Itinerary includes visits
to Lisieux, Ars and Lourdes
to pray for special intentions
 
 

Throughout this 11-day spiritual journey, the pilgrims will pray for vocations and other special intentions on behalf of the people of the archdiocese.

On Sept. 30, the first of three days in Paris, archdiocesan pilgrims will visit a variety of historic sites, including the Champs Élysée, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral. The cathedral is considered France’s most popular tourist attraction.

That night, the pilgrims will journey to Lisieux. On Oct. 1, they will tour Les Buisonnets, the family home where St. Thérèse of Lisieux spent the early years of her life before entering the Carmelite order at the age of 15.

The pilgrims also will visit the Carmelite monastery which houses the sacred relic of her body. Later they will view the Basilica of Sacré-Coeur from afar.

After returning to Paris that night, the pilgrims will continue their spiritual journey on Oct. 2 with a visit to the Shrine of the Miraculous Medal on Rue de Bac, where the Mother of God is said to have appeared to St. Catherine Labouré in 1830.

A visit to the church of St. Vincent de Paul in Paris concludes the fourth day of the pilgrimage.

On Oct. 3, the pilgrims will travel from Paris to Nevers, St. Bernadette Soubirous’ home for the last 13 years of her life, to visit the Convent of St. Gildard.

The group also will stop at the St. Cyril and St. Judith Cathedral, then spend the night in Nevers.

The pilgrims will journey to Paray-le-Monial on Oct. 4 to visit the site of the reported apparitions of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1673.

Traveling from Lyon to Ars on Oct. 5, the pilgrimage group will begin the seventh day with a morning visit to the Cathedral of Ars, where St. John Vianney’s incorrupt body lies near a side altar. He is the patron saint of parish priests.

Back in Lyon that afternoon, the group will have free time for other sightseeing.

On Oct. 6, the pilgrimage will continue with a visit to Avignon to tour the Palace of the Popes, the historic site in southern France where seven successive popes ruled the Church from 1309 to 1377 because political conditions prevented their return to Rome.

After spending the night in Avignon, the pilgrims will journey to Lourdes on Oct. 7 to view the site in the Pyrenees Mountains where the Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette and identified herself the “Immaculate Conception.” Joining pilgrims from many countries, the archdiocesan group will participate in the candlelight procession that night.

On Oct. 8, the pilgrims will visit the Basilica of Lourdes and the Cachot, the place where Bernadette lived at the time of the apparitions. They also will participate in the blessing of the sick at the shrine, and will have an opportunity to bathe in the waters of Massabielle, made famous by 65 miracles and more than 5,000 healings that have been recognized by the Church since 1858.

The 10th day of the pilgrimage will conclude with a second night at the shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes for the international candelight procession.

Concluding the 1999 archdiocesan pilgrimage to the shrines of France, the group will return to Paris on Oct. 9 for the flight home.

(The 1999 archdiocesan pilgrimage to the shrines of France is $2,759 per person for double occupancy accommodations. For more information, contact Carolyn Noone, associate director, special events, at 317-236-1428 or 800-382-9836, ext. 1428.)