O’CONNOR TRAVEL WORLD
OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY PILGRIMAGE – SEPTEMBER 2014 / 28 days
Chaplain: Fr Adrian SharpCo-ordinator: Trevor O’Rourke
MondayDepart Australia and NZ flying Emirates Airline.
22 September
TuesdayArrive Paris early afternoon. (St Pio)
23 September
Transfer to the hotel to freshen-up then Father will celebrate Mass as a small church nearby. Dinner and early night. You will stay in Paris for 3 nights. (B, D)
WednesdayParis
24 September
This morning the group will be taken on an orientation tour of Paris including church of St Vincent de Paul, the Cathedral of Notre Dame, Sainte Chapel, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and more. In the afternoon you will participate in Holy Mass celebrated by Father at the Convent of Rue de Bac – the Miraculous Medal chapel, where the body of St Catherine Laboure lies incorrupt. On 18 July, 1830 her Guardian Angel led her to the chapel where Our Blessed Mother was waiting for her and gave her a special message. Our Lady came again the same year and asked her to have the Miraculous Medal of the Immaculate Conception struck. The statue of Our Lady as she stood in front of St Catherine is magnificent and is above the main altar. (B,D)
ThursdayParis
25 September
Today we will visit Montmartre and the Basilica of Sacre Coeur which has had Perpetual Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament since the 19th century; Father will celebrate Holy Mass here at 10.30am, this will be something so very special for our group – then there will be time for private prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Return to the hotel and free time. (B,D)
FridayParis to Lisieux via Rouen
26 September
After Holy Mass we will drive to Lisieux and en route the coach will go via
Rouen. This is the town where St Joan of Arc was put on trial as a heretic and burned at the stake on 30 may 1431. Pope Benedict XV canonised her in recognition of her innocence in 1920 (as found by an earlier appeal). She was just 19 years of age when she died. We will visit Rouen Cathedral and the square where she was executed and we will then drive on to Lisieux where the group will stay for 2 nights. (B,D)
SaturdayLisieux (St Vincent de Paul)
27 September
This is the home town of St Therese of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face. We will do a tour of the Carmelite Convent where St Therese lived , visit the reliquary which holds her remains and has travelled the world, this is housed at the Basilica of St Therese which stands magnificently over the town. You can also visit the graves of her parents (both of whom have been pronounced Venerable) which are situated at the back of the Basilica in the cemetery. We will also visit the family home, the statue of Our Lady which smiled at St Therese located in the chapel. (B,D)
SundayLisieuxto Nevers via Chartres Cathedral
28 September
This morning we drive to one of the greatest cathedrals of the world and also holds one of the greatest treasures – the Sancta Camisa – the Holy Veil of the Blessed Virgin Mary – believed to be worn when She gave birth to Our Lord. The Holy Roman Emporer Charles the Bald gave this relic to the Cathedral in 876 and from there Chartres became one of the major pilgrimage sites in Europe. Continue on to Nevers where the group will stay for 3 nights. (B,D)
MondayNevers (Feast of the Archangels)
29 September
This is the town of St Bernadette of Lourdes -(Sr Marie - Bernard) her body lies incorrupt in the chapel of the Convent of St Gildard and truly is so indescribably beautiful. Holy Mass will be celebrated in the chapel. We will do a walking tour of the of the convent grounds in the afternoon which is most interesting. (B,D)
TuesdayNevers – day tour to Paray-Le-Monial
30 September
Today the group will be taken to Paray-le-Monial – the home of the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus! St Margaret Mary Alacoque was the instrument that would lead the world back to Christ through the Sacred Heart, favouring her with a number of apparitions from1673 till 1675. We will visit the chapel of the apparitions, the reliquary of St Margaret Mary containing her relics and the Jesuit chapel holding the body and remains of St Claude de la Colombiere (her spiritual director) . We will spend the day here and then return to Nevers for the night. (B,D)
WednesdayNevers to Rocamadour (St Therese of Lisieux)
01 October
Drive to Rocamadour for one night. This is one of Christendom’s earliest shrines to Our Lady. According to legend, the shrine began as a hermitage in a cave near the Alzou River and was founded in the first century by a man named Zaccheus of Jericho who died in 70 a.d. It is believed that he knew and conversed with Jesus whilst living on earth. After his death it became a place of pilgrimage and several centuries later it became one of the most celebrated shrines in all Christendom – one reason being that a miracle-working statue of Our Lady was brought to the Shrine. Here you will visit the Holy Redeemer Basilica, Our Lady’s Chapel and Black Madonna statue, St Michael chapel and the great pilgrim’s stairway. (B, D)
ThursdayRocamadour to Lourdes (Guardian Angels)
02 October
This morning after Mass and breakfast we will drive to Lourdes where the group will stay for 3 nights. During your time in Lourdes the group will join in all the celebrations held at our lady’s world- reknown shrine.
