Day 1 
- U.S.A. to France

Day 2
- Arrive Paris
- Paris City Tour
- Fly to Lourdes
- Welcome Dinner

Day 3
- Lourdes
- Holy Mass at the grotto

Day 4
- Lourdes

Day 5
- Our Lady of Torreciudad
- Barbastro

Day 6
- Torreciudad
- Zaragoza
- Our Lady of the Pillar
- Road to St. James
- Guadalajara

Day 7
- Madrid
- Avila

Day 8
- Avila
- Segovia
- St. John of the Cross

Day 9
- Our Lady of Sonsoles
- Salamanca
- Our Lady of Fatima

Day 10
- Fatima

Day 11
- Fatima
- Eucharistic Miracle of Santarem
- Lisbon

Day 11
- Return to USA
 
 
 
 

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LEGEND: (M = Aircraft Meals / B = Breakfast / D = Dinner)

Day 1: Sunday, May 11th (USA Departure) (M)
Meet your Mater Dei Tours representative at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport (Flights are included from Chicago, Illinois. Contact us for air transportation add-on costs from other cities). Board your flight to Paris, France.

Day 2: Monday, May 12th (Arrival in Paris and Lourdes, France) (M, D)
Arrive in Paris in the morning. After European Immigration enjoy a panoramic drive through Paris to reach the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal (thanksgiving Mass – for a safe arrival - celebrated here), where Our Lady appeared to St. Catherine Laboure (her incorrupt body is in the same chapel). After Mass, visit St. Vincent De Paul’s preserved remains at a chapel nearby. Return to the airport to catch our flight to Lourdes. Check into our hotel in Lourdes, relax and freshen up. Join your fellow pilgrims for a welcome dinner at our hotel.

Day 3: Tuesday, May 13th (Lourdes, France) (B)
Enjoy a special day in Lourdes. Begin with Holy Mass at the grotto (site of the apparitions - Mass might be con-celebrated with other English speaking priests). Afterwards, you may opt for a personal day at leisure in Lourdes or you may want to follow your escorts on an informal orientation walk of the land of St. Bernadette, including the sanctuary and sites like the Mill, where St. Bernadette was born, and the "Cashot", where Bernadette’s family lived. Afterwards view a special video presentation in the main office. Remainder of the day at your leisure.

Day 4: Wednesday, May 14th (Lourdes, France) (B)
Enjoy a leisure day in Lourdes. Plenty of time for personal prayer, meditation, collecting Lourdes water and shopping for great religious articles (the Priests will bless all religious articles at the end of the trip). Sacrament of Confession is available in English at the Reconciliation building.

 
 

Day 5: Thursday, May 15th (Lourdes, Shrine of Our Lady of Torreciudad, Barbastro) (B, D)
Our memorable visit to Lourdes ends as we embark on an unforgettable journey that promises to be a visual feast, crossing the Pyrenees Mountain Range.  Prepare your cameras as we ascend the French Pyrenees through small and picturesque ski resort villages encountered along the way.  After crossing the border into Spain through the Bielsa tunnel, slowly descend through majestic sights of the Aragonian Pyrenees.  Follow the current of the mountain waters until we arrive at Torreciudad, the most beautiful Marian Shrine in all of Spain. Travel through the spectacular landscape surrounding the sanctuary and the Hermitage, dating back to the Romanic times.   Set above the clouds in the Aragonian Pyrenees, Torreciudad has been a local pilgrimage site for centuries.  Upon arrival, there is a brief tour of Torreciudad, hosted by its Rector, Monsignor Javier de Mora-Figueroa.  After the tour, there is a special program containing a meditation, the Wayof the Cross (Via Crucis), the Sacrament of Confession and Holy Mass.  Close the program with adoration to the Blessed Sacrament.  Tonight enjoy the best of Aragonian cuisine in an award winning
restaurant in Barbastro, a charming town in the wine region. 
 
Day 6 Friday, May 16th (Torreciudad, Zaragoza – Shrine of Our Lady of the Pillar & Guadalajara) (B, D)
After breakfast return to Torreciudad for Mass.  Before departing Torreciudad, fulfill the local pilgrimage tradition of kissing the medallion that once graced the very old statue of Our Lady of Torreciudad. Head southwest from this beautiful region of Spain to visit Zaragoza (Saragossa).  Our visit features the world famous Marian Shrine of the “Basilica de Nuestra Senora del Pilar” (Our Lady of the Pillar), where Our Blessed Mother appeared standing on top of a Pillar to the apostle St. James.  This event happened while he was on his famous apostolic mission to Spain known as the “Camino de Santiago” (Road of St. James), one of the world’s most famous pilgrimage routes.  In the massive Plaza de España (Spain Square), visit the chapel in the Basilica where the Pillar still stands.  As a sign of fulfillment of your pilgrimage to Our Lady of the Pillar, we will have the opportunity to practice the local custom of kissing the venerable column (or Pillar) where Our Lady once stood.  Depart Zaragoza continuing southeast towards Guadalajara, the last province before entering Madrid.
 
Day 7 Saturday, May 17th  (Madrid & Avila) (B, D)
Depart Guadalajara for Madrid, the Capital of Spain.   Arrive in Madrid for a
guided visit of the Prado Museum, ranked as the 3rd most valuable museum of art in the world. After the museum visit, there is panoramic drive of Madrid’s most famous sights like "Puerta de Alcalá", the “Gran Via”, Cibeles Fountain, the Royal Palace and the massive Cathedral of the “Almudena”, dedicated to the Virgin Mary (Holy Mass celebrated here).  After Mass, head north for the walled city of Avila, the land of St. Teresa de Jesus, the reformer of the Carmelite Order and first female Doctor of the Church.  Tonight, the famous medieval walls of Avila become very welcoming as we stay at a historic palace within the walls of Avila, in front of the massive Cathedral of Avila.  Enjoy a delicious dinner.
 
Day 8: Sunday, May 18th (Avila, Segovia) (B)
Enjoy a morning walking tour of Avila featuring the life of St. Teresa. 
Afterwards,   depart for historic Segovia.  With its imposing Alcazar Castle, ancient Roman aqueduct and historic Cathedral, Segovia is one of the most captivating cities in Castilla and one of UNESCO’s patrimonies to humanity. 
Mass is celebrated at the church which houses the remains of St. John of the Cross, co-reformer of the Carmelite Order.  Return to Avila for a leisurely evening on your own.  Before entering the walls of Avila visit the famous “Cuatro Postes” (four posts), a famous spot in the life of young St. Teresa and a great panoramic spot to take a picture of the city. 
 
Day 9: Monday, May 19th (Shrine of Our Lady of Sonsoles, Alba de Tormes*, brief stop in Salamanca & the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima) (B, D)
Start the day with a brief visit to the peaceful Marian Shrine of “Our Lady of Sonsoles”.  Many Spanish pilgrims come here in the months of May and October to visit Our Lady.  *BONUS VISIT: Only if time allows, visit unforgettable Alba de Tormes resting place of the incorrupt body of St. Teresa of Avila (and the place where she died).  Depart Spain for Portugal, but first we make a stop by the old Roman Bridge of Salamanca, a wonderful picture spot of the beautiful Cathedral of Salamanca.  Afterwards, relax and enjoy the ride with views of the Portuguese countryside as we approach one of the holiest Marian Shrines, the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima.  This is the famous site where Our Lady appeared to 3 little shepherds in 1917.  Join your fellow pilgrims for dinner at our hotel.
Afterwards, join pilgrims from all over the world while they pray the Holy
Rosary at the Sanctuary grounds in a candle light procession.
 
Day 10: Tuesday, May 20th (Fatima) (B, D)
Spend the whole day at the Fatima Shrine (at leisure – with opportunity for Confessions, Rosary, Way of the Cross, Adoration to the Blessed Sacrament and personal prayer time), or you may want to join us for a morning visit to the site of the  August 19th Marian Apparition as well as the apparition site of the Angel of Portugal.  Also visit the homes of Blessed Francisco and Blessed Jacinta (with a possibilities of meeting relatives), as well as the home of Lucia’s family.  Stop at a Portuguese market for lunch and shopping.  Tonight, join your new pilgrim family for an unforgettable celebration dinner with a Portuguese family in a local village (bring cameras!). 
 
Day 11: Wednesday, May 21st (Fatima, Eucharistic Miracle of Santarem & Lisbon) (B, D)
Depart Fatima and travel to a small Portuguese town to witness the 13th century Eucharistic Miracle of Santarem.   Mass is celebrated here after Eucharistic Adoration.  Continue to Lisboa (Lisbon), the Capital of Portugal.  After a panoramic drive of the city sites (including Jeronimos Monastery), we gather together one last time for Sunday Vigil Mass in a spirit of thanksgiving for an inspiring, memorable and safe pilgrimage.  Arrive at our hotel with plenty of time to pack. Enjoy our last dinner together sharing stories and memories of our time together.
 
Day 12: Thursday, May 22nd (Lisbon airport)
Early morning transfer to Lisbon Airport.  As our plane takes-off, take one last look out the window at the unique landscape of this beautiful land and say: Thank you Mary!   
Au revoir France!   ¡Adios España!  Adeus Portugal!  (B, M)
 

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12 - Day Trip Inclusions:

  • Air transportation from Chicago to Paris, to Lourdes, from Lisbon to Chicago (other U.S. cities available at an add-on price. Pilgrimage is also available on a land-only basis)

  • 1st Class accommodations in nice properties including a 16th Century Castilian palace.

  • 17 meals: 10 breakfasts; 7 dinners.

  • Visits and tour admissions as listed on itinerary

  • Spiritual program including Holy Mass daily (in unforgettable places),

  • Meditations, Sacrament of Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, Way of the Cross and more.

  • Transportation on air conditioned motor-coach.

  • Professional chauffeur throughout the tour.

  • Tour Manager throughout the duration of the trip

  • Escorted from the US by Juan Landa from Mater Dei Tours & Relevant Journeys

  • English speaking local expert tour guides

  • Fr. Eric Sternberg as Spiritual Director.

  • Hospitality, government sales taxes & fees (except taxes, government and ticket fees & fuel surcharges relating to airfare – see below).

  • Full travel documentation with luggage tags, in a re-usable travel wallet
     

Does Not Include:

Not included: Tips & gratuities of Tour Guides, Tour Manager & Drivers (read confirmation information for suggestions); Airfare Taxes and ticketing fees and surcharges (approximately $340)

   Price: $2695.00*
* (Per person, double occupancy. Plus Taxes, Fees & Fuel Surcharges of approximately $340.00 per person)

  • Optional Single Occupancy = $3159.00 (limited supply)
  • Optional Land Only:  $2299.00 per person based on double room (additional $464.00 for land only single room occupancy)
  • Optional Triple Occupancy:  $2675.00 per person based on triple

  • Deposit of $500 per person is due to secure space (no later than February 8th or while space lasts)
  • Balance is due on  February 29th, 2008.

Cancellation Schedule:

  • All Cancellations must be received in writing!
  • 95 days prior to departure or before...................$300.00 per person
  • 94 to 65 days prior to departure.........................$50% of tour cost
  • 64 to 35 days prior to departure ........................$75% of tour cost
  • 34 to 0 days prior to departure .......................No Refunds

 

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