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DAY 1: DEPART USA
We depart USA en route to Rome, with complimentary meals and beverages served aloft.

DAY 2: ROME/ASSISI
We arrive in Rome and are met by our Catholic Travel Centre representative who will accompany us throughout our journey. We make our way to the tiny Umbrian town of Assisi, which clings to the side of Mt. Subasio. We check-in to our hotel in Assisi for dinner and the evening.

DAY 3: ASSISI: BASILICA OF ST. FRANCIS, CHIESA NUOVA, SAN RUFINO, BASILICA OF ST. CLARE & SAN DAMIANO
Today we begin with Mass at the Basilica of St. Francis. After Mass we enjoy a guided tour of the Basilica. We continue with a walking tour of the city, visiting the major sites associated with St. Francis and St. Clare, including the Chiesa Nuova, built over the home of Francis’ family and the Church of San Rufino, with the baptismal font of the Saint. This Afternoon we visit the Church of St. Clare, where St. Clare lies in repose. Here we see the original ‘San Damiano’ crucifix that spoke to Francis, urging him to “Rebuild My Church.” Francis interpreted the dream literally and went to work on repairing the building at San Damiano. Only later did he understand the deeper meaning of the dream. We continue to the Church of San Damiano. Here too we see the original ‘San Damiano Cross’ that ‘spoke’ to Francis. Dinner is at our accommodations this evening.

DAY 4: ASSISI: BASILICA OF ST. MARY OF THE ANGELS / ROME
This morning we visit the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, containing the Porziuncola, built by St. Francis and the Mother Church of the Franciscan Order. Nearby is the site of Francis’ death. We make our way to Rome.

This afternoon we visit at the Coliseum. Its real name was the Flavian Amphitheater, after emperors who built it in the first century after Christ, then we make our way to the Catacombs of St. Calixtus, housing the tombs of many of the early popes. We visit Basilica of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, housing the Tomb of St. Paul the Apostle, affectionately known as the Apostle of the Gentiles. Here we celebrate Mass. Dinner is at our hotel.

DAY 5: ROME: VATICAN MUSEUM & BASILICA OF ST. PETER
This morning we enjoy a tour of the Vatican Museum, an incredible collection of art accumulated by the popes, and the Sistine Chapel, featuring Michelangelo's masterworks. We visit the Basilica of St. Peter with our local guide. Here we see one of Michelangelo's great works, the statue of the Blessed Mother holding her crucified son. We know it as the Pieta. We also visit the tomb of Pope John Paul II. We have some time at leisure to go on our own up to the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica, where you can gain a striking panoramic view of the city or visit some of the excellent religious article shops in the area. Dinner tonight is at a local restaurant.

DAY 6: ROME: MAJOR BASILICAS
This morning we visit the Basilica of St. Mary Major, the largest church in Rome dedicated to the Blessed Mother. Here we celebrate Mass. Nearby we see the Basilica of St. John Lateran. It is here that St. Francis persuaded Pope Innocent III to give permission to begin the Franciscan Order. The night before, the Pope had seen a man in a dream and the man was supporting the tottering building of St. John Lateran. The next day, when Francis appeared before Pope Innocent, His Holiness recognized the face from the dream and consented to Francis' request. Nearby is the Scala Santa, purportedly the stairs that Christ climbed prior to his condemnation by Pontius Pilate. Dinner tonight is at our hotel.

DAY 7: ROME: PAPAL AUDIENCE & WALKING TOUR OF ROME
This morning we transfer to Pope Paul VI Audience Hall for the General Audience with the Holy Father (subject to Vatican schedule). This afternoon we will enjoy a walking tour, starting at the Trevi Fountain, where we toss our traditional three coins. From here we continue to the Piazza Trinita dei Monti at the top of the Spanish Steps, affording a romantic panoramic view of the city of Rome. Our tour continues across the city to the Pantheon and at the Piazza Navona, a popular gathering place for denizens of Rome. We finish our day with Santa Maria Sopra Minerva Church for the closing liturgy of our pilgrimage. Tonight we celebrate with a festive farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

DAY 8: RETURN
We transfer to the Rome airport for our return flight to the USA.

Day 1: AMMAN: EXCURSION TO JERASH & AMMAN CITY TOUR
This morning we drive to the most well-preserved Roman city of Old Jerash, with its theatre with phenomenal acoustics, Temple of Artemis, Temple of Zeus, offering a spectacular view of the Forum. This afternoon we enjoy our city tour of Amman which includes the ruins of the ancient civilizations, including the Theatre and Forum for the Greco-Roman Empire, the Citadel, and the Roman Temple of Hercules. Our visit includes the National Archeological Museum. We return to Amman for the evening.

Day 2: PETRA: VISIT OF THE SITE
We visit the Nabatean city of Petra, the Red Rock City, carved in colored sandstone and rediscovered in 1812. From the El Ji Post, we take an unforgettable journey as we continue on horseback, or walk through the famous Siq (natural gorge). We visit the Treasury, the Theater, Palace of Justice and other wonders. (Horses are included for our visit.)

