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Dear Fellow Pilgrim,
Please join us on our pilgrimage as we travel to France from March 23-April 2, 2012.
Just imagine being in the very chapel where the Blessed Mother and Saint Catherine Labouré spoke to each other!
What would you ask of the Blessed Mother if you could speak with her–
We will kneel before our Lady’s Altar and ask her to shower us with graces. I invite you to join us on our journey of faith.
We will begin our pilgrimage in Paris, spending several days there. Tours of the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (also popularly known as the Chapel of the Apparitions) and Notre Dame Cathedral highlight these days.
We will also visit the motherhouse chapel of the Congregation of the Mission, which contains the tomb of Saint Vincent de Paul, our founder.
After a breathtaking nighttime riverboat excursion through Paris, the City of Lights, we journey into the French countryside. There we will tour other magnificent shrines and churches before traveling to Lourdes. The evening of our arrival in Lourdes, we will join the candlelight procession that begins at the grotto and ends at place du Rosaire. The following day, we return to Paris, our final stop on our pilgrimage.
Another highlight of our pilgrimage will be a celebration of Mass in the Chapel of the Apparitions on Palm Sunday.
I invite you to join me and other pilgrims on this journey of faith in March 2012. Please read the itinerary below. I hope you will come.
Please send your intentions to me and burn a Votive Light for your intentions here at our Lady’s Shrine in Perryville. Your burning Votive Light will be a symbol of your confident prayers. Be assured that we will pray for you and your intentions at the many shrines and holy places we will visit on our journey.
If you can only join our pilgrimage in spirit, you can still have souvenirs of our journey. I have two lovely gifts to offer you.
The first is a lovely Gold-Plated French Miraculous Medal and chain. The second is a striking Deluxe Paris Wood Rosary. A unique feature of this rosary is that its Miraculous Medal centerpiece contains some actual wood from the Chapel of the Apparitions
We will pray for you and your intentions here at our Lady’s Altar for the entire time of our pilgrimage, joining our prayers on the journey to France with the Masses and other prayers at the Shrine here in Perryville.
Sincerely yours in our Lady,
Father James G. Ward, C.M.
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DAY 1: Fri., March 23 - New York/En Route
Depart New York for your overnight trans-Atlantic flight to Paris. Meals will be served in flight.
DAY 2: Sat., March 24 - Paris D
AM: Welcome to Paris, the City of Lights! You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.
PM: Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure in Paris to relax and catch up with your jet lag.
Dinner: This evening enjoy a Welcome Dinner at your hotel or a local restaurant.
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DAY 3: Sun., March 25 - Paris B,D
Today you will enjoy a full day tour devoted to the discovery of Paris’ monumental masterpieces and religious highlights. See the Luxembourg Gardens, Les Invalides, and the famous Eiffel Tower. Continue to the Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysees, Concorde Square, and the Madeleine Church, all great glories of French architecture. All of Paris is a veritable open air museum. For some of its memorable art, you just have to look up at the wonderful architecture.
Start your tour with the famed Notre Dame de Paris, “the Cathedral of Cathedrals,” a jewel of gothic art in the heart of “the City of Lights.” Inside, enjoy the beauty of stained glass from the Middle Ages and the 18th-20th centuries, including the nearly 30 foot Rose Window. Admire the 7,800 pipes of the 11th century organ.
Your next stop is at the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal (often called the Chapel of the Apparitions), located at the Rue du Bac, the heart of spirituality for devotion to our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. On July 18-19, 1830, the
Continue to Montmartre to see the graceful Sacre Coeur Basilica, which was built before World War I. Enjoy spectacular views of south Paris from its steps.
Dinner: Enjoy dinner at the hotel.
Enjoy an optional evening boat tour of the City of Lights.
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DAY 4: Mon., March 26 - Paris B,D
 Enjoy the day at leisure in Paris exploring this marvelous city on your own or take an optional tour of Versailles.
