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Your Chaplain

Your Chaplain
Our pilgrimage begins as we depart the United States on our overnight flight to France. Dinner and breakfast will be served during the flight.
Upon arrival at Pau or Toulouse Airport, our local professional tour escort will greet us and accompany us by motorcoach through the foothills of the Pyrenees to Lourdes. After check-in, we have time to relax or explore before dinner. Following dinner, we have the opportunity to join the faithful for the Candlelight Marian Procession and the praying of the Rosary (April through October only). Dinner and overnight in Lourdes. (D)
We spend the day in prayer and pilgrimage at the Lourdes sanctuary, where Our Lady appeared eighteen times to the young Bernadette Soubirous beginning in 1858, first appearing in silence as Bernadette prayed the Rosary before later revealing herself as the Immaculate Conception and calling for prayer and penance for sinners. We celebrate Mass at the Grotto of Massabielle, the very site of the apparitions, and participate in the water gesture, washing our hands and face and drinking from the miraculous spring in a spirit of faith and penance, closing with the prayer: “Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us. St. Bernadette, pray for us. O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.” We walk the life-size Stations of the Cross overlooking the Grotto, meditating on the Passion of Our Lord, and visit the Basilica of St. Pius X, the vast underground basilica built to accommodate the sanctuary’s largest gatherings. This afternoon we join the Eucharistic Procession, and this evening we return once more to the Candlelight Marian Procession and the praying of the Rosary (April through October only). Dinner and overnight in Lourdes. (B/D)
We spend a second full day at the Lourdes sanctuary. A video presentation this morning tells the story of Bernadette and the apparitions in fuller detail before we visit Boly Mill, the birthplace of St. Bernadette, and the Cachot, the abandoned prison cell where her impoverished family lived at the time of the apparitions. We continue to the Carmelite Monastery and the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, its lower basilica adorned with mosaics recalling the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. We celebrate Mass once more at the Grotto before an afternoon of personal prayer and reflection. This evening we gather once more for the Candlelight Marian Procession and the praying of the Rosary (April through October only). Dinner and overnight in Lourdes. (B/D)
Today is set aside as a free day in Lourdes, a gift of unhurried time for personal prayer. After breakfast we celebrate Mass together at the Sanctuary, and the rest of the day is ours to spend with Our Lady: returning to the Grotto of Massabielle to pray where she appeared to St. Bernadette, kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament, walking the Stations of the Cross again at our own pace, or simply resting in the quiet of the Pyrenees. This evening we join the faithful once more for the Candlelight Marian Procession and the praying of the Rosary, closing our time in Lourdes in prayer before Our Lady. Dinner and overnight in Lourdes. (B/D)
After breakfast, we transfer to Pau or Tarbes-Lourdes Airport for our short flight to Paris, continuing on by motorcoach to Lisieux. According to Pope Pius X, St. Thérèse of Lisieux was the greatest saint of modern times, and her extraordinary love for God and service to humanity comes alive as we walk in the great saint’s footsteps. We visit the Basilica of St. Thérèse, its magnificent mosaics and stained glass, and celebrate Mass here before continuing to Les Buissonnets, the family home where relics, clothing, and personal objects belonging to St. Thérèse are preserved. We also tour the Carmelite Convent, which she entered in 1888 and where she is now buried. Dinner and overnight in Lisieux. (B/D)
Following breakfast, our group celebrates Mass before traveling to the Normandy landing beaches, site of the largest seaborne invasion in history and the beginning of the liberation of German-occupied northwestern Europe on June 6, 1944. We continue to the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, honoring the American troops who died in Europe during World War II, pausing in prayer and thanksgiving for their courage. We return to Lisieux for dinner and overnight. (B/D)
After an early breakfast, we depart for Chartres, home to the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Chartres and its incredible stained glass windows from the 12th and 13th centuries, called by UNESCO the high point of French Gothic art and a masterpiece. We join the parish for Sunday Mass at the Cathedral and venerate the precious relic of the Veil of Our Lady, displayed at the back of the main altar. Following free time for lunch in the town of Chartres, we continue to Paris for hotel check-in and free time before dinner. Dinner and overnight in Paris. (B/D)
Following breakfast, we begin our time in Paris at the magnificent Sacré-Coeur Basilica atop Montmartre Hill. Dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Basilica was begun in 1875 as an act of national penance and completed in 1914. We take in the extraordinary artwork and architecture of the Basilica, including the beautiful mosaic of the Risen Christ and the remarkable Grand Organ, and we celebrate Mass in the Crypt, resting place of many notable Cardinals. Time permitting, we may ascend to the Dome for a breathtaking panoramic view of Paris. We then board a bus tour to see some of the most recognizable symbols of Paris, including the Eiffel Tower, Les Invalides, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Champs-Élysées, the world’s most famous boulevard. Dinner and overnight in Paris. (B/D)
