Visitations of Mary FATIMA • AVILA • MONTSERRAT • LOURDES
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Visitations of Mary FATIMA • AVILA • MONTSERRAT • LOURDES Participate in the world’s most requested Marian journey as we come to encounter first hand the tangible grace behind Our Lady’s life-changing TOUR CODE: 4VM04 visitations from Fatima to Lourdes. A 17 DAY PILGRIMAGE | LISBON TO LOURDES FROM AUD $7,390 FULLY INCLUSIVE* OR $4,690 Bay of Biscay france FEATURING: 3 Lourdes • Lisbon (1) • Fatima (3) spain • Alba de Tormes Manresa 2 Montserrat • Avila (2) 1 • Segovia Avila 1 portugal Zaragoza Barcelona Departing • Zaragoza (1) 2 Segovia • Barcelona (1) Alba de 9th October 2014 • Montserrat (2) Tormes • Manresa 3 Fatima Accompanied by • Lourdes (3) 1 • Optional Medjugorje Lisbon Fr Richard Smith EV PP extension (5) HARVEST HIGHPOINTS Enjoy a unique 3 night stay at the Experience Fatima in full celebration world’s two most revered Marian mode during the monthly anniversary 1 shrines of Lourdes and Fatima. 2 ceremonies of Our Lady’s apparitions. Be captured by the life and tangible Be lifted into the great Marian retreat spirit of St. Teresa within the medieval of Montserrat for a spectacular two 3 walled city of Avila. 4 day encounter. Free Call 1800 819 156 • www.harvestpilgrims.com • Ph: (02) 9390 5460 • [email protected] ITINERARY Avila DAY 1: DEPART FOR PORTUGAL DAY 2: ARRIVE LISBON After our arrival into Lisbon, we will be transferred to our centrally located hotel. Remainder of the day at leisure to rest or explore the city at your own pace. Lisbon overnight (D) DAY 3: LISBON TO FATIMA This morning we will meet with our local guide and enjoy a tour of Lisbon city. Our first stop is St Anthony’s Basilica where we celebrate our group Mass. Despite what might be assumed from his name, St Anthony was born and grew up in Lisbon and today remains the patron saint of lost articles. Visit the World Heritage listed Jeronimo’s the Baptismal font where the children were with the Tombs of the visionaries, the Monastery dating back to the 16th century baptised. Museum, Blessed Sacrament Chapel and with its stunning combination of flamboyant Back in Fatima tonight, the Anniversary other main sites. Gothic, Moorish and early Renaissance Vigil ceremonies begin with an International Afternoon at leisure in Fatima. influences; see nearby Belem Tower and Rosary followed by a candlelight procession Fatima overnight (BD) the Monument to the Discoveries. See and concelebrated Mass on the steps of the Europe’s longest suspension bridge and view Rosary Basilica. From midnight to dawn FATIMA TO AVILA the inspiring Statue of Christ the King an optional all night vigil is held for the DAY 6: pointing the way north to Fatima. enrichment of pilgrims. After breakfast we farewell Fatima by En route to Fatima we will visit the Holy Fatima overnight (BD) coach and journey inland through Portugal Miracle Church of St Stephen at Santarem before crossing the border into Spain. containing the oldest recorded Eucharistic Passing through Salamanca, known as the miracle. DAY 5: FATIMA ANNIVERSARY ‘Golden City’ owing to the colour of its CELEBRATIONS historic sandstone buildings, we arrive at Finally we arrive at Fatima where in 1917 We awake to the sound of pilgrims from all Alba de Tormes, the little village where St the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to three Teresa died. Her incorrupt heart and arm children as ‘a lady in white’. over the world en route to the morning’s Anniversary celebrations. Commence with are enshrined and displayed here at the Fatima overnight (BD) a Rosary followed by the procession of Carmelite convent. Here too we enter the Our Lady’s statue to the altar on the steps convent for Mass, where St. John of the DAY 4: FATIMA of the Basilica. Celebrate the extraordinary Cross lived and who companioned St Teresa in her spiritual walk. This morning we will walk and pray the International Anniversary Mass followed Stations along the beautiful Way of the by the Blessing of the Sick and Consecration. We continue on to the historic walled town Cross (the Sacred Way) culminating in the The ceremonies will close around midday of Avila where the atmosphere has changed Chapel of Calvary which overlooks all of with the touching ‘Adios’ spectacle (waving little since the days of St Teresa to whom the Fatima. Continue to Valinhos, the site of of the white handkerchiefs in tribute to Our city is dedicated. It was here that she entered Our Lady’s appearance after the children’s Lady) as her statue is carried back to the the Carmelite convent and encountered return from prison before we proceed onto Capelinha. many mystical experiences during her time. the little village of Aljustrel to visit the We will then enjoy a tour of the Square (the Avila overnight (BD) homes where the children lived. Finally we largest square in Christendom) including the enter the original Parish church and see site of the Apparitions, Rosary Basilica DAY 7: AVILA We begin our day with a visit to the Convent Fatima of Saint Teresa built over the saint’s birthplace and located just inside the South Gate of the old town. Most of the convent remains in cloister but you can see the very spot where she was born, now a chapel in the Baroque church. Then a visit to Avila’s Cathedral which was started in the twelfth century before entering the Monastery of the Incarnation for Mass where St Teresa’s cell can be seen as well as other relics of her life. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure. Avila overnight (BD) DAY 8: VIA SEGOVIA TO ZARAGOZA This morning we depart Avila, travelling east by coach to Segovia, between the Eresma and Clamores Rivers. We will visit the stunning Segovia Cathedral, the last Gothic cathedral Barcelona to be built in Spain. Marvel too at the best conserved aqueduct of the Imperial Roman Empire. Outside the walls, we will visit and celebrate Mass at a convent adjacent to the Vera Cruz church, where the mortal remains of Saint John of the Cross are buried. Travel on the outskirts of Spain’s capital Madrid and continue east to the city of Zaragoza, affectionately recorded as the town of the Blessed Mother’s first appearance on earth. Zaragoza overnight (BD) DAY 9: ZARAGOZA TO BARCELONA This morning we join our local guide for a tour of Zaragoza featuring the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pilar where we will celebrate Mass. See the magnificent altar in this church which was built on the site where according to local legend the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to the apostle St James the Greater alongside the River Ebro. She was still living in Jerusalem at the time; this is her only reported apparition prior to her Assumption. The cathedral has always been the spiritual centre MONTSERRAT MOUNTAIN Virgin gave James a pillar and instructed him DAY 11: of Barcelona. RETREAT to build a church. As instructed, Saint James built a small chapel on the spot, making it the We will be awe-struck visiting Gaudi’s famous The spirit of Montserrat is a unique blend of first church dedicated to the Virgin Mary. La Sagrada Familia Basilica before enjoying the mountain, the sanctuary, and the life of a leisurely visit to Guell Park where we can monasticism. Around the sanctuary you will Departing Zaragoza we travel east to enter Gaudi’s house which is now a museum Barcelona find many different banners and emblems , a city synonymous with art, as well as offering spectacular views over the culture and faith. representing various religious, cultural, social, city. financial and even sporting organisations. Barcelona overnight (BD) Later this afternoon we will arrive into Our spectacular day of pilgrimage begins stunning Montserrat. The renownedwith a visit and Mass in the Basilica, the DAY 10: BARCELONA TO eleventh-century sanctuary of Our Lady of construction of which began in the 16th MONTSERRAT Montserrat lies at the top of a 4000 foot high century, and a viewing of the beautiful Holy We enjoy a morning in Barcelona to experience mountain and is one of Spain’s most popular Image of Our Lady of Montserrat, known the cultural canvas that underpinned many pilgrimage destinations. The shrine is home affectionately as the “Black Madonna.” to a twelfth-century miraculous statue of the of Picasso’s artworks and view the unique We will then board the Santa Cova funicular Blessed Virgin Mary, lovingly known as the and colourful architecture of Antonio Gaudi railway and after a short ride, enjoy a walk dispersed throughout the city. We commence “Black Madonna”, discovered in the Santa with a visit and Mass in Barcelona Cathedral Cova or Holy Cave. Here at Montserrat St down the sacred path passing modernist (La Seu), a celebrated example of Catalan Ignatius kept vigil with a coarse sackcloth and sculptures of the Mysteries of the Rosary (all Gothic architecture dating from the 14th a pilgrim staff. worked on by Llimona and Gaudi among century. The elevated site occupied by the Montserrat overnight (BD) others). Almost hanging from the rock’s edge at the end of the route is the Chapel where the Montserrat image of Our Lady of Montserrat was found by young shepherds in the 13th century after seeing a bright light which led them to the grotto. We take time here at the Holy Cave for prayer and reflection before taking the funicular railway back up to the Sanctuary. Before lunch, we will take our place among the privileged to hear the heavenly sounds of the Montserrat Boys Choir (The Escolania), one of the oldest and most renowned in Europe.