Optional Tour of Versailles Travel just outside of Paris to the Palace of Versailles, once Europe’s most splendid royal residence. Visit the royal suites, with their original decoration, the dazzling Gallery of Mirrors, where the Peace Treaty of Versailles was signed, the Picture Gallery, and the beautiful Royal Chapel. See the famed gardens of Versailles, which retain their formal grandeur as in the days of Louis XIV.
Dinner: Enjoy dinner at the hotel.
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DAY 5: Tues., March 27 - Paris/Lisieux/Mont Saint Michel B,D
Excursion to Lisieux Depart Paris and travel to Lisieux, world famed pilgrimage center devoted to Saint Theresa of Jesus who received an early call to the Church. Visit the sites related to Saint Theresa, such as the Carmelite monastery and the shrine.
Continue to Mont Saint Michel where you will have a short walking orientation tour. Visit the medieval monastery built on top of the mound, known as the “Jewel of the Occident.” Considered to be one of the great achievements of western civilization, this extraordinary site, rich and influential in history, and the glorious architecture combine to make it the most splendid Abbey in all of France.
Dinner: Enjoy dinner at the hotel.
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Half-day Tour of Bayeux This morning you will travel to Bayeux. Upon your arrival enjoy a guided tour around the area. Visit Ponte Du Hoc, “Omaha Beach,” and the famous battlefield sites of World War II, where young soldiers landed, fought, and died. Continue to Chartres.
Dinner: Enjoy dinner at the hotel.
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DAY 7: Thurs., March 29 - Chartres/Paris/Lourdes B
Today you will visit Notre Dame Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Cathedral Church of Notre Dame is one of the foremost examples of High Gothic architecture. See the tower, the famous stained glass windows that illustrate scenes from the Bible and contain hidden meanings, and the labyrinth that was used by pilgrims as penance. Discover the treasure of the Cathedral at Apsidal Chapel including the veil of the virgin.
You will have free time to explore Chartres on your own. Later you will return to Paris for your flight to Lourdes.
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DAY 8: Fri., March 30 - Lourdes B,D AM: Half-day Walking Tour of Lourdes This morning enjoy a walking tour through this holy town. You will visit the Grotto where, more than 100 years ago, the Blessed Virgin appeared to Bernadette. Next, visit the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, the Miraculous Spring, the Shrine of Bernadette, and the 12th Century
PM: Tour of Saint Bernadette’s House Enjoy an afternoon tour featuring the house where Saint Bernadette was born. Lourdes, the world’s most beloved shrine for Catholics, is nestled in a valley in the southwestern part of the Hautes-Pirénées. On February 11, 1858, the Virgin revealed herself to a poor shepherd girl, Bernadette Soubirous. Eighteen such apparitions were reported. Bernadette died in a convent in 1879. She was beatified in 1925, and then canonized in 1933.
Dinner: Enjoy dinner at the hotel.
This evening take part in a Torchlight Procession with pilgrims from all over the world.
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DAY 9: Sat., March 31 - Lourdes/Paris B,D
AM: This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Paris.
PM: The afternoon is at leisure to explore Paris on your own.
Dinner: Enjoy dinner at the hotel.
Today you will celebrate Palm Sunday Mass at the Chapel of the Apparitions at the Rue du Bac.
Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure for last minute shopping or sightseeing.
Dinner: Enjoy a Farewell Dinner at your hotel or a local restaurant.
DAY 11: Mon., April 2 - Paris/New York B
AM: After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back to New York. You return with wonderful memories and feeling spiritually renewed.
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A Mass schedule is being arranged.
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| Airport Security Fee, Departure Taxes, & Fuel Surcharge Additional | ||||||||||||||||
| COST INCLUDES: | ||||||||||||||||
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| TOUR CONDITIONS | ||||||||||||||||
| TOUR PRICE: Tour price is based upon current tariff and exchange rates and is subject to change. It is based upon a minimum of 20 fully paid passengers. In the event this minimum is not met a surcharge will be levied. | ||||||||||||||||
| REGISTRATION AND DEPOSITS: A deposit (by check) of $1000 p/person is required at time of registration, along with signed registration form. A second deposit of $1000 p/person (by check) is due on or before September 23, 2011. You will be billed for the balance which is due on or before November 23, 2011 either by check or money order. | ||||||||||||||||
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NOTE: Comprehensive insurance is available to cover trip cancellation and interruption, baggage protection, medical, accidental death & dismemberment and emergency evacuation and repatriation. A descriptive booklet will be mailed to you upon receipt of your deposit.