Day 3: Return To the USA/Israel/Egypt
We transfer to the airport for our return flight.

DAY 1: DEPART USA
We depart USA en route to Toulouse, with complimentary meals and beverages served aloft.

DAY 2: ARRIVE TOULOUSE / LOURDES
Upon arrival in Toulouse, we are met by our representative of Catholic Travel Centre and transfer to our hotel in Lourdes for dinner and evening.

DAY 3: LOURDES: WALKING TOUR
We begin this morning with Mass. After Mass we enjoy a walking tour ‘In the Footsteps of Bernadette.’ We visit the Cachot (former jail cell that once served as the Soubirous family’s home); the parish church; Fr. Peryamale’s Presbytery; the Hospice and the Boly Mill.

This afternoon is at leisure. At 4:30 PM we are welcome to participate in the Procession of the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessing of the Sick. After dinner at the hotel we return to the Sanctuary for the Rosary and Torchlight Procession, beginning about 8:30 PM. After the procession we return to our hotel.

DAY 4: LOURDES: DAY AT LEISURE
We begin this morning with the International Mass. Today is entirely at our leisure in Lourdes. Our tour escort will be with us. We may wish to visit the Grotto on our own, visit the baths, or pray the Stations of the Cross. We are also welcome to participate in the processions this afternoon and evening. Dinner is at our hotel.

DAY 5: LOURDES / TOULOUSE / LYON / LA SALETTE
After breakfast we transfer to the Pau or Toulouse airports for our flight to Lyon. Upon arrival in Lyon we will transfer to La Salette, a Marian shrine commemorating the Blessed Mother’s appearance here on September 19, 1846. Here we celebrate Mass. Our dinner and evening are in the Grenoble area.

DAY 6: LA SALETTE / CHARTREUSE / PARAY LE MONIAL
This morning we travel to Chartreuse to visit the Chartreuse distillery (we know them as the Carthusian Monks) and the museum. We celebrate Mass and continue to Paray-le-monial for dinner and the evening.

DAY 7: PARAY-LE-MONIAL: EXCURSION TO ARS & VISIT OF THE SHRINE
This morning we make our way to the town of Ars, home of St. John Vianney, patron saint of parish priests. Pope John Paul II was a pilgrim here in 1986. We visit the basilica that houses St. John Vianney’s incorrupt body, and then continue to the Chapel of Our Lady of Ars, one of the favorite devotions of St. John. Here we celebrate Mass.

This afternoon, we return to Paray-le-monial where we visit the Church of St. Claude de la Colombiere and then visit the Chapel of the Visitation where St. Margaret Mary Alacoque received the visions of the Sacred Heart. Dinner is at our accommodations in Paray-le-monial.

DAY 8: PARAY-LE-MONIAL / NEVERS / VEZELAY / PARIS
Early this morning we depart for Nevers to visit the Convent of St. Gildard, where Bernadette of Lourdes lies in repose. We celebrate Mass at the Grotto in the Convent. Our next stop is the village of Vezelay, where we stop to visit one of the most beautiful Romanesque churches in all of France. This was one of the traditional starting points for the medieval pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. From Vezelay, we continue to Paris where we check in to our hotel. Dinner is served at the hotel.

DAY 9: PARIS: RUE DE BAC, ST. VINCENT’S SHRINE, NOTRE DAME + ST. CHAPELLE
This morning we begin with Mass and a visit to the Shrine of St. Catherine Laboure where the devotion of the Miraculous Medal began. Just around the corner we view the sights of the repose of St. Louise de Marilac and St. Vincent de Paul.

This afternoon we will see the Cathedral of Notre Dame, possibly the most famous cathedral in the world devoted to the Blessed Mother. Nearby we visit St. Chapelle with its remarkable stained glass windows, a virtual reliquary in stone and glass for relics of the Crown of Thorns. Dinner is served at the hotel.

DAY 10: PARIS: EXCURSION TO LISIEUX
This morning we make our way to Lisieux. Pope Pius X described St. Therese as ‘the greatest saint of modern times.’ The town of Lisieux now receives more than two million pilgrims annually. Today we visit the sites of St. Therese, the Little Flower of Jesus. We begin at Les Buissonnets (the Lisieux family home), then proceed to the Basilica, the Carmelite Convent Chapel, the reliquary of St. Therese, and the statue of the Virgin Mary that smiled at St. Therese. Here we celebrate Mass. Tonight we return to Paris for dinner at our hotel.

DAY 11: PARIS: VERSAILLES EXCURSION & PARIS SIGHTSEEING
This morning we make an excursion to Versailles to visit the palace here. We return to Paris for a tour of the city, including the Champs Elysses, Arc d’Triomphe, Invalides and other notable sites. We will stop at Montmartre for a visit to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Sacre Coeur), offering a spectacular vista of the city. Here we celebrate the closing Mass of our pilgrimage. We will have a bit of time to explore the nearby artist’s quarters of Montmartre and return to the hotel. This evening we will enjoy a farewell dinner at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant.

DAY 12: RETURN USA We transfer to the Paris airport for our return flight to the USA.