Fr. Joao Silveira, a priest with the Missionaries of the Holy Cross, will be leading this Traditional Latin Mass Pilgrimage. Fr. Joao dedicates his life to promoting and spreading the Faith and the Traditional Latin Mass. He was the chaplain for the 2024 Traditional Catholic Climb to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro and has spoken at the Catholic Identity Conference, as well as many other Catholic conferences worldwide.
Tour code TLMFATIMA26
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, travelers will be greeted at the airport by a professional tour manager and transferred by private coach to their hotel. After checking in and taking some time to settle in and refresh, a private Mass will be celebrated at the hotel. Following Mass, the group will begin exploring the city with a visit to St. Anthony’s Church, built on the site where the saint is believed to have been born, and continue through the museum that showcases relics and history associated with him. Later in the afternoon, enjoy a walking tour along Lisbon’s picturesque riverfront, including a visit to the iconic Belém Tower, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and symbol of Portugal’s Age of Discovery. Dinner will be served at a scenic restaurant along the Tagus River before returning to the hotel for the evening. (D)
After breakfast, Mass will be celebrated at the hotel chapel. The group will then journey north to the historic town of Santarém, one of Portugal’s oldest cities and home to the renowned Chapel of the Holy Miracle, site of a 13th-century Eucharistic miracle. After visiting the chapel, the group will tour the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Conception and its adjoining museum, which houses significant religious artifacts. Lunch will be enjoyed in Santarém. In the afternoon, the pilgrimage continues to Fátima, one of the most important Marian shrines in the world. Upon arrival, the group will check into their accommodations and receive an orientation of the Shrine of Our Lady of Fátima, including a visit to the Chapel of Apparitions. Dinner will be at a local restaurant, followed by participation in the candlelight procession at the sanctuary, a moving tradition of prayer and devotion. (B, D)
This morning begins with a private Mass at the House Regina Angelorum, a small chapel in Fátima where your group’s priest is affiliated. After Mass, the group will transfer to the shrine for the farewell procession to Our Lady, a powerful and prayerful ceremony. Lunch will follow in town before an excursion to Aljustrel and Valinhos, where the three shepherd children—Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco— lived. See their family homes and the sites of several apparitions. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure for personal reflection, prayer, or visiting the shrine independently. In the evening, participants will again have the opportunity to join the candlelight procession. (B, D)
Begin the day with another private Mass at the House Regina Angelorum. After breakfast and check-out, the group will travel to Coimbra, home to the Carmelite convent where Sister Lucia, one of the Fátima visionaries, lived. Visit the convent’s museum and memorial to Sister Lucia, then continue with a tour of the exquisite Biblioteca Joanina, one of the most beautiful libraries in Europe. After lunch in Coimbra, the journey continues across the border into Spain. Arrive in the medieval city of Ávila, birthplace of St. Teresa of Ávila, where the group will enjoy dinner and settle in for the night. (B, D)
After breakfast, a private morning Mass will be celebrated at the hotel. The group will then enjoy a guided tour of Ávila’s religious treasures, including the Monastery of the Incarnation, where St. Teresa lived for many years; the impressive Cathedral of Ávila, integrated into the city’s fortified walls; and the Convent of St. Teresa, built on the site of her birthplace. The afternoon is left open for leisure, offering time to explore the city’s medieval streets, visit the city walls, or reflect quietly. Dinner will be enjoyed in Ávila. (B, D)
This morning, following breakfast and Mass at the hotel, the group departs for the Basque town of Azpeitia, the birthplace of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits. Upon arrival, visit the impressive Loyola Sanctuary, which includes the Basilica of St. Ignatius, his family home, and the Chapel of the Conversion, where Ignatius experienced his profound spiritual awakening. Time permitting, the group will enjoy a brief guided tour of Azpeitia. Dinner will be at a local restaurant before retiring for the evening. (B, D)
Today, the pilgrimage continues into France as the group travels to the holy site of Lourdes, nestled in the foothills of the Pyrenees. Upon arrival, the group will check in and receive an orientation of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. Highlights include the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and the Grotto of Massabielle, where St. Bernadette experienced the Marian apparitions. Mass will be celebrated at a local chapel, such as the Chapelle de L’Hôspitalet. After dinner at the hotel, the group is invited to join the evening candlelight procession, a deeply moving experience of prayer and song. (B, D)
Following morning Mass, the group will embark on a guided tour “In the Footsteps of St. Bernadette,” exploring her home, the Boly Mill, the Cachot (where her family lived in poverty), and other key sites. The afternoon is free for personal devotion, the opportunity to partake in the miraculous baths, light candles, or spend time in quiet contemplation at the shrine. Tonight’s candlelight procession offers another opportunity to come together in prayer. (B, D)
After breakfast and morning Mass, the group departs Lourdes and travels to Toulouse. Upon arrival, visit several important spiritual sites including the Church of the Jacobins, where St. Thomas Aquinas is entombed; the Saint-Étienne Cathedral; and the grand Basilica of Saint-Sernin, a Romanesque masterpiece. The group will enjoy a special farewell dinner to reflect on the journey and fellowship shared throughout this pilgrimage. (B, D)
Your pilgrimage ends with breakfast in the morning. After breakfast, individual transfers are organized to the airport. Safe travels until we meet again! (B)
