Fr. Bradley Greer (left) is the Delegate of the Apostolic Administrator and Chancellor of the Diocese of Steubenville OH. Fr. Timothy Huffman (right) is the Pastor of St. Peter’s Church in Steubenville, OH.
Tour code Fatima926
Today, the group departs from the United States on an overnight transatlantic flight to Lisbon, Portugal. Enjoy in-flight meals and rest in preparation for the pilgrimage ahead.
Upon arrival in Lisbon, your pilgrimage begins with a warm welcome by your local tour director. You will be transferred by private coach to your hotel in the city. After settling in and freshening up, the group will proceed to St. Anthony’s Church, a beloved spiritual site built over the location believed to be the birthplace of St. Anthony of Padua. Here, you will tour the church and its museum, followed by the celebration of a private Mass in the chapel. In the afternoon, enjoy a scenic walking tour of Lisbon’s historic riverfront district, including a stop at the iconic Belém Tower, a 16th-century fortress that once guarded the city’s harbor and stands as a symbol of Portugal’s Age of Discovery. The evening concludes with dinner along the river, where you can take in views of the Tagus and enjoy local Portuguese cuisine. (D)
After breakfast and check-out, depart Lisbon for Santarém, one of Portugal’s oldest and most historic cities. Here, the group will visit the Chapel of the Holy Miracle, the site of a renowned Eucharistic miracle from the 13th century. The group will celebrate Mass inside the chapel, a powerful experience in this deeply sacred space. Continue with a visit to the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Conception, where you’ll explore both the church and its small but impressive museum. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant in Santarém. In the afternoon, the pilgrimage continues north to the Marian shrine town of Fátima. Upon arrival, you will check in to your hotel and then take part in an orientation tour of the Shrine of Our Lady of Fátima, including visits to the Chapel of Apparitions, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, and the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity. Dinner will be enjoyed at a nearby restaurant, and in the evening, you’ll have the opportunity to join the moving candlelight procession held at the shrine each night. (B, D)
Begin the day with a private Mass, ideally arranged at the Chapel of the Apparitions (subject to availability). Following Mass, the group will witness or participate in the Farewell Procession to Our Lady, one of the most beloved devotional practices in Fátima. After lunch, enjoy a short drive to the nearby villages of Aljustrel and Valinhos, where the three shepherd children—Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco—lived. You’ll visit their family homes and walk the paths where some of the apparitions took place. The remainder of the day is free for personal prayer, time at the shrine, or quiet reflection. (B, D)
After breakfast and check-out, depart for Coimbra, home to the Carmelite convent where Sister Lucia, one of the Fátima visionaries, spent much of her life. The group will visit the Santa Teresa Convent (Mass here may be possible, pending confirmation), and view the Museum and Memorial to Sister Lucia. You’ll also visit the historic Biblioteca Joanina, a masterpiece of Baroque architecture located at the University of Coimbra. Lunch will be served locally before continuing eastward across the Spanish border to Ávila. Upon arrival in Ávila, the walled city known as the birthplace of St. Teresa of Ávila, enjoy dinner and check into your hotel for an overnight stay. (B, D)
Begin your day with a locally guided tour of Ávila’s rich spiritual and historical heritage. You will visit the Monastery of the Incarnation, where St. Teresa lived and received many mystical experiences; the Cathedral of Ávila, integrated into the city’s ancient walls; and the Convent of St. Teresa, which was built on the site of her childhood home. Mass will be celebrated at a local church or chapel, to be confirmed. The afternoon is free to explore Ávila on your own—walk the city’s stone ramparts, shop for religious articles, or enjoy quiet time in prayer. Dinner will be served in the city. (B, D
After breakfast, depart by coach to Azpeitia, in Spain’s Basque Country, the birthplace of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit Order. Upon arrival, you will visit the Loyola Sanctuary, including the grand Basilica of St. Ignatius and his family home. A private Mass will be celebrated at the Chapel of Conversion, the very place where St. Ignatius experienced his profound spiritual transformation. If time allows, the group will enjoy a brief guided walking tour of the town of Azpeitia before gathering for dinner at a local restaurant. (B, D)
Today, journey into southern France as the pilgrimage continues to the worldrenowned healing shrine of Lourdes. Upon arrival, you will check in to your hotel and then take part in an orientation tour of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, including the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, the Underground Basilica of St. Pius X, and the Grotto of Massabielle, where St. Bernadette encountered the Virgin Mary. Mass will be celebrated in Lourdes, ideally at the Grotto (pending confirmation). Dinner will be served at the hotel, followed by participation in the beautiful candlelight procession held every evening on the shrine grounds. (B, D)
Begin your day with a private Mass, again ideally at the Grotto or another chapel within the sanctuary complex. Afterwards, the group will take part in a guided tour “In the Steps of St. Bernadette,” visiting important sites such as her family’s former home at the Boly Mill, the Cachot where the family later lived in poverty, and her parish church. The remainder of the day is left open for private devotion. Pilgrims may visit the Lourdes spring, attend additional devotions, pray quietly at the Grotto, or explore the religious shops and cafés in town. In the evening, gather once more for the candlelight procession—an unforgettable highlight of the pilgrimage. (B, D)
After breakfast and check-out, travel to Toulouse, where your journey concludes with visits to some of southern France’s most spiritually significant churches. Begin with the Church of the Jacobins, where St. Thomas Aquinas is entombed, followed by visits to the Saint-Étienne Cathedral and the Basilica of Saint-Sernin, a major stop on the Camino de Santiago. A private Vigil Mass will be celebrated after 4:00 PM to fulfill your Sunday obligation. In the evening, enjoy a festive farewell dinner with the group, reflecting on the many spiritual graces of your journey. (B, D)
This morning, transfer to the Toulouse airport for your return flight to the United States. Carry with you cherished memories, moments of grace, and the peace that comes from walking in the footsteps of saints. (B)
