Heroes of Heaven France for Families with Fabiola Garza and Keith Downey

Upon arrival in Paris, we meet our Catholic, English-speaking, European tour escort, who will accompany our group while in France. We board our motorcoach for a drive to Lisieux, the home of St. Thérèse, whom Pope Pius X called the greatest saint of modern times. En route, we stop in Giverny to visit the home of Impressionist painter Claude Monet.*We explore the magnificent gardens, the lily pond, and the famous Japanese bridge in Monet’s paintings. Upon arrival in Lisieux, we celebrate Mass and settle into our home for the next three nights. Dinner and overnight in Lisieux. (D) *This visit is pending morning flight arrival

This morning, we explore the places related to the life of St. Thérèse. Her extraordinary love and devotion for God comes alive as we visit the Cathedral of St. Peter and Les Buissonnets, her family home. On display are relics, clothing, and personal objects belonging to the Little Flower. View the statue depicting the Virgin Mary, who smiled at St. Thérèse during an ecstasy before curing her illness. Unite your prayers in the Carmel Chapel with those of the Carmelite sisters, just as St. Thérèse did before her death in 1897. We celebrate Mass and have time for prayer and personal devotions. In the afternoon, you have a choice of remaining in Lisieux to explore on your own or taking an optional excursion to Alençon, the birthplace of St. Thérèse, to discover the Martin family’s story. We visit the shrine Louis and Zélie and the Notre Dame Basilica before returning to Lisieux. Dinner and overnight in Lisieux. (B, D)

After breakfast, we will have a wonderful excursion to see the unique beauty of Mont-Saint-Michel, one of the most famous abbeys in the world due to its location – perched on a rock in the Gulf of Saint-Malo. Mont Saint-Michel becomes an island fortress surrounded by the sea during high tide. The causeway to the mainland is only accessible during low tide. The Mont-Saint Michel monastery, dating to the 8th century, was built to get “as close to heaven as possible.” Today it is one of the world’s top pilgrimage sites and among UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. Mass will be celebrated. We will return to Lisieux for dinner and overnight at our hotel. (B, D)

After breakfast, we check out of the hotel and board our motorcoach for Rouen, where we have a two-hour walking tour of the historic town center. We see the magnificent Cathedral of Notre Dame, whose west façade was often painted by Monet at different times of day. The Cathedral houses the heart of Richard the Lionhearted. We visit the immersive Joan of Arc Memor ial, (The Historial Jeanne d’Arc) where St. Joan was condemned to death and where her second trial took place. We continue to St. Ouen-Abbey and the site where St. Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in 1431. Mass will be celebrated at the Church of St. Joan. A special lunch awaits us at La Couronne, the restaurant that influenced Julia Child to become a chef. We depart for Paris in the late afternoon to check in to our hotel. Dinner is at leisure. Overnight in Paris. (B, Special lunch)

Following a panoramic bus tour that includes the highlights of Paris, we visit Montmartre, with its magnificent Sacré Coeur Church. Here, we celebrate Mass. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure to explore the “City of Lights” on your own. Optional tour of the relics of the female saints in Paris with Fabiola visiting the Shrine of St. Clothilde, the Pantheon, St. Étienne-du-Mont to see the relics of St. Genevieve, St. Severin with the bones of St. Ursula, and Église Saint-Leu-Saint-Giles with relics of St. Helena. Tonight we gather for a Seine River cruise and dinner. Overnight in Paris. (B, Special dinner)

The day is yours to explore Paris as you wish. Plan your day well in advance as you may choose to visit one of the many museums, take an optional half-day tour to Versailles, browse shops and bookstores or visit Euro-Disney. Tickets should be purchased online well in advance. Overnight in Paris. (B)

This morning, we visit the Miraculous Medal Shrine for Mass. We see the incorrupt remains of St. Catherine and the heart of St. Vincent de Paul in the Chapel of the Daughters of Charity. Following a visit to the nearby Church of St. Vincent de Paul, our bus takes us to the Montparnasse train station in time to board the TGV train to Lourdes. Tonight we have the opportunity to join the Candlelight Procession. Dinner and overnight in Lourdes. (B, D)

This morning, we became familiar with the great pilgrimage center of Lourdes. We see the places associated with the Blessed Mother’s apparition and little Bernadette’s life during our walking tour. We see the upper and lower Basilica, celebrate Mass at the Grotto, where Our Lady appeared to Bernadette, drink water from the miraculous spring that has healed many and have a water immersion in the healing baths. 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, as well as the Museum of St. Bernadette. We have time to pray to Stations of the Cross and attend Blessing of the Sick in the afternoon. In the evening, join the Candlelight Procession. Dinner and overnight in Lourdes. (B, D)

Today, we visit Chateâu Fort Musée Pyrénéen, stop at a local market to pick up lunch food, and see the church where St. Bernadette was baptized. The afternoon is dedicated to personal devotions and prayer. Mass will be celebrated. Tonight, we have a farewell dinner in Lourdes. (B, Special dinner)