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★ Hosted by Deacon Greg Kandra
Catholic Pilgrimage · 12 Days · France

The Great Marian Shrines of Europe with Fr. Mathew Joseph and Deacon Greg Kandra

Join Fr. Mathew Vettath Joseph, SDV and Deacon Greg Kandra on a pilgrimage to France, Spain, and Portugal. This trip will visit Lisbon, Fatima, Paris, Avila, and Lourdes.

Dates
March 16-27, 2026
Departs Orlando or New York
Duration
12 Days
Trip code 26RS03FRGK
From
$3,995
The Pilgrimage

Walk in the Footsteps of Faith

Fr. Mathew Vettath Joseph, SDV, Deacon Greg Kandra and a Christian guide will meet your party at the airport and accompany you every step of the way as you explore Lourdes, Rouen, Paris, Avila, Fatima, and much more.

Deacon Greg Kandra
Your Host

Deacon Greg Kandra

Permanent deacon, author, journalist, and speaker

Deacon Greg Kandra is a permanent deacon of the Diocese of Brooklyn, an award-winning journalist, author, speaker, and creator of The Deacon’s Bench. Before entering Catholic communications, he spent nearly thirty years in broadcast journalism, primarily at CBS News, writing and producing for programs including 48 Hours, 60 Minutes II, Sunday Morning, and the CBS Evening News. He later served as a senior writer for Catholic Near East Welfare Association. He now writes, speaks, and leads retreats on faith, liturgy, and the vocation of the permanent diaconate.

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Know Before You Go

What's included

✓ Included

  • ✓Round-trip airfare from JFK or Orlando to Paris x Lisbon to JFK or Orlando
  • ✓Airport taxes and fuel surcharges
  • ✓First-class hotels for 10 nights
  • ✓Service charges and hotel taxes
  • ✓Buffet breakfast daily
  • ✓Special Dinner Cruise on the Seine River with wine
  • ✓7 Hotel dinners (standard 3-course menu; beverages may be purchased at an additional cost)
  • ✓Farewell dinner in a restaurant, accompanied by half a bottle of wine
  • ✓All transfers with a private A/C motor coach as per the itinerary
  • ✓TGV train from Paris to Lourdes – Coach Class (luggage is in the passenger compartment)
  • ✓Professional English-speaking Christian tour guide throughout
  • ✓Entrance fees are included for sites specifically listed (outside view means no entrance is included)
  • ✓Funicular in Montmartre
  • ✓Luggage handling at hotels (one piece per person in/out)
  • ✓Select International Tours Travel Portfolio
  • ✓Confirmation of daily private Mass
  • ✓Whisper sets

× Not included

  • ×Trip Protection and Medical Insurance (highly recommended)
  • ×Tipping/Gratuities for the guide(s), driver, and wait staff (please refer to the suggestions we will provide for you with your final documents) Suggested budget $200- $220.00 per traveler
  • ×Any items not explicitly mentioned in the list of inclusions
  • ×Beverages at meals, unless otherwise noted
  • ×Meals not specifically listed at the end of each day (B.L.D)
  • ×Church donations (budget $2.00 - $5.00 per Mass)
  • ×Airport transfers for land-only passengers unless they are at the airport at the same time as the group
  • ×Personal expenses
  • ×Airline Seat assignments and assistance with flight pre-check-in
  • ×Any airline baggage charges
  • ×Baggage handling at train stations, airports, and hotels in excess of one suitcase per person
  • ×Any charges incurred due to excessive luggage including the cost of an additional baggage vehicle or porterage charges

Tipping/Gratuities for the guide(s), driver, and wait staff (please refer to the suggestions we will provide for you with your final documents) Suggested budget $200- $220.00 per traveler.

Day by Day

Your pilgrimage, mapped out

Tap any day to explore. Meals: B breakfast · L lunch · D dinner.
Day 1March 16, 2026
DEPART USA
+

Depart New York/JFK or Orlando International Airport on an overnight flight to Paris. Dinner and breakfast are served on the plane. Quotes for add-on flights and optional Premium Economy and Business Class upgrades are available upon request. Group air restrictions do not permit specific seating requests on flights. We recommend purchasing your own airline tickets and booking the Land Only package if seat location is important to you.

Day 2March 17, 2026
PARIS – LISIEUX
+

“Bienvenue en France!” Upon arrival at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, we are greeted by our English-speaking tour manager, who will accompany us throughout our entire journey. Relax on a scenic twohour drive to Lisieux, the cherished home of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, “the Little Flower.” We delve into her profound spirituality with visits to the Carmel Convent and Les Buissonnets, her humble family home. We also celebrate our first Mass together, setting the spiritual tone for our pilgrimage. After we check into our hotel, enjoy some time to refresh before dinner. Overnight in Lisieux.

D
Day 3March 18, 2026
NORMANDY’S SACRED SHORES
+

After breakfast, our day begins with a visit to the magnificent Basilica of St. Thérèse and its Crypt in Lisieux. Then, a picturesque drive through the French countryside leads us to the hallowed grounds of the Normandy Beaches. Here, along 54 miles of Atlantic coastline, we feel the weight of history at sites forever etched with the courage of Allied forces on D-Day, June 6, 1944. We reflect at Omaha Beach and the solemn American Memorial and Cemetery, paying tribute to the brave soldiers who secured freedom. We celebrate Mass near Omaha Beach, remembering the sacrifices made there. Return to Lisieux for dinner and an overnight stay.