AIR TRANSPORTATION: Economy class via any regular IATA carrier. Any cancellation, itinerary change or failure to use confirmed air space may be subject to penalties levied by the airlines at the time of ticketing. Air tickets, once issued, are non-refundable. This is in addition to above "Cancellation Terms."
PASSPORT/VISA REQUIREMENTS: A valid passport is required for all tour members. US citizens do NOT require visas for travel to France. If you are not a U.S. citizen call the Consulate of EVERY country you will enter (even in transit when changing planes) to check on visa requirements. ALL passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the completion date of tour.
TOUR PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE: Passport, visa, insurance, U.S. Departure Tax and other airline taxes. All items of a personal nature, beverages and meals not included in the tour. Gratuities to guides, bus drivers and Tour Escort. Optional tours and excess baggage charges. There is no refund for unused land arrangements or any cost incurred through absence or deviation from the stated itinerary for any reason, including illness.
RESPONSIBILITY: FAR HORIZONS a division of Travel Leaders, and/or their agents, give notice that all tickets issued by them and all arrangements for transport or for hotel accommodations made by them, are made by them as agents for the passenger upon the express condition that they shall not be liable for any injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity which may be occasioned either by reason of defect of any vehicle conveying the passenger or through the act of default or any company or persons engaged in carrying out the arrangements of the tour, or otherwise in connection therewith, or of any hotel, or employee. FH and/or their agents can accept no responsibility for losses or accidental expenses due to delay or changes in schedules, defaults or overbookings by hotels, sickness, weather, strike, war, acts of terrorism or other causes. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger. Baggage is at "owner's risk" throughout the tour unless insured. FH reserves the right to withdraw the tour, or any part of it, to make such alternations in the itinerary as they deem necessary or desirable. FH has no special knowledge or information regarding any supplier insolvency, unsafe conditions, terrorist or social unrest, health hazards or weather hazards, other than what has appeared in the public media. For information about possible dangers at your destination please call the Travel Advisory Section of the State Dept. at (202) 647-5225. For medical information contact the CDC at (877) 394-8747. You hereby release FH from any claims arising from any causes not within our control. By using your tickets, you acknowledge that you have read the foregoing and agree to it.
AIRLINE CLAUSE: Any airlines concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission, or event during the time passengers are not aboard their aircraft. The airline tickets when issued shall constitute the sole contract between airline and the purchaser of these tickets/and or passenger. |
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| FAR HORIZONS 135 Chestnut Ridge Rd Montvale, NJ 07645 Tel: 201-799-4382 or 877-482-8747 Fax: 201-822-3201 E-mail: farhorizons@cwtnj.com | ||||||||||||||||
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Blessed Mother appeared to a young sister, Catherine Laboure, the first of the apparitions in this chapel of the Motherhouse of the Daughters of Charity. The second and third apparitions occurred on November 27, 1830 in the same chapel. In each apparition Mary offered hope to her suffering children throughout the world. Right after this visit, you will see the tomb of Saint Vincent de Paul at the Motherhouse of the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentian Fathers), a few blocks from the Chapel of the Apparitions. Saint Vincent is the patron saint of all charitable works and the founder of the Vincentian Fathers (Father Ward’s religious community) and Daughters of Charity (Saint Catherine’s religious community). 
DAY 6: Wed., March 28 - Mont Saint Michel/Bayeux/Chartres B,D
Castle. 
DAY 10: Sun., April 1 - Paris B,D
| Association of the Miraculous Medal 1811 West Saint Joseph Street Perryville, Missouri 63775 1-800-264-6279 * email: ammfather@amm.org |
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