Created: 27.12.2013

Day 1 - DEPART USA - We depart Houston to connect with our overnight flight with dinner arriving in Paris the next day. We enjoy in-flight movies, dinner and breakfast aloft. Day 2 - PARIS/CAEN - This morning, we arrive in Paris where we are met.  We board our coach and drive west towards the sea. We arrive at Caen and time permitting continue to Colleville sur Mer and an introductory visit to the American Cemetery here at Normandy. Return to Caen for dinner and overnight at our hotel.  DRIVE TIME 2.5 HOURS DAY 3 ??? NORMANDY  - Our day will be devoted to our visit to the American Cemetery and Monuments overlooking Omaha Beach, the site of the Allied landing in 1944.  ADD WHAT DESCRIPTION YOU WISH.  SEE VIDEO AT Day 4 ??? LISIEUX/PARIS - Today we visit the home of St. Therese, the Little Flower, where we celebrate Mass in the village convent. We also visit the Basilica dedicated to St. Therese.  The Basilica is the objective for pilgrims from the world over who come to kneel in solemn prayer to St. Therese.  Here we visit Les Buissonnets, where St. Therese lived as a child. Following lunch on our own in this delightful town, we continue to Paris where we enjoy an orientation tour of the city passing by the Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower and travel down the famous Champs-Elysees.  Continue to our hotel for dinner and overnight. DRIVE TIME 1 HOUR TO LISIEUX AND 2 HOURS TO PARIS Day 5 - PARIS -This morning following Mass at the Miraculous Medal Shrine of St. Catherine Laboure, we tour the sites of Paris, including a visit to the most enduring symbol of the French capital, the Notre Dame Cathedral on the Ile de la Cité. While here, we also make a stop at the Holy Chapel believed to hold relics, including nails and pieces of wood from the Cross of Calvary. This afternoon is yours for shopping, personal adventure or optional excursions.  We will have the opportunity to enjoy the culinary delights of Paris as dinner will be on our own. Day 6 ??? NEVERS/PARAY LE MONIAL ??? We leave Paris this AM and drive to Nevers passing through Auxerre and Vezelay.  St. Bernadette of Lourdes spent the last 13 years of her life here, and we view her incorrupt body in the Convent of St. Gildard.  We celebrate Mass here.  Afterwards we view the Palais Ducal and visit the local museum.  We also have time to browse among the shops offering their renowned pottery. We continue south to Paray le Monial for dinner and overnight. DRIVE TIME 2.5 HOURS TO NEVERS AND 1.5 HOURS TO PARAY Day 7 ???PARAY LE MONIAL/ARS - This morning, we celebrate Mass at the Chapel of St. Marguerite.  This is the site of the apparitions of Our Lord to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1673.  It was here that she received the 12 promises to increase the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. We drive to the nearby village of Ars.  It was here that St. John Vianney, patron Saint of Priests, was the long time famous Curé.  We will visit the museum here and return to Paray le Monial for dinner and overnight. Day 8 ??? PARAY/ROCAMADOUR - This morning we say good-bye to lovely Paray and drive west along a most picturesque route to Rocamadour. Rocamadour is a village that seems to surge out of the cliffs 1500 feet above the Alzou River gorge below. The village was made famous in the 12th century when a body was discovered "quite whole" beneath the sanctuary.  In ancient times, the body was believed to be one thousand years old and the remains of Zaccheus, the tax collector of Jericho who came to live here as a hermit following his conversion by Jesus. Modern scholars and believers now name the body St. Amadour, the Lover of Mary for whom this village is named. The body is on display and is the source of many healing and miracles. This was also a site where pilgrims on route to St. James shrine also stopped. We will celebrate Mass here before continuing to our nearby hotel for dinner and overnight. DRIVE TIME 4 HOURS Day 9 ??? BORDEAUX/LOURDES ??? This morning we drive west into the Bordeaux region of southwest France and enjoy our wonderful views of the vineyards and castles.  We will enjoy a luncheon at one of the many wineries and a tasting of these lovely wines.  Later, we continue south to Lourdes where we transfer to our simple, pilgrim???s hotel near the Shrine for dinner. In the evening, we join the Torchlight Marian Procession.  N.B. IF WE NEED MASS EACH DAY, WE CAN CELEBRATE AT A LOCAL PARISH CHURCH OR AT A PRIVATE MASS IN A LOURDES CHAPEL ON ARRIVAL. DRIVE TIME 2.5 HOURS TO BORDEAUX AND 2.5 HOURS TO LOURDES DAY 10 - LOURDES - This day is spent in devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes.  We celebrate Mass at the Grotto, with a morning orientation visit to the Shrine and a walking tour of Lourdes, visiting Boly Mill, where St. Bernadette was born, the Cachot, formerly used as a jail, where she lived during the apparitions, and the parish church.  This afternoon is free for private devotions, Eucharistic Procession, the Blessing of the Sick or the legendary, healing waters of the miraculous Lourdes spring.  Dinner and overnight at our hotel.  In the evening, we can once again join the Torchlight Marian Procession.  N.B. CAN ADD ANOTHER FREE DAY HERE IF YOU WISH. DAY 11 - RETURN - We transfer to the airport for our flight to Paris and on to home where we arrive later today with unforgettable memories to cherish always.

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