Pilgrimage to France 2019

A Journey with those who were Light to the World

Day 1: Monday October 21  Departure to Paris

After many months of talking about our trip the day had finally arrived. At the JFK gate 53 excited  travelers joined together with our wonderful tour leader LeAnn Brand for our over-night flight to Paris with a quick transfer in Frankfurt, Germany. We all gathered for a group photo in our LP Pilgrimages hat!
 

Day 2: Tuesday October 22, Paris

Arriving early in the morning at the Paris airport we gathered our luggage and met our tour guide, Véronique Gain and our bus driver Roberto. As we began our journey Véronique read for us The Pilgrims Prayer which set the focus for us as pilgrims on a journey of faith and not tourist. We drove through Paris getting our first birds eye view and our first stop was at the Basilica of the Sacré Coeur  (Sacred Heart) as it set majestic at the top of the Montmarte, with a climb of 300 stairs or a fun ride on the funicular. After time to have lunch and shop .Fr. Ed celebrated mass for us in a chapel in Sacré Coeur and giving a meaningful homily to begin our pilgrimage.  Later in the evening we enjoyed dinner at a lovely little Parisian café in the city before settling in for our first night in Paris.

Day 3: Wednesday  October 23, Paris

After enjoying the first of many delicious typical European style breakfast we boarded our bus for today’s adventures. We celebrated mass at the Shrine of the Miraculous Medal where we viewed the incorrupt body of St Catherine Laboure (1806-1876).  She was led by her guardian angel to the chapel where the Blessed Mother showed her in a vision the Miraculous Medal and promised many graces to those who faithfully wore this  medal. St Catherine spent 46 years of her life serving in humility and the service of elderly persons. In this same chapel we viewed the incorrupt body of St. Louise de Marillac. (1591-1660).  She was the Co-Founder with St Vincent De Paul of the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent De Paul and devoted her life to service of the poor in the streets of Paris.  We then took a short walk to the Chapel of St Vincent De Paul (1581-1660). A French Catholic priest who dedicated his life to serving the outcast, orphans and destitute and was renowned for his compassion, humility and generosity.

Today was a day full of the wonders of the city of Paris with the unique Paris architecture, landscape and the sounds of a big and busy city. We enjoyed the highlights of the Louvre, the L’Arc de Triomphe in the middle of a 6-lane circle of cars zig zagging in and out in a controlled state of chaos and driving down the famous Champs Elysees leading us to the Eiffel Tower. As often as you see a photo of the Eiffel Tower, everyone was overwhelmed to see it and realize the massive size of this overgrown erector set at 1,063 ft (equal to an 81-story building). We took a lift to the second level for a 360-degree view of Paris that is unsurpassed. 

We topped the day off with a wonderful dinner cruise down the River Seine where we got our first glimpse of Notre Dame Cathedral and the beauty of the Eiffel Tower lite up at night.

Day 4: Thursday October 24, Paris/Lisieux

This morning we had the opportunity to walk near Notre Dame Cathedral. It was a big disappointment that due to the very damaging fire this most famous icon of Paris suffered we were not able to see inside or to attend a public mass as originally scheduled. As we said farewell to Paris we