Pilgrimage of Reparation & Healing with Fr. Lawrence, CFR

There are journeys we plan… and there are journeys we are called into.

This pilgrimage is not simply a visit to sacred places; it is an invitation into the Heart of Christ. Guided by Fr. Lawrence, CFR, a vessel of Christ’s love, wisdom, and healing. From France to Portugal, each destination has been prayerfully chosen so that every step of the journey unfolds a deeper grace.

Tours, France – The Holy Face of Jesus

The pilgrimage begins in Tours, where love contemplates suffering. Here, we enter into the profound devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus, His wounded yet merciful gaze drawing us into reparation and deeper love. We will visit the Carmelite Monastery, where Sr. Mary of St. Peter received the revelations of the Holy Face, and the tomb of Venerable Leo Dupont, known as the “Holy Man of Tours.” At the Cathedral of St. Martin, we encounter a legacy of holiness that spans centuries. A particularly rare and powerful grace awaits us in the veneration of the Veil of Veronica, offering a deeply personal encounter with Christ.

Lyon & Cure’ of D’Ars, France– Faith and Mercy

In Lyon, where the early Church was strengthened by the witness of martyrs, we entrust our pilgrimage to Our Lady at Fourvière. We then journey to Ars, home of St. John Mary Vianney, the humble Curé who spent his life reconciling souls to God. Before his incorrupt body, we are invited into repentance, healing, and the transforming mercy of the Sacrament of Confession.

Our Lady of La Salette, France– The Tears of Our Mother

High in the French Alps, La Salette offers a place of silence, beauty, and profound encounter. Here, Our Lady appeared weeping to two shepherd children, calling the world back to conversion. In this sacred mountain setting, we will walk to the Apparition site, celebrate Holy Mass, spend time in Eucharistic Adoration, and participate in a candlelight procession. It is a place where hearts are softened, burdens are released, and Our Lady continues to call her children home.

Our Lady of Lourdes, France – Healing and Grace

At Lourdes, where heaven meets human suffering, we are invited into a deeper trust in God’s healing presence. At the Grotto of Massabielle, we will touch the rock where Our Lady appeared, drink and wash in the healing waters, and participate in the candlelight Rosary procession. Lourdes teaches us that suffering is not removed but transformed through grace.

Alexandrina of Balazar, Portugal – Redemptive Love

In the quiet village of Balazar, we encounter Blessed Alexandrina Maria da Costa, a soul united completely to Christ Crucified. Through her life, we discover the beauty of offering and the power of surrender. Walking the life-size Stations of the Cross, we are invited to enter more deeply into the Passion of Christ and unite our own sufferings with His.

Our Lady of Fatima, Portugal – The Heart of Our Lady’s Call

In Fatima, we arrive at one of the most important Marian sites in the world a place where heaven touched earth with a message of prayer, conversion, and reparation.

We will visit the Chapel of the Apparitions, the Basilica where the shepherd children are buried, and the sites of Valinhos and the Stations of the Cross. Through prayer, the Rosary, and moments of consecration, we respond to Our Lady’s invitation to return to her Son.

Santarém – The Eucharistic Miracle

In Santarém, we stand before a Eucharistic miracle where a consecrated Host bled, revealing the true Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. This sacred moment deepens faith and awakens a renewed love for Our Lord truly present among us.

Lisbon – Sent Forth Renewed

Our pilgrimage concludes in Lisbon, a city of beauty and light, where we gather the graces received throughout the journey. This is not simply the end of a trip it is the beginning of a renewed life, carrying within you a heart transformed and a deeper union with Christ.

A journey led… a path prepared… a heart transformed... Join us

Here

Final Days of the Pilgrimage:  A Journey Through Martyrdom, Evangelization, and the Holy Face of Christ

Day 1: Departure to Paris from New York City

Day 1-2: Arrival at Tours, City of St. Martin and Evangelization:

Tours, a city rich in religious history. Visit to: -Basilica of St. Martin – Housing the relics of St. Martin of Tours, a soldier-turned-bishop and one of the greatest evangelizers of Western Europe. -Reflection on St. Martin’s life of charity, miracles, and mission, inspiring us to live out our faith with courage and love.

Veneration of the Holy Face of Jesus: Suffering and Redemption.

Contemplation of the Holy Face of Jesus, marked by sorrow, pain, and infinite mercy. Devotion to the Holy Face– A call to reparation, prayer, and deeper union with Christ. 

Day 2-3: Morning departure to Lyon, a city sanctified by the blood of early Christian martyrs. Reflection on the Martyrs of Lyon (177 AD), including St. Blandina and St. Pothinus, who endured brutal persecution. Visit to: Church of Saint-Irénée. HonoringSt. Irenaeus, a Church Father and martyr. Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière. A Marian sanctuary overlooking the city, symbolizing divine protection.

-Evening rest in Lyon, reflecting on the sacrifices of the early Church. 

Day 4-5: Our Lady of La Salette Shrine

1. Arrival

   • Arrive in La Salette, located in a high alpine pasture in the French Alps,  site of the Virgin Mary's apparition in 1846 to shepherds Melanie Mathieu and Maximin Giraud.

2. Exploring La Salette

   • Learn about the apparition where Our Lady appeared crying, lamenting over the lack of observance of Sundays and the profaning of her Son’s holy name.

   • Visit the spring that marks the spot of the apparition, where millions of pilgrims come to drink the fresh spring water and pray.

3. Stunning Mountain Scenery

   • Enjoy the stunning mountain scenery and lush trails, making La Salette one of the most spectacular pilgrimage sites in France.