After breakfast, we make our way to the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal on the Rue du Bac, where we celebrate Mass and have the opportunity to view the incorrupt body of St. Catherine Labouré, led there by her guardian angel to the very chapel where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to her and instructed the making of the Miraculous Medal. We continue on foot to the nearby Church of St. Vincent de Paul before visiting Notre-Dame Cathedral, one of the most incredible churches in the world. Just steps away on the Île de la Cité, we visit Sainte-Chapelle, built by King Louis IX in the 13th century to house the Crown of Thorns and featuring fifteen floor-to-ceiling stained glass windows spanning over six hundred years of biblical history. Dinner and overnight in Paris. (B/D)
Today is a free day in Paris. After breakfast we celebrate Mass together at a church near our hotel, and the rest of the day is at leisure: time to return in prayer to the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal or to Notre-Dame, to kneel before the Blessed Sacrament at Sacré-Coeur, where perpetual Eucharistic adoration has continued since 1885, or to enjoy the city at our own pace. This evening we gather at a Paris restaurant for our farewell banquet, giving thanks together for the graces of our pilgrimage. Overnight in Paris. (B/D)
After an early breakfast and heartfelt farewells, we transfer by motorcoach to the Paris airport for our return flight home. (B)
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Please call (800) 653 – 0017 or email hello@canterburypilgrimages.com to receive more instructions
We work with airlines on booking group airfare from anticipated departure airports. This allows us to get the best rates to fly you and the rest of the group to and from your destination. Group air contracts do not allow deviations, date changes, or upgrades, and in some cases issuing tickets at individual rates may be necessary. See “special flight/hotel requests section” below.
Select your preferred departure airport during registration. If you don’t see your preferred airport listed, please select “send me a flight quote.”
You are always welcome to arrange your own flights. Arranging airfare on your own gives you the ability to spend personally-earned airline miles for your ticket, handpick your seats, upgrade directly with the airline, or deviate from the group in other ways.
Arrival: If you choose to book airfare with us, you will be greeted in the destination airport’s arrival hall by a Canterbury Pilgrimages representative and transferred to the first stop on the itinerary, typically your hotel.
Departure: If you choose to book airfare with us, you will be transferred from the last stop on your itinerary, typically your hotel, to the airport for your return flight home.
If you book your own flights: You may book arrival and departure transfers through us for an additional cost. You may also choose to arrange your own means of transportation to and from the airport. In most cases, on arrival, the first stop on the itinerary will be the group’s hotel, but we will provide you with the location if the group is meeting elsewhere on this day.
If you have booked airfare through us and would like to apply your Known Traveler Number (for TSA PreCheck) and/or your CBP PASSID (for Global Entry), you may provide it to us during registration. Forgot your KTN? Retrieve it here: https://tsaenrollmentbyidemia.tsa.dhs.gov/ktn-lookup
We cannot book your airfare using earned frequent flyer miles or airline vouchers. However, if the airfare we book for you coincides with an airline you are a member of, we are happy to apply your frequent flyer # to your booking for any mile accrual (if applicable).
Absolutely. If you would like to arrive earlier/depart later than the group and/or upgrade your airfare, please contact us at hello@canterburypilgrimages.com
The group’s flight schedules will be provided to you digitally and in the mail 30 days before the pilgrimage.
We would like to remind you that a pilgrimage is not a vacation or excursion but rather a unique spiritual journey that will provide many opportunities to deepen your relationship with God and enrich your Catholic faith by bringing Scripture to life. Millions throughout the ages have gone before you searching for a way to physically connect with their faith in Christ Jesus. You may find that when you are near a saint’s tomb, viewing a holy relic, or praying a Marian devotion, you are overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit in a very real sense. Pilgrimages offer the opportunity to let Christ draw you near. Your chaplain is there to help guide you spiritually on this journey.
This active program covers a good amount of ground each day. The days are busy, usually starting with a wake-up call around 7AM and departure by 9AM or earlier. We aim to be back at the hotel between 5PM and 6PM. Times may vary depending on destination and program. We encourage all pilgrims to be able to walk 3-4 miles per day. The pace is moderate, however you will encounter some uneven surfaces, stairs, steps, cobblestones, and significant slopes. Some tours require walking in the open air with no shade and no seating available. For more specifics on this itinerary’s physical landscape, please reach out to us.
Upon depositing for your trip, we would like to get to know a little bit about you. We will collect your basic contact information, passport information, emergency contact information, and how you would like to set up your pilgrimage. How many are in your party? Will you travel with them and/or share a room with them? Do you know anyone else attending? Where are you flying from?
