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An 11-Day Marian Shrines Pilgrimage
To Portugal, Spain & France
Including
Lisbon, Santarem, Fatima, Santiago de Compostela, Avila,
Madrid, Zaragoza, Lourdes, Montserrat &
Barcelona
Led by Fr. John Aerts & Fr. Terry
Dodge
October 11, 2010 - Monday
NEWARK /
LISBON
Tour
members meet at Newark International Airport for our flight to
Lisbon, Portugal, arriving the next morning. Meals are
served on board.
October 12, 2010 -
Tuesday
LISBON / SANTAREM /
FATIMA
We
arrive in Lisbon and meet our Pilgrimage Tours’ tour director
who will remain with us until the end of our tour. We
transfer from the airport to the city of Lisbon, where we will
have Mass at the birthplace of St. Anthony of Padua, followed
by a panoramic tour of the city. En route to Fatima, we
stop for a visit at the Church of St. Stephen, or “Church of
the Holy Miracle” in Santarem, site of a 13th century
Eucharistic miracle. Continue to Fatima where we arrive
for dinner and overnight.
October 13, 2010 -
Wednesday
FATIMA
Morning sightseeing tour with a local guide of Fatima where in
1917 Mary appeared to local children and the “miracle of the
sun” occurred. We celebrate Mass at the Basilica of Our
Lady, followed by a visit the House of Lucia and House of
Francisco and Jacinta. The afternoon is free time for
relaxation or shopping. After dinner we participate in
this evening’s Candlelight Procession. Overnight in
Fatima.
October 14, 2010 – Thursday
FATIMA /
COIMBRA
This
morning we take a short drive to the town of Coimbra, home to
Sister Lucia, one of the three children of Fatima that
witnessed the apparitions of Our Lady. Here we visit the
Carmelite Convent where Sister Lucia lived and also visit its
Museum. We return to Fatima by early afternoon, where we
enjoy a free day in Fatima. Dinner and overnight in
Fatima.
October 15, 2010 – Friday
FATIMA / SANTIAGO de
COMPOSTELA
This morning we depart Fatima for Santiago de
Compostela, the home of St. James. We visit the Cathedral
of St. James the Apostle, housing the remains of the
Saint. The Cathedral’s facades display examples of both
Romanesque and Baroque architecture. We celebrate Mass in
the Cathedral of St. James and are treated to the swinging of
the “Botafumiero”, the Cathedral’s giant censer used only
during this and other “holy years of St. James”, the next holy
year not occurring until 2021. The remainder of our day
is free to explore this holy place. Dinner and overnight
in Santiago.
October 16, 2010 - Saturday
SANTIAGO de COMPOSTELA /
AVILA
This
morning we enjoy a walking tour of Santiago de Compostela,
 highlighting its rich heritage as a
center of pilgrimage. We pay one last visit to the
Cathedral before departing for Avila. En route we
make an afternoon stop in Albe de Tormes where St. Teresa
died in 1582. Inside the Carmelite convent of the
Annunciation is the tomb of St. Teresa and her remains in
a reliquary above the altar. Next we arrive in the
best-preserved walled city in the world and home of St.
Teresa of Avila who, with her spiritual director St. John
of the Cross, reformed the Carmelite Order. We
visit the Carmelite Monastery and celebrate Mass
there. We will visit the cell where St. Teresa lived
and see relics of Teresa and St. John of the Cross.
We’ll also tour the ancient city of Avila whose
architecture and culture remain the same from centuries
ago. Dinner and overnight in Avila.
October 17, 2010 - Sunday
AVILA / MADRID /
ZARAGOZA
This
morning we depart Avila for Zaragoza. Passing through
Madrid we see the Royal Palace and the Cathedral, as well as
the Plaza Mayor. In the afternoon we arrive in Zaragoza
and visit the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, the place
where Mary appeared to the Apostle James before her Assumption
into heaven. Here we celebrate Mass. The remainder
of our day is free. Dinner and overnight in
Zaragoza.
October 18, 2010 - Monday
ZARAGOZA /
LOURDES
Next
we depart Zaragoza for Lourdes where, in 1858, Mary appeared to
a young Bernadette Soubirous. Upon our arrival in
Lourdes, we will celebrate Mass at the basilica. The rest
of the afternoon is for relaxation, shopping or sightseeing
before dinner. Following dinner, we join the Candlelight
Procession. Overnight in Lourdes.
October 19, 2010 - Tuesday
LOURDES
This morning after Mass we see the sites of
Lourdes where Mary appeared to Bernadette. We visit the
Grotto, the Spring and the healing Baths, as well as the
Basilica of St. Pius X, the Rosary Basilica and Bernadette’s
home. The afternoon is free for relaxation, sightseeing
or private devotion. Dinner and overnight in
Lourdes.
October 20, 2010 - Wednesday
LOURDES / MONTSERRAT /
BARCELONA
This
morning we depart Lourdes for Montserrat and some of Spain’s
most incredible scenery. Upon our arrival in Montserrat
we join enjoy a wonderful tour of the  Monastery and grounds
where we see the Statute of Our Lady of Montserrat or
Black Madonna, probably Spain’s most fervent devotion to
the Blessed Mother. While here, we celebrate
Mass. Next we drive to Barcelona and we
enjoy a motor coach tour of the city and see the famous
Ramblas Boulevard, Barcelona’s main thoroughfare as well
as the enormous Basilica Sagrada Familia, the largest
basilica in Europe and still under construction.
Dinner and overnight in Barcelona.
October 21, 2010 -
Thursday
BARCELONA /
NEWARK
This
morning we depart Barcelona and our return flight to the United
States. Though our pilgrimage has come to an end, its
blessings will last a lifetime and its graces are certain to
draw us closer each day to the Lord.
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