4. Basilica of Our Lady of La Salette

   • Visit the beautiful Basilica built to honor the Virgin Mary.

5. Celebrating the Anniversary

   • In 2024, La Salette celebrates the 178th anniversary of Our Lady’s first appearance.

6. Dinner and Overnight Stay

   • Dinner and overnight stay in La Salette.

May your pilgrimage to La Salette bring you peace and spiritual renewal amidst the breathtaking alpine scenery!

La Salette - Lourdes

• Check-in to your hotel and relax or explore the town before dinner.

1. Evening Activities

   • Dinner at the hotel.

   • Free time to pray the Rosary and attend the candlelight procession

   • The procession is lit by candlelight and guided by the Most Holy Rosary.

   • Return to the hotel for an overnight stay.

Days 6& 7: Exploring Lourdes

1. Daily Routine in Lourdes

   • Breakfast at the hotel.

   • Spend the day in Lourdes, praying and meditating at the site of Our Lady’s apparitions.

2. Historical and Spiritual Sites

   • Grotto of Massabielle:  Mass at the Grotto where Our Lady appeared to Bernadette.

   • Video Presentation: Video presentation on the story of Lourdes.

   • Miraculous Spring: Participate in the gesture of the miraculous spring by washing your hands, face, and drinking the water. Finish with the short prayer:

     • Our Lady of Lourdes… Pray for us.

     • St. Bernadette… Pray for us.

     • Oh Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

3. Stations of the Cross

   • Experience Christ’s unconditional love by meditating upon the “life-size” Stations of the Cross that overlook the Grotto of Massabielle.

4. Walking in St. Bernadette’s Footsteps

   • Boly Mill: Visit the birthplace of St. Bernadette.

   • Cachot: See the abandoned prison where Bernadette’s impoverished family lived.

5. Evening Activities

   • Dinner at the hotel.

   • Attend the candlelight procession and the Rosary each evening.

   • Overnight stay in Lourdes.

Arrival in Balazar,

-Balazar, a small village located in northern Portugal, where the life of Blessed 

  Alexandrina da Costa unfolded, a life marked by profound mysticism, suffering and 

  extraordinary grace.

-Sanctuary of Alexandrina da Costa, the Sanctuary is dedicated to her spirituality 

  which enters on her devotion to the Eucharist, her mystical experiences and her 

  personal offering of suffering for the salvation of others.

-Blessed Alexandrina's House: House where Alexandrina was born and spent most 

  of her life in Balazar. It is preserved as a pilgrimage site where visitors can see her 

  humble surroundings, and reflect on the extraordinary holiness that radiated from 

  such an ordinary life.

-The Chapel of Alexandrina's final resting place. Blessed Alexandrina died in 1955 

  and her tomb is located in the chapel of the sanctuary.

  Blessed Alexandrina's life is a testament to the power of suffering, the Eucharist, and 

  the love of Christ. Her story invites us into a deeper understanding of the Christian 

  call to embrace the cross and offer our lives in union with Christ' s sacrifice

-Dinner and Overnight in  Balazar

Santarem-Fatima:

Day Trip to Fatima and Santarem Itinerary

1. Departure to Fatima with Stop in Santarem
   

   • St. Stephen's Church, Santarem: Celebrate Mass and venerate the 13th-century Eucharistic Miracle.

2. Continue to Fatima
   

   • Arrive in the hamlet of Aljustrel, the birthplace and home of the three shepherd children: Lucia (age 10), Jacinta (age 7), and Francisco (age 9).

3. Dinner and Overnight in Fatima
   

   • Enjoy dinner and overnight stay in Fatima, where you can pray and meditate at one of Our Blessed Mother’s apparition sites.

4. Historical Background of Fatima
   

   • Our Lady appeared monthly from May to October 1917, delivering messages of world peace amidst World War I.

   • Her messages, particularly the second secret, mentioned the destruction of the world and the importance of praying for peace.

5. Morning in Fatima
   

   • Little Chapel of the Apparitions: Visit this simple yet modern site where the Virgin Mary first appeared on May 13, 1917.

   • Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary: This neoclassical basilica contains the tombs of St. Francisco, St. Jacinta, and Sister Lucia. It features fifteen altars dedicated to the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary.

   • Sacred Heart of Jesus Monument: View this monument in the square.

6. Museum Visit
   

   • Fatima: Light and Peace Exhibition: Explore the museum's exhibition showcasing the history and significance of Fatima.

7. Holy Trinity Basilica
   

   • Visit this basilica dedicated to the Holy Trinity.

8. Lunch Break

9. Stations of the Cross
   

   • Participate in the Stations of the Cross along the Via Sacra, marking the path taken by the shepherd children to the first apparition of Our Lady of Fatima.

   • The Sacred Way: Composed of fifteen small chapels commemorating the Passion of Our Lord. The fifteenth station, the Resurrection, is near the Chapel of Calvary dedicated to St. Stephen, King of Hungary.

10. Afternoon in Valinhos
    

    • Valinhos: Visit the site of Our Lady’s August 19, 1917, Apparition, which was also the site of the first and third apparitions of the Angel.

11. Evening Devotions
    

    • Conclude the night with private devotions and a candlelight procession, honoring Our Lady’s 1917 request.

12. Dinner and Overnight in Fatima
    

    • Enjoy dinner and a restful night in Fatima.

13. Closing of the Pilgrimage: A Call to Holiness - Depart with hearts renewed by the witness of saints and martyrs. - Carry forward the message of prayer, penance, and conversion living out Our Lady’s call in our daily lives.