Pilgrimage to Fatima, Lourdes, and Paris with Bishop Michael J. Fitzgerald

Depart on an overnight flight from Newark to Lisbon. Dinner and breakfast will be served on the flight. Add-on flights, optional premium economy, and business class upgrades are available upon request four months before departure.

This morning we arrive in Lisbon, where our English-speaking tour manager greets us. We board our deluxe motor coach and drive to the city center to enjoy a breakfast of the traditional cakes, “Pasteis de Nata.” Then we begin our panoramic city tour of Lisbon, the capital of Portugal and one of the most beautiful and historic European cities. Located on the River Tagus, Lisbon is full of life, color, and fascinating places. We see Belem Tower, the longest bridge in Europe, and the impressive 300-foot-high statue of Christ the King. Following a short tour by bus to give us a sense of the Portuguese capital city and a visit to the Church of St. Anthony, we depart for the Church of St. Stephen in Santarem, where we venerate the Miracle of the Eucharist and celebrate Mass. We continue to Fatima, where we settle into our hotel for dinner and overnight. (B.D)

We start the day with Mass at the Basilica. Our full-day program includes a stop at the church where the visionaries were baptized and their homes in Aljustrel. We walk to Valinhos to see where the Angel appeared and pray at Stations of the Cross erected by the Americans and the beautiful Shrine of the Crucifixion built by Hungarian refugees. Tonight we participate in the Candlelight and Blessed Sacrament Procession. Dinner and overnight in Fatima. (B.D)

We depart this morning, driving to Avila, the magnificent walled city dedicated to St. Teresa of Avila. Here the atmosphere has changed very little since the days of St. Teresa, to whom the city is dedicated. St. Teresa, the great mystic, was the first woman named Doctor of the Church. We will visit: the crypt of La Santa Convent, built on the site of the house where she was born; La Encarnacion Convent, where St. Theresa became a nun and home to the most comprehensive museum dedicated to her life; the Cathedral and the Cuatro Postes (four columns). Mass will be celebrated. Dinner and overnight in Avila. (B.D)

Today we depart from Spain to France. Upon arrival in Lourdes, we check into our hotel. We celebrate Mass at the Grotto and join pilgrims from all over the world for the Candlelight Procession. Dinner and overnight in Lourdes. (B.D)

After breakfast, we celebrate Mass, at the Basilica, followed by a walking tour to see the sights associated with the life of St. Bernadette in Lourdes. We visit the miraculous springs with their healing waters, pray at the Stations of the Cross, and attend Blessing of the Sick. Tonight join in the Candlelight Procession. Dinner and overnight in Lourdes. (B.D)

Early this morning, we take the TGV train to Paris. Upon arrival, we board our motor coach for a two-hour bus ride to Lisieux, the home of St. Theresa the Little Flower. We will visit the Carmel Convent, the magnificent Basilica of St. Therese, and the Crypt. Time permitting, we celebrate Mass at the Basilica. Overnight in Lisieux. (B.D)

We drive through the French countryside to Mt. St. Michel, the magnificent island considered one of the world’s wonders. The island, one of the top pilgrimage destinations of Christendom through the ages, floats like a mirage in front of us. Behold the magnificent Abbey and embark on the exploration of the island. Mass will be celebrated. Dinner and overnight stay in Lisieux. (B.D)

Our drive through the beautiful French countryside takes us toward the Normandy Beaches. The 54 miles of Atlantic stretching from Utah Beach in the west to Sword Beach in the east — are littered with WWII museums, monuments, cemeteries, and battle remains left in tribute to the courage of the British, Canadian, and American armies that successfully carried out the largest military operation in history: D-Day. On these serene beaches, at dawn on June 6, 1944, the Allies finally gained a foothold in France; from this moment, Nazi Europe was destined to crumble. This morning we drive through beautiful Normandy scenery toward Omaha Beach, where we see the American Memorial and Cemetery. We celebrate Mass at the chapel at Omaha Beach and remember our brave, fallen soldiers. Return to Lisieux for dinner and overnight. (B.D)

After breakfast, we drive to Rouen to see the Basilica of St. Joan of Arc, where we celebrate Mass and have lunch at the restaurant where Julia Child decided to become a chef after eating a meal there. We arrive in Paris in the afternoon and settle into our hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. Dinner on your own. Overnight in Paris (B)

After breakfast, we celebrate Mass at the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal and see the incorrupt body of St. Vincent de Paul in the Chapel of Maison-Mere. Our panoramic bus tour takes us past the famous Parisian landmarks to the magnificent Sacre Coeur (Sacred Heart Basilica) Cathedral. Rest of the afternoon at leisure to explore the city of light on our own. Tonight we have a dinner cruise on the Seine. Overnight in Paris. (B. Special dinner)

After breakfast, we are transferred to the airport for our flight home.

This trip includes group airfare from Newark. Please note that "group airfare" means you are booked with other travelers in a block of seats that are assigned by the airline when you check in for your flight (24 hours prior to travel). If you require specific seats, we suggest that you upgrade after enrollment or book your own