In the Footsteps of Grace

Today, we board our flights bound for Paris and anticipate our arrival the following morning.

We will be welcomed by our guide and transferred to downtown Paris to see the Arc de Triomphe, stroll the ChampsÉlysées, and visit Place de la Concorde. We’ll explore Madeleine Church, Opéra Garnier, and the Panthéon. After lunch on our own, we’ll visit Sacré-Coeur in Montmartre with a private Mass in the crypt, then see the Eiffel Tower and enjoy aSeine River cruise. The day ends with a festive dinner with live French music and an overnight stay at our hotel.

We will visit the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, a major pilgrimage site where the Virgin Mary appeared to Catherine Labouré. hen, we will attend a private Mass at the Chapel of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, which houses his relics.Next, we’ll admire the stunning Gothic architecture of La Sainte-Chapelle and view the Notre-Dame Cathedral. After lunch on our own, we will explore Saint-Michel Square, Trocadéro, and the Invalides with its Army Museum and Napoleon’s tomb. We’ll also cross the elegant Alexandre III Bridge with its spectacular views, enjoy some free time, and end the day with dinner at a local restaurant before returning to our hotel.

We will transfer by coach to Lisieux to visit Les Buissonets, the childhood home of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, where sheexperienced important spiritual moments. We’ll celebrate a private Mass at the Carmelite Convent, where SaintThérèse lived, and visit the Sainte-Thérèse Basilica, a major pilgrimage site. After lunch on our own, we’ll explore the Saint-Pierre Cathedral, a beautiful example of Norman Gothic art that Saint Thérèse loved. We may meet with therector of the sanctuary before enjoying dinner at our hotel and overnight stay.

We will head to Omaha Beach to explore the museum and memorial honoring American soldiers and pay respects at the Colleville-sur-Mer American Cemetery. After lunch on our own, we will continue to Mont Saint-Michel, a UNESCOWorld Heritage site, to visit the abbey, and attend a private Mass at St. Pierre Church. We will end the day with dinner ata local restaurant.

We will travel to Alençon to visit the Sanctuary, including Notre-Dame Basilica — where Saints Louis and Zélie Martinmarried and Saint Thérèse was baptized—and Thérèse’s birthplace. Then, we will transfer to Chartres to explore thestunning 13th-century cathedral, famous for its stained-glass windows, crypt, labyrinth, and the Veil of the Virgin relic. We will enjoy dinner locally and overnight at our hotel.

We will begin the day with a full breakfast at the hotel before departing Chartres for Paris, where we’ll board a TGV trainto Lourdes. After arriving in Lourdes in the mid-afternoon, we’ll transfer to our hotel and watch a film about the history of Bernadette and Lourdes. Lunch will be on your own, followed by dinner at the hotel restaurant and an overnight stay

We will first visit the Grotto for prayer. Our pilgrimage through the Sanctuary of Lourdes includes the Crowned Virgin, Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, Immaculate Conception Basilica, Saint Bernadette Basilica, and Saint Pius X Basilica. We’ll also stop at the Fountains for Lourdes water, and those who wish can visit the Sanctuary Pools.In town, we’ll explore sites from Bernadette’s life: the parish church, Moulin Lacadé, Hospice, Dungeon, Moulin of Boly, and theOld Presbytery, ending with the Candlelight Procession. Lunch on your own, dinner at the hotel, and overnight in Lourdes.

We will begin with breakfast, followed by morning prayer near Saint Bernadette Church. There will be personal prayertime at the Grotto, the option for confession, and Mass at the Grotto. After lunch on your own, we will walk the Stations of the Cross and participate in Lourdes' three key pilgrimage gestures: the Gesture of Water, Gesture of Light, and Gesture of the Rock, where Mary appeared to Bernadette. A meeting with the Rector of the Sanctuary may be arranged (based onavailability). The day ends with dinner at the hotel and the Candlelight Procession.

We will depart early from Lourdes and transfer by coach to Toulouse airport for our return flights. After a connection in Paris, we will arrive in New York or Los Angeles in the afternoon, concluding our pilgrimage.