We will join in the nightly torchlight processions – afternoon blessing of the sick and visit the baths, grotto, upper basilica, crypt and rosary basilica. It was on
11 February 1858 that Our Lady began her apparitions to Bernadette Soubirous. On 25 March in the same year Bernadette ask the Lady who she was four times – then the Lady raised Her eyes to heaven with joined hands and said –
“I am the Immaculate Conception”. (B,D)
FridayLourdes
03 October
The group will be taken on a tour of the shrine by a highly experienced local guide.
(B,D)
SaturdayLourdes (St Francis)
04 October
Free day for personal reflection. (B,D)
SundayLourdes to Torreciudad (St Faustina)
05 October
This morning we will drive to Torreciudad. This shrine is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and is in Aragon in the northern Spain. Devotion to Our Lady of Torreciudad dates back to the eleventh century. The new Shrine, built under the guidance of the founder of Opus Dei, Saint Josemaría Escrivá, was inaugurated on 7 July 1975. He said that what he hoped for from the shrine were "spiritual fruits: graces that the Lord will wish to grant to all who come to honour our Blessed Mother at Her shrine. These are the miracles I desire: conversions, and peace for many souls." With this in mind, he asked for confessional chapels to be built and for everything be done to enable people to pray at the Shrine in peace. Father will hopefully celebrate Mass here. To be confirmed. We will stay near here for 1 night. (B,D)
MondayTorreciudad to Zaragoza
06 October
This morning we drive to Zaragoza. Closely associated with the Shrine of Santiago de Compostela is Our Lady of Zaragoza. Prior to Her Glorious Assumption into Heaven, Our Lady appeared to St. James the Apostle on his way to north-western Spain and encouraged he and his disciples on their journey. Our Lady was still living when She appeared to him – unlike other apparitions of our Blessed Mother. The Basilica of Our Lady of the Pilar is built over the place where St James received Her visit. Father may be able to celebrate Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pilar. This has to be confirmed. Dinner and overnight. (B,D)
TuesdayZaragoza to San Sebastian de Garabandal(Our Lady of the Rosary)
07 October
This morning the group will drive to San Sebastian de Garabandal in Spain
and en route visit the lovely village of Loyola. This is the birthplace of St Ignatius the founder of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits). You will visit the Sanctuary where the Basilica adjoins the 13th century house where he was born. I was in the village that it was reported that our Lady appeared to him with the Christ Child and his profound conversion began. You will arrive at Garabandal later in the day and stay for 2 nights in this most beautiful village. You will visit the famous Pines where it is reported that Our Lady appeared to the little girls, the church of St Sebastian and the lane where St Michael the Archangel is reported to have appeared to them also – you can actually do the Stations of the Cross from the village to the Pines. (B,D)
WednesdayGarabandal
08 October
Walking tour of the village with local guide. Free time for reflection. (B,D)
ThursdayGarabandal to Santiago de Compostela
09 October
This morning the coach will depart for Santiago de Compostela where we will spend 2 nights - The Apostle St James is buried in the Cathedral here and for over a thousand years pilgrims have visited his tomb. Today the famous walk of the pilgrims “the Camino” has become quite popular in a secular way – but the many of people do so to express their faith. The imposing Cathedral dominates the city. (B,D)
FridaySantiago de Compostela
10 October
Father will celebrate Mass here and you will be taken on a tour of the Cathedral and town with a local guide and then free time. (B, D)
SaturdaySantiago de Compostela to Fatima.
