Departure Day - Pontifical Mass in Paris.

Welcome to Day 1 of the Chartres Pilgrimage!

The pilgrimage begins at Notre Dame or Saint Sulpice in Paris. Details TBA.

Plan to arrive early as it will be crowded! We recommend 5:00 am. Watch for our chapter with its American flag. YOU WILL BE GIVEN DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS ON WHERE TO FIND US. Your wristband, booklet and luggage tag will be given to you at this time.. Be patient with us, as this is a challenging aspect of the Pilgrimage.

Next, you will drop your luggage (bag) off at the proper lorry truck. Remember to have on you a backpack (daypack) for each day as you walk. 

Stick together. There will be lots of people, and too big of a crowd for us to enter the church for the opening Mass. Stay with your Chapter.

PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR SCHEDULED WEBINARS IN WHICH WE DISCUSS WHAT TO EXPECT, WHAT TO BRING ETC. REGISTRATION FOR THESE WEBINARS WILL BE EMAILED TO YOU ONCE YOU ARE REGISTERED.

Be ready for rain, sun, and possible cold. You may also want to carry a light jacket or sweater in your backpack as it may be chilly in the morning. 

What food to bring? Energy or protein bars. Dried dehydrated fruit. Banana chips. Make you own trail mix or bring some roasted nuts with sea salt. Avoid items that will melt like chocolate protein bars. Some of these items may be difficult to find in France (you can bring them with you from home). 

What drink to bring? A water bottle. Also, Gatorade helps or electrolyte minerals supplements to put in your water. 

There will be a few short stops to rest as we walk. Bottled water will be freely handed out. There are also occasional First-Aid stations as we walk. 

Sometimes along the way volunteers can be seen offering protein bars to the clergy, priests, seminarians, and nuns, who make an extra sacrifice walking in their cassock or religious habit.   

We walk all day until evening. We take turns carrying the banner and flag for our chapter. We maintain a joyous mood. We sing and pray together.

If some are unable to walk certain distances, there are volunteers at special stations to help ferry pilgrims to the next stops. 

Once we arrive at camp, find your bag that was transported by the lorry truck. Then find what tents our group is in. Set up your sleeping bag and mat for the night. 

Get some grub before it's gone (it goes quick - hot watery soup for dinner), served with a piece of bread. Remember to supplement this meager fare with your own food stored in your backpack and luggage. 

Don't miss the bonfire hosted by the French Scouts as they re-enact the history of Catholic France with pageantry and an enchanting torchlight procession where they carry a statue of Our Lady of Christendom and sing historic folk songs. This is done at the campsite for the adult chapters.  

There will also be a tent set up with Adoration to keep Our Blessed Lord company.  Get some sleep for an early pre-dawn rise the next morning!  

Happy Pentecost Sunday...Veni Creator Spiritus!

Expect miracles. Don't forget your prayer intentions.

The second day we awake before dawn. Pack up our gear and drop our bags off at the proper location.

Eat a quick breakfast and get in line with our group for instructions on when to begin walking.

During the noon hour we stop for outdoor Mass in a farmers field. Bring an umbrella to give yourself some shade. After Mass, we each lunch. Then we continue walking.

In the evening we arrive at camp. People are tired. Find your luggage and your assigned group tent and set up your bed. Get some sleep, you will need it!

Happy Octave of Pentecost! The graces continue.

We begin the third morning as we did the second, awaking before dawn. The line for bathrooms will be long -- get in first.

Pack up your gear and drop your bag off at the proper location to be loaded on the lorry truck. Get some breakfast before the food is gone. 

Next, we line up with our chapter to await instructions for the walk. Usually on this morning the foreign chapters are slated to walk first, leading the final leg of the pilgrimage to Chartres.

This day is not as intense as we arrive at Chartres and have Mass inside the famous Cathedral. The children are invited to enter the church. As there is limited seating, we do not enter the church.

However, the foreign chapters are given a place of honor outside in front of the Cathedral. The view is splendid. 

After Mass, everyone goes down the hill to the designated place to retrieve their luggage. Then most of the participants take the free train back to Paris while some others will stay to spend a celebratory evening in Chartres. 

Don't forget to try to enter the Cathedral after the Mass to see the veil of Our Lady!

We hope you have a fine time and gain many spiritual blessings from this extraordinary event!

And we look forward to seeing you possibly the next year, too. Be sure to tell your friends about it!