Shrines of France with Holy Spirit Catholic Church and Elizabeth Poole-Sliman
Nine days from Lourdes to Paris, by way of Toulouse, Paray-le-Monial, Ars, Nevers and Lisieux, with Mass along the way and an optional post-tour extension to Rome.
Your spiritual guide
Elizabeth Poole-Sliman
Holy Spirit Catholic Church
“In the heart of the Church, my Mother, I shall be love.”
St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Story of a Soul
St. Thérèse found her vocation in love. On our last full day we travel to Lisieux to visit her home and the Carmelite Monastery, and celebrate Mass at the Basilica of St. Thérèse.
The Basilica of St. Thérèse · Lisieux
France, July 5 to 13, 2027
Nine days, seven nights in Lourdes, Toulouse, Ars-sur-Formans and Paris, with Bartrès, Paray-le-Monial, Nevers and Lisieux along the way.
Begins in Lourdes and ends in Paris
OvernightVisit
Nights: 2 Lourdes, 1 Toulouse, 1 Ars, 3 Paris.
Departure
Our overnight flight departs for Lourdes from our local airport.
Lourdes
Morning arrival into Lourdes. This afternoon, we will visit the Grotto of Massabielle, where the healing waters flow. In the evening, we will attend the candlelight procession.
Basilica of St. Pius X
We’ll attend the International Mass, concelebrated by our spiritual director in the underground Basilica of St. Pius X. After Mass, we’ll have a guided tour of St. Bernadette’s home, the basilica, and her environs, giving us a deeper understanding of St. Bernadette’s life and her relationship with Mary, the Immaculate. This afternoon we will walk and pray in the Eucharistic Procession.
Bartrès & Toulouse
This morning, we depart for Bartrès, where St. Bernadette lived for a time before the apparitions at Lourdes. We will visit the village and walk part of the pilgrim’s path connected to the historic Way of St. James. Following our visit, we continue to Toulouse. Upon arrival, we visit the Church of the Jacobins, where St. Thomas Aquinas is buried.
Toulouse, Paray-le-Monial & Ars-sur-Formans
This morning we take a short flight from Toulouse to Lyon. Upon arrival we travel to Paray-le-Monial, where we visit the Shrine of the Sacred Heart and the Chapel of the Visitation. We celebrate Mass here, where Jesus revealed His Sacred Heart to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque during a series of apparitions. We then continue to Ars-sur-Formans, the village where St. John Vianney served as pastor.
Ars-sur-Formans, Nevers & Paris
This morning we visit the Shrine of St. John Vianney in Ars and celebrate Mass, praying at the incorrupt body of the Curé of Ars. We then depart for Nevers to visit the convent where St. Bernadette spent the final years of her life and where her incorrupt body rests today. Afterwards, we continue on to Paris in time for dinner.
Paris
After breakfast this morning we will get an overview of the City of Light, where we’ll see the Champs-Élysées, the Seine River, Les Invalides and the Eiffel Tower. In the afternoon we will visit the Shrine of the Miraculous Medal on Rue du Bac. Here, Our Lady appeared to St. Catherine Labouré and asked her to have a medal made with the inscription: “O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”
Lisieux
After breakfast, we travel northwest for an excursion to Lisieux. We’ll visit the home and Carmelite Monastery of St. Thérèse, the “Little Flower.” Our spiritual director will celebrate Mass for us at the Basilica of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. In the afternoon, we return to Paris to visit the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris. Tonight we gather for our farewell dinner.
Return home
With a deeper love for Mary, gratitude to God, and wonderful memories of our pilgrimage, we board our plane for our flight home.
Optional post-tour extension to Rome, July 13 to 16
Explore “The Eternal City” and all the marvels Rome has to offer, including the opportunity to experience a Papal Audience with the Holy Father. Visit important Catholic sites such as the Holy Stairs and the Minor Basilicas.
You’ll also explore historic landmarks, including the Trevi Fountain. Tour the Catacombs of Rome, the world’s largest underground Christian burial site. Immerse yourself in the rich culture, art, and cuisine of Italy on this unforgettable Catholic pilgrimage.
What’s included
Everything below is covered by the package price.
Your hotels in France
Four-star hotels throughout: two nights in Lourdes, one in Toulouse, one in Ars-sur-Formans and three in Paris. Hotels are subject to final confirmation; if a hotel changes, it is replaced with one of the same standard.
“It was so nice not to have to worry about any details, they took care of everything!”
“Each site was thought out about why and how to pray there.”
“Each one has been beautifully arranged and managed from start to finish.”
Questions pilgrims ask
Short answers to what most people want to know before they put down a deposit.
It is a touring pilgrimage by motorcoach, with a short flight from Toulouse to Lyon and long coach days from Ars to Paris and from Paris to Lisieux. Expect about 1 to 2 miles of walking on a typical day. Days usually start around 7am and end back at the hotel between 5pm and 6pm. Most walking is around the shrines, with some slopes and stairs at Lourdes.