11 October
After morning Mass the group will drive to Fatima where our Blessed Mother
appeared to 3 shepherd children – Lucia, Jacinta & Francisco - from 13 May till 13 October 1917. During your time here you will visit the Basilica (where the children and Sr Lucia are buried.), the chapel erected over the site where Our Lady appeared, Aljustrel, where the children loved, the parochial church of Fatima where the children were Baptised, and the Stations of the Cross. You will stay here for 3 nights.
SundayFatima (Our Lady of the Pilar)
12 October
Today the group will be taken on a guided orientation tour of the Shrine.
You will have time for your own prayer and reflection.
Prepare for the evening candelight celebrations.
MondayFatima – Anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun.
13 October
Full day at the Shrine.Holy Mass and join in the and celebrations of the day.
TuesdayFatima to Avila
14 October
This morning we will depart for Avila which is where St Teresa, the great mystic and the first woman to be proclaimed Doctor of the Church - was born and lived for 20 years. You will visit the Cathedral, the convent of St Teresa which is built over the site of her home and the Monastery of the Incarnation.
You will stay here for 2 nights. (B,D)
Wednesday Alba de Tormes – Feast of St Teresa of Avila
15 October
This morning we drive on to Alba de Tormes where St Teresa died.
We will visit the Carmelite Convent which is where the reliquary which holds her remains is held. We will then return to Avila for the night. (B,D)
ThursdayAvila to Madrid (St Margaret Mary Alacoque)
16 October
Day tour of Madrid
FridayMadrid to Australia
17 October
Free morning and then to the airport late afternoon for your late evening flight. (B)
SaturdayIn Flight
18 October
SundayArrive Australia and NZ early morning.
19 October
Cost sheet for Our Lady of the Rosary Pilgrimage September 2014
PILGRIMAGE COST:AUD$10,500.00 per person share twin
AUD$2150.00 per person single supplement please add to above.
PILGRIMAGE COST INCLUSIONS:
*Specially negotiated return airfares flying Emirates from Australia to Paris and return from Madrid.
*3 nights accommodation in Paris
*2 nights accommodation in Lisieux
*3 nights accommodation in Nevers
*1 night accommodation in Rocamadour
*3 nights accommodation in Lourdes
*1 night accommodation near Torreciudad
*1 nights accommodation in Zaragoza
*2 nights accommodation in San Sebastian de Garabandal
*2 nights accommodation in Santiago de Compostela
*3 nights accommodation in Fatima
*2 nights accommodation in Avila
*1 night accommodation in Madrid
*Catholic escort and experienced coach driver for the pilgrimage throughout the Pilgrimage
*Breakfast and dinner daily throughout the pilgrimage
*All sightseeing mentioned in itinerary
*Spiritual Director and co-ordinator from Australia
*Local taxes
*Airline & airport taxes
EXCLUSIONS:
Anything not mentioned in the itinerary, lunch on any day, travel insurance, passport and visa fees, items of a personal nature.
The costs above are current as at 29 October 2013but are subject to change at the discretion of the airlines and/or operators and due to currency fluctuations. The pilgrimage is costed on 20 pilgrims travelling from Australia, should this number fall, the pilgrimage must be recosted and/or cancelled. To secure a placeon the pilgrimage, please forward adepositof$500.00 per person together with your Booking Form and photocopy of the first page of your passport immediately you make your decision please.Prior to signing the latter please read the conditions carefully.
The final payment is due no later than 18 JULY 2014.
Visas are not required for Australian and New Zealand passport holders at time of print. Note that there must be at least 6 months validity on your passport from your date of return.
PLEASE MAKE CERTAIN THAT YOUR READ TRAVEL ADVICES ON
P.O. Box 3, Surrey Hills Vic 3127
Phone: +61 3 9830 5489 Fax: +61 3 9836 8429 e-mail: VIC. LIC. 31747