BD
Day 4March 19, 2026
ROUEN – PARIS
+

Following breakfast, we journey to Paris, with a captivating stop in Rouen to walk in the footsteps of St. Joan. Explore Rouen’s beautifully restored medieval quarter and admire the stunning Gothic Notre-Dame Cathedral, a favorite subject of Claude Monet. We tour the city on foot, celebrate Mass at the Church of St. Joan, and see the historic site where she met her tragic end. We continue to Paris and settle into our hotel. Tonight, dinner is at leisure, offering the perfect opportunity to discover the charm of a Parisian café. Overnight in Paris.

B
Day 5March 20, 2026
PARIS
+

After breakfast, we embark on an immersive city tour of Paris. We marvel at the newly rebuilt Notre-Dame Cathedral, a testament to resilience, and enjoy a panoramic tour of iconic landmarks including the Eiffel Tower. Our journey continues to the artistic Montmartre district, where we discover its bohemian spirit and visit the breathtaking Sacre Coeur Basilica and celebrate Mass. Tonight, prepare for a magical experience: a dinner cruise on the Seine River. As we glide past the magnificently lit buildings, the city’s beauty unfolds before us, culminating in the dazzling light show of the Eiffel Tower. (B. Dinner cruise)

BD
Day 6March 21, 2026
LOURDES
+

This morning, we begin with Mass at the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal and behold the incorrupt body of St. Vincent de Paul at the chapel of Maison-Mère. Then, we board the high-speed TGV bullet train for a spiritual journey to Lourdes, a profound sanctuary of faith and healing. Upon arrival, we transfer to our hotel. After dinner, join pilgrims from around the world in the inspiring Candlelight Procession, a genuinely moving experience. Dinner and overnight in Lourdes.

BD
Day 7March 22, 2026
LOURDES
+

Our day in Lourdes is dedicated to spiritual reflection and meditation. We celebrate Mass, visit the sacred Basilica and the Grotto, where Our Lady appeared to St. Bernadette, and partake in the miraculous spring water, a source of healing for countless pilgrims. We also explore Boly Mill, St. Bernadette’s birthplace, and the Cachot, the abandoned prison where her family once lived. In the afternoon, pray the Stations of the Cross and participate in the comforting Blessing of the Sick. Dinner and overnight in Lourdes.

BD
Day 8March 23, 2026
LOURDES – AVILA
+

We depart this morning, driving to Avila, the magnificent walled city dedicated to St. Teresa of Avila. Here, the atmosphere has changed very little since the days of St. Teresa, to whom the city is dedicated. St. Teresa, the renowned mystic, was the first woman to be named a Doctor of the Church. We visit the crypt of La Santa Convent, built on the site of the house where she was born; La Encarnacion Convent, where St. Teresa became a nun and home to the most comprehensive museum dedicated to her life; the Cathedral and the Cuatro Postes (four columns) which commemorates when St. Teresa, at the age of seven, convinced her brother to run away with her to die as martyrs in the land of the Moors. Their uncle caught them at the Cuatro Postes site and returned them home. Mass will be celebrated. Dinner and overnight in Avila.

BD
Day 9March 24, 2026
FATIMA
+

Today, we journey through Spain en route to Portugal. Late in the afternoon, we arrive in Fatima, one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the world, renowned for the story of the apparition of Our Lady to three shepherd children in 1917. Mass will be celebrated. Dinner and overnight in Fatima.

BD
Day 10March 25, 2026
FATIMA
+

We start the day with Mass at the Basilica. We stop at the parish church where the visionaries were baptized and other places associated with their young lives, including the cemetery where the children are buried and their homes in Aljustrel. We travel to Valinhos and visit the site where the Holy Virgin appeared in August 1917, the outdoor Stations of the Cross erected by Americans, and the beautiful Shrine of the Crucifixion, built on the highest point by Hungarian refugees. Tonight, we participate in the Candlelight and Blessed Sacrament Procession. Dinner and overnight in Fatima.

BD
Day 11March 26, 2026
SAN- TARÉM – LISBON
+

Following breakfast, we depart for Santarem to venerate the Miracle of the Eucharist. We continue to the capital of Portugal, Lisbon, one of the most beautiful and historic cities in Europe. Located on the River Tagus, Lisbon is a vibrant city full of life, color, and fascinating places. We see Belem Tower, the longest bridge in Europe, and the impressive 300-foot-high statue of Christ the King. We continue to the magnificent Church of St. Anthony and celebrate Mass. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner accompanied by wine in a local restaurant. Overnight in Lisbon. (B. Special dinner)

BD
Day 12March 27, 2026
RETURN TO USA
+

After breakfast, we are transferred to Lisbon Airport for our flights home. Lunch and a snack will be served on the plane.

B
Pricing

Choose how you travel

Land and Group Air
$4,995per person

Land and Group Air. Main trip package.

Most popular
Land Only
$3,995per person

Land Only. Main trip package.

Solo Room (Additional Charge)
$995additional

Solo Room (Additional Charge). Additional supplement.

ETA Required
Confirm requirements with Select for this destination.
Deposit
$500.00 per person must accompany your registration.
Final Payment
Final payment is due by January 15, 2026.
Passport Validity
passport must be valid through September 27, 2026.
Pilgrimage Information

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This pilgrimage has ended

Completed

This departure has ended. Registration is closed.