You can have a room to yourself, with a single room supplement of $1,000, or share a room with two beds with another pilgrim. On the optional Rome extension, the single room supplement is $400. If you would like to share, we will do our best to match you with a roommate. If we cannot find a match by April 6, 2027, the single room supplement applies. Couples, families, friends and singles are all welcome, and plenty of pilgrims come on their own.
Lunches, donations at Masses, souvenirs and laundry, and the cost of a passport if you need one. A typical lunch costs about $15 to $20. Tips for your tour manager, local guides and driver: the recommended amounts are in your final travel documents. Travel insurance if you choose it, and a 3% fee if you pay by card. Abroad, we recommend paying for most things by credit card, which is accepted almost everywhere and comes with protection that cash does not; bring a couple hundred U.S. dollars in cash for emergencies. When a card machine or ATM asks whether to pay in dollars or in the local currency (euros in France and Italy), choose the local currency; it is almost always cheaper.
Cancel in writing. Up to April 6, 2027 (90 days before departure), everything you have paid is returned except $200. After that date, the $450 deposit and any costs we cannot recover are kept. Travel insurance may cover a cancellation, depending on the reason.
Elizabeth Poole-Sliman, Spiritual Guide at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, leads the group from the parish.
More answers in the FAQ below and in our Support Center, or call us at +1 (800) 653-0017.
Price per person
Per person, including roundtrip group airfare from New Orleans (MSY). Flying from another city? We can arrange air from your airport; call or email us for a quote. Premium economy and business class are available: call or email us for pricing.
$200 per person is non-refundable.
Final payment is due 90 days before departure. Payment plans are available if you would like to make smaller payments before then.
Check
ACH bank transfer
Zelle
Cash, money order or cashier’s check
Protect your pilgrimage
Your pilgrimage is paid for long before you leave. After you reserve, your booking confirmation email has our Allianz Travel Insurance plans and a link to buy one directly. Classic is the plan we recommend for most pilgrims.
- Covers your trip cost. Classic reimburses 100% of the trip cost you insured if you cancel for a covered reason, and adds emergency medical care and baggage cover.
- Buy within 14 days of your first deposit to keep Cancel Anytime and pre-existing condition cover. The plans stay available until departure.
- Buy it from your confirmation email. Prefer to add it by phone? Call us at +1 (800) 653-0017.
Frequently asked questions
This is an active program that covers a good amount of ground each day. Expect a wake-up call around 7am, departure by 9am and a return to the hotel between 5pm and 6pm. You should be able to walk 1 to 2 miles a day at a moderate pace, with uneven surfaces, stairs, cobblestones and some slopes. The route includes a short flight from Toulouse to Lyon and long coach days from Ars to Paris and from Paris to Lisieux.
July in France is usually warm to hot, with long days. Lourdes, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, can see afternoon showers and storms. Bring light layers for the evening processions, a rain jacket or umbrella and comfortable walking shoes.
Yes. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the return date, and passport cards are not accepted for international travel. We need your passport details at least 90 days before departure. Entry rules for Europe can change, so we will let you know before departure if anything new applies to your trip.
An optional extension from July 13 to 16, 2027, after the pilgrimage, priced at $1,495 per person sharing, with a $400 single room supplement. Select the extension when you reserve.
Yes. The price includes group airfare, so call or email us for a price without flights. Send us your flight details once booked, so we can line your arrival up with the group’s in Lourdes on July 6 and its departure from Paris on July 13. Group air from other airports can be arranged; call or email us for a quote.
Final payment is due on April 6, 2027, 90 days before departure. Payment plans are available if you would like to make smaller payments before then.
We strongly encourage travel insurance for all of our pilgrims, and we partner with Allianz Travel Insurance to offer affordable coverage. Most of our pilgrims choose the Classic Plan. Insurance can be quoted and purchased after registration.
A pilgrimage is not a vacation or excursion but a unique spiritual journey that provides many opportunities to deepen your relationship with God and enrich your Catholic faith by bringing Scripture to life. Pilgrimages offer the opportunity to let Christ draw you near.
More questions are answered in our Support Center, covering booking, payments, travel insurance, passports and what to expect on pilgrimage.
Couples, families, friends, singles, all are welcome!
Some pilgrims come as a couple, some bring the whole family, some come with a friend from the parish, and plenty come on their own. Everyone is welcome.
Lourdes, Ars, Lisieux and Paris
July 5 to 13, 2027, with Elizabeth Poole-Sliman and Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Reserve today with a $450 deposit per pilgrim.
Questions? Call +1 (800) 653-0017 or email hello@canterburypilgrimages.com.
Secure your spot today with a $450 deposit per pilgrim.