St. Barnabas Pilgrimage 2023

Arrive at Lisbon airport in the morning to be greeted by our tour director, Mariangela. Mari will escort our group for the duration of the pilgrimage. Before proceeding to our hotel in Fatima, enjoy a drive-through city tour of Lisbon. Spend some time along the waterfront of the Tagus River, gateway to the Atlantic, and view the Temple of Belém, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then visit the Jeronimos Monastery. After lunch, proceed to Fatima for hotel check-in and some time to relax. Meet for a welcome reception followed by dinner in the hotel.

Spend the day at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, the site of 18 marian apparitions to a 14-year-old girl in 1858. The Sanctuary includes several buildings and monuments including three Basilicas, Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception (Upper), the Rosary Basilica (Lower), and the Basilica of St. Pius X (Underground).
It also includes the grotto of Massabielle. Fr. Ed will celebrate Mass at a designated location at the Sanctuary. At 5 PM, the Blessed Sacrament procession with begin at the open-air altar. Dinner is at the hotel restaurant.

Today, be prepared for an early departure for Lourdes. There are two planned rest stops along the way before arrival. The first stop is Torrelavega and the next is Donostia-San Sebastian for a lunch break. The final leg of the journey takes us across the Pyrenees Mountains, arriving into Lourdes late in the afternoon. Freshen up for dinner. Then, at 9 PM, the Torchlight Procession begins at the grotto of the apparition, and continues through the alleyways to Rosary Square. Be sure not to miss it.

After breakfast, bid farewell to Spain and be transported to the Barcelona Airport for the return flight home. Thank you so much for choosing Wherever Tours for your unique pilgrimage experience. It has been our pleasure serving you. We hope you will consider us again for your future travel plans.

Take your time and enjoy a leisurely breakfast this morning. Later, take a fascinating city tour of Oviedo. This includes the Cathedral of San Salvador, the Campoamor Theatre, the Asturian Parliament building, and more. Have a nice relaxing lunch, maybe in the Fontán Square. After lunch, visit three ancient Catholic churches that are World Heritage Sites: San Miguel de Lillo & Santa Maria del Naranco, both consecrated in 848. San Julian de los Prados was cosecrated in 830. Fr. Ed will celebrate a vigil Mass later, followed by dinner in the hotel.

This morning, depart for the final destination of the pilgrimage, Barcelona. The journey which started on the Atlantic west coast of the Iberian Peninsula arrives on the Mediterranean east coast by the end of this day. The first stop is Cité de Carcassonne, a medieval walled fortress in southern France dating back to the 1st to 5th centuries. It was restored in the 19th century and was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1997. The rest of the way to Barcelona is along the beautiful Mediterranean shoreline. Arrive at the hotel just in time for dinner.

After breakfast, depart Fatima and head north to Santiago de Compostela in the north of Spain. Along the way, encounter four UNESCO World Heritage Sites: (1) University of Coimbra, one of the world's oldest universities in continuous operation, founded in 1290. (2) Historic Center of Porto where the group will enjoy lunch with wine. (3) Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte in Braga. (4) Santiago de Compostela (Old Town). Returning to Santiago, Fr. Ed will once again celebrate Mass. Dinner tonight is in the hotel. The rest of the evening is at leisure.

Today, the pilgrimage group spends the entire day in Fatima. Visit the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, the Basilica of the Holy Rosary, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima, and the Chapel of the Apparitions. This is the site where the Blessed Mother appeared to three shepard children, Lúcia, Francisco and Jacinta, on 13-Oct-1917. Fr. Ed will have his first opportunity to celebrate Mass in a sanctuary chapel. Then, visit Valinhos, outside of Fatima, where Our Lady appeared on 19-Aug-1917 to deliver Her messages. Dinner tonight is in the hotel.

This morning, take a tour of Santiago de Compostela, highlighted by a visit to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. The Cathedral is built on the site where St. James' remains were reportedly found, following his martyrdom in Jerusalem in 44 A.D. Enjoy some time for lunch in historic Old Town before departing Santiago for Oviedo. Along the route, pass by the Roman Walls of Lugo, yet another World Heritage Site. Arrive in Oviedo for hotel check in. Enjoy dinner served in the hotel restaurant

This morning board the coach to the Monserrat mountain range for a fasinating tour of the Benedictine Abbey of Santa Maria di Monserrat. It is built on the site where, legend has it, the statue of the Virgin of Monserrat was found in 880. The monastery was constructed in the 11th century and was rebuilt in the 19th and 20th centuries. Pope Leo XIII granted status of Minor Basilica in 1881. Today, it is still in active operation with over 70 monks. Later this evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with music and wine, on the Olympic Harbor .

Today, depart for Fisterra (or Finisterra), the western extent of the St. James Way (Camino Santiago). The town's name is derived from the latin meaning "land's end". Visit the Church of Santa María. Then proceed to Muxía to visit the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Barca, built on the rocks overlooking the Atlantic. Afterwards, enjoy some free time for lunch with awesome seaviews and shopping in La Coruña. Don't miss The Tower of Hercules lighthouse standing over the harbor. Return to the hotel to prepare for Mass followed by dinner in the hotel.

After breakfast, visit the Sagrada Família Basilica, one of the most prominent and iconic structures of the Barcelona skyline. Construction began in 1882 and has been under construction ever since. It one of the most famous masterpieces of Antoni Gaudi. Continue for a city tour of the capital of Catalonia and her Gothic city centre and the famous Park Güell, another Gaudi creation. Other highlights of the tour are the National Palace Museum,and the Castle of the Three Dragons. Mass will be celebrated by Fr. Ed, before dinner in the hotel.