You will receive additional information that will help you start preparing for your pilgrimage. If applicable, we will also begin working on your flight and travel requests.
Full payment is due for your trip 90 days prior to your departure. This also serves as the last day to sign up for the pilgrimage if space is still available. Once within the 90-day deadline, we may be able to accommodate you at a different rate.
Your pilgrim travel kit includes an invite to download our travel app. On the app is where you will find your flight itinerary (if you opt for us to book your flights), trip itinerary, and a map of your hotel accommodations. You will also have the ability to share photos and messages with fellow pilgrims, and receive any important flight and schedule updates before and during your pilgrimage. Also included in the pilgrim travel kit is your name badge, a luggage tag, a Magnificat prayer book, and a copy of the Canterbury Tales by Chaucer, which inspired our mission.
Your pilgrim travel kit will either be delivered to your mailing address provided, or to your parish if a pre-departure meeting is arranged. Please note, we ship via FedEx 2-day air, and thus cannot deliver to P.O. boxes.
The day has arrived! We are looking forward to meeting you.
After the pilgrimage experience, we would love to hear from you what went well and what we can improve upon. We kindly ask you to respond to the survey in your inbox within 5 days of return while your new memories are still fresh.
See all of our current pilgrimage offerings here!
Solo travelers are always welcome on our pilgrimages. If you wish to have a hotel accommodation to yourself, you will be responsible for the single room fee (commonly referred to as a single supplement.)
Sharing hotel accommodations is a great way to save money and get to know another solo traveler on the pilgrimage. If you wish to share a room, we will attempt to connect you with another person of the same gender on the pilgrimage looking to share. Shared rooms are always double rooms with 2 beds. Should we not be able to accommodate you with a roommate, you will be responsible for the single room fee.
For pilgrims traveling with a companion, double rooms are available in either 1 or 2 bed configurations.
For pilgrims traveling in parties of 3 or 4, please be aware that while we do our best to accommodate, not all hotels have rooms equipped with 3 or 4 beds. In many cases, the 3rd or 4th bed is a cot or convertible sofa bed.
Europe: 1 queen bed or 2 twin beds
Asia: 1 twin bed or 2 twin beds
USA: 1 king bed or 2 queen beds
Although we will do our best to notify you if your passport will not be valid for travel, it is ultimately your responsibility to ensure your passport is valid.
Depending on the nationality of your passport, a travel visa may be required to reach your destination. Although we will do our best to notify you if a travel visa is required, it is ultimately your responsibility to check if visas are required for the destinations visited and to obtain any necessary travel documents. You can do that easily here: https://apply.joinsherpa.com/travel-restrictions
Although group airfare is restrictive with seat selection, we will always do what we can to accommodate pilgrims who need specific seating, such as aisle or bulkhead seating, due to a medical condition or disability. In addition to that, wheelchair assistance from the moment you arrive at the airport, to your terminal, or all the way to your seat, is available to you, provided by the airline, and does not need to be pre-arranged.
Most countries do not follow US accessibility standards. Old buildings, cobblestone walkways, and uneven surfaces are a part of every itinerary. Access to some establishments may not be convenient for wheelchair use and will require the use of stairs. During hotel overnights, we can arrange for you to stay in handicap-accessible rooms where available. In the event they are not available, we will request rooms on the main floor or near an elevator.
Pending availability, we are happy to request a wheelchair rental for the duration of the pilgrimage. Wheelchair users must have a designated travel companion to assist them during the pilgrimage. Please reach out to us to place this request.
We always intend to provide our customers with the pilgrimage they spend time and resources to plan with us. If we are unable to travel to a destination ahead of a trip, or reasonably predict to be unable to travel, Canterbury reserves the right to make changes to the itinerary, including the dates of the trip. We respect your time and that of the people in your life who plan for your absence. We only change or postpone the dates of the trip when it is necessary due to inability to travel to a destination, untimely closures in crucial sites along the itinerary, extreme weather conditions, government mandates, war, acts of God, or other factors. In this situation, your reservation will be automatically preserved for the new dates of the trip, which will take place at a reasonable time arranged by Canterbury and/or the group organizer. Additionally, Canterbury hopes to offer you the best possible options for your reservation given the circumstances, which, if possible, could include transferring your reservation to another trip, or other arrangements.
Countless months get put into the organization of your trip, thus we do our best to avoid cancelling it. Though we reserve the right to cancel for any reason at any time, we typically only do in instances of an insufficient group size. In this case, we would refund 100% of what you have paid to us back to your original payment method on file within 10 business days.
We’re here to help! Call or email one of our pilgrimage specialists today.
(800) 653-0017
hello@canterburypilgrimages.com
Mon-Fri | 9am – 5pm ET
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