls before continuing to Tre Fontane Convent to see where St. Paul was beheaded. Mass will be celebrated. Dinner and overnight in Rome. (B.D)

After breakfast, we start with Mass at the Basilica of St Mary Major which we visit with the guide, continue to St. John the Lateran and the Holy Stairs. We break for lunch. This afternoon we will enjoy a walking tour to see the Colosseum (inside visit), followed by a walking tour that includes the Gesù Church to see the rooms of St. Ignatius, the Trevi Fountain, and the Spanish Steps. Tonight we have an early dinner at leisure followed by a visit to the Vatican Museum including the Sistine Chapel. Overnight in Rome. (B.)

This morning we celebrate Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica. Following Mass, we have time to explore the Basilica and visit the Scavi tunnels underneath the church. (TBC). This afternoon we will walk to Castel Sant’Angelo and cross the river to reach Navona Square, continue to visit the Pantheon, (inside) Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, where St. Catherine is buried, and St Augustin church, where his mother Santa Monica is buried and where we can marvel at the sight of Caravaggio’s Madonna de’ Pellegrini.The rest of the afternoon is at leisure. Farewell dinner with wine is at a local restaurant. Overnight in Rome. (B.Special Dinner)