Mary Immaculate Eagle Vale, Parish Pilgrimage

This morning we will visit Valinhos, the site of Our Lady’s appearance to three peasant children Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta. Proceed on to the little village of Aljustrel to visit the homes where the children lived. Enter the original Parish church and see the Baptismal font where the children were baptised.

Back in Fatima we will then enjoy a tour of the Square (the largest square in Christendom) including the site of the Apparitions, Rosary Basilica with the Tombs of the visionaries, the Museum, Blessed Sacrament Chapel and other main sites. 

Remainder of the afternoon is free. 

Fatima overnight (BD)

Farewelling Fatima, we travel by coach across the border into Spain and on to the walled city of Avila where the atmosphere has changed little since the days of St Teresa to whom the city is dedicated. It was here that she entered the Carmelite convent and encountered many mystical experiences during her time.

On arrival we pass through the city walls and a visit the Convent of Saint Teresa built over the saint’s birthplace and located just inside the South Gate of the old town. Most of the convent remains in cloister but you can see the very spot where she was born, now a chapel in the Baroque church. We then visit Avila’s Cathedral which was started in the 12^th century before entering the Monastery of the Incarnation for Mass where St Teresa’s cell can be seen as well as other relics of her life.

Avila overnight (BD)

This morning we depart Avila, journeying east by coach to Zaragoza, affectionately recorded as the town of the Blessed Mother’s first appearance on earth. 

On arrival our tour of Zaragoza features the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pilar where we will celebrate Mass. According to local legend, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared here to the Apostle St James the Great alongside the River Ebro and instructed him to build a church.

Zaragoza overnight (BD)

Departing Zaragoza we travel east to Barcelona, a city synonymous with art, culture and faith. Experience the cultural canvas that underpinned many of Picasso’s artworks and view the unique and colourful architecture of Antonio Gaudi dispersed throughout the city. We will explore his famous La Sagrada Familia Basilica. 

In the late afternoon we will arrive into Montserrat.  The renowned eleventh-century sanctuary of Our Lady of Montserrat lies at the top of a 4000 foot high mountain and is one of Spain’s most popular pilgrimage destinations. The shrine is home to a twelfth-century miraculous statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, lovingly known as the “Black Madonna”, discovered in the Santa Cova or Holy Cave. Here at Montserrat St Ignatius kept vigil with a coarse sackcloth and a pilgrim staff.

Montserrat overnight (BD)

The spirit of Montserrat is a unique blend of the mountain, the sanctuary, and the life of monasticism. Around the sanctuary you will find many different banners and emblems representing various religious, cultural, social, financial and even sporting organisations. 

Our spectacular day of pilgrimage begins with a visit and Mass in the Basilica, the construction of which began in the 16^th century, and a viewing of the beautiful Holy Image of Our Lady of Montserrat, known affectionately as the “Black Madonna.”  

We will then board the Santa Cova funicular railway and after a short ride, enjoy a walk down the sacred path passing modernist sculptures of the Mysteries of the Rosary (all worked on by Llimona and Gaudi among others). Almost hanging from the rock’s edge at the end of the route is the Chapel where the image of Our Lady of Montserrat was found by young shepherds in the 13^th century after seeing a bright light which led them to the grotto. We take time here at the Holy Cave for prayer and reflection before taking the funicular railway back up to the Sanctuary. 

Before lunch, we will take our place among the privileged to hear the heavenly sounds of the Montserrat Boys Choir (The Escolania), one of the oldest and most renowned in Europe.

We will then have a private guided tour of the museums.

Remainder of the afternoon at leisure.

Montserrat overnight (BD)

We farewell Montserrat and travel nearby to the town of Manresa for Mass where St Ignatius came on retreat for 11 months between 1522 and 1523.  Each day he spent seven hours in prayer in a cave and then helped the sick in the village with the time he had left over. Here too, Ignatius began to develop the method for seeking God’s will and where he wrote his renowned Spiritual Exercises. We come as pilgrims to this amazing place with St Ignatius and pray in the actual cave where his life and spirituality developed. 

Travel through the scenic foothills of the Pyrenees, crossing into Southern France before continuing on to Lourdes. It was in this small town that Our Lady first appeared to St Bernadette in 1858.

Lourdes overnight (BD)

This morning we will celebrate a group Mass at the Grotto, before a visit to the little village of Bartres, and the farm where St Bernadette was nursed and later returned in adolescence to help her foster mother. We will visit the Sheepfold and the Parish Church where she spent so many hours in prayer.

We will return to Lourdes to enjoy a peaceful afternoon to rest or wander at your own pace or take the time to pray the Stations of the Cross with the life sized copper images which overlook the holy Grotto. Spend some quiet time perhaps reflecting at the Grotto with its chapel built over the place of the apparitions.

Lourdes overnight (BD)

We celebrate an International Mass this morning with pilgrims worldwide in the immense Underground Basilica of Pius X (schedule permitting) before meeting our guide for a walking tour of Lourdes including the Sanctuary area: Upper & Lower Basilicas, the Grotto, and the Baths where hundreds of miraculous cures have taken place. We continue our visit of the main sites associated with St Bernadette including the Boly Mill where she was born in 1844, the original parish church and the Cachot (prison) where the family was forced to live due to misfortune during the time of the apparitions.

Free time this afternoon for a visit and prayers for the sick at the miraculous Baths where the water has continued to flow since 1858.  Pilgrims may choose to submerge themselves in the healing waters, or collect the Lourdes water at the taps. During her 9^th apparition to Bernadette, Our Lady said “Go drink and wash yourself at the spring”. Optional afternoon Blessed Sacrament Procession and Blessing of the Sick before a final evening candlelight procession after dinner.

Note:  Washing at the baths is a personally rewarding experience and is carried out in a discreet manner with the process being very respectful of one’s privacy.  

Lourdes overnight (BD)

We embark on our travel day today, departing Lourdes and travelling east by coach. We enjoy a leisurely lunch break in Carcassonne, the medieval walled town which lies on the right bank of the River Aude and is featured on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. 

We continue in the afternoon to Marseille where we will check in to our hotel before dinner. 

Marseille overnight (BD)

Our morning visit includes the Cathedral of Marseille. This is the Cathedral begun by Eugene de Mazenod during his time as Bishop of Marseille, and which became his final resting place.

Travel up to the Shrine of Notre-Dame de la Garde where Oblates gathered (even as late as the 1960’s) to farewell departing missionaries. On the ship, just as they were losing sight of land but could still see the glimmering gold statue of the Virgin atop the shrine, the missionaries gathered to sing a final Salve Regina.

In the afternoon coach transfer to La Salette set amidst spectacular alpine pastureland where Our Lady appeared weeping to the children Melanie and Maximim in 1846.

La Salette overnight (BD)

We enjoy a guided tour of the site of the apparitions marked by statues. Witness the spring that began the flow after the apparition occurred and later enjoy a video presentation telling us the story of La Salette. 

Free time in La Salette this afternoon to wander the shrine or perhaps take a short hike in our lovely surrounds.

La Salette overnight (BD)

We enjoy a scenic coach transfer through the Alps today to Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps. Board the cable car for a breathtaking ride.

We then cross the border into Switzerland and continue to Geneva airport for our flight connections to Warsaw.  On arrival we will be met and transferred to our hotel. 

Warsaw overnight (BD)

Before departing Warsaw, we will enjoy a walking tour of the Old Town. 

We will then continue onto to Czestochowa – Czestochowa is home to the cherished miraculous icon of Our Lady with the Child Jesus, an object of veneration for centuries (also known as the Black Madonna). Attracting more than five million pilgrims every year, Our Lady of Czestochowa is recognized as one of the most visited places of Christian pilgrimage in the world. 

On arrival we will proceed to the Jasna Gora shrine where we will celebrate our group Mass. We will then tour the Basilica, Treasury, Museum and Knights Hall. A highlight will be the opportunity to pray before the image of the Black Madonna in the ancient chapel. 

Czestochowa overnight (BD)

After breakfast we will visit the fortress monastery of the Pauline Monks of Jasna Gora (meaning Bright Hill) is located. 

We journey south and enter on a deeply moving encounter of Auschwitz where we mourn the millions of people who were put to death in this, the biggest concentration camp of Hitler’s Nazism. Pope St John Paul II has termed this place the Golgotha of the modern world. We pray in the martyrdom bunker of St Maximilian Kolbe and view his cell while reflecting upon his selfless courage. After the tour of Auschwitz, we will have Mass in one of the beautiful town Churches.  

Continue to Wadowice, the birthplace of Karol Wojtyla (the now canonised Pope St John Paul II) where we enter his family house and even the grounds where he used to play Football!  The central point of the town is the market square with its Parish Church, and the famous Baptismal basin where Karol was baptized.  Next to the church, we find the saint’s birthplace and the nearby Museum encompassing the former home of the Wojtyla family.

If it can be arranged, we may have dinner locally so we can walk to the shrine after dinner to join in the beautiful evening devotions in the Black Madonna Chapel.

Continue to  Krakow and check in to our hotel.

Krakow overnight (BD)

Today we commence our walking tour at the Wawel Cathedral where in the crypt below Fr Karol was ordained in 1946 and celebrated his first Mass. 

Continue on to St Mary’s Church, University and Market Square to experience one of the most beautiful medieval city centres in Europe. Enter St. Florians Church, where the young Karol developed a flourishing underground youth ministry at great risk.

After lunch we visit the celebrated Marian site of Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, which remains the favourite boyhood shrine of Pope St John Paul II.

Krakow overnight (BD)

We begin our day at the inspired Shrine of Divine Mercy where, between 1931 – 1938 Our Lord appeared to Sr Faustina Kowalska (a Polish Sister of Mercy) entrusting with her the mission of spreading His message of merciful love for humanity. We will celebrate Mass at the shrine, and witness the miraculous image of the Merciful Jesus before venerating the tomb of St Faustina. 

Visit the nearby ‘Have No Fear’ John Paul II Shrine where we can encounter ‘the person of John Paul II, his thoughts, his spirit and his sanctity’ (Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz). 

Travel out then for an enthralling tour of the famous Wieliczka Salt Mines, the oldest operational mines in Europe and dating back to the 13^th century.

Krakow overnight (BD)

Today we will be transferred to Krakow airport for our homebound flight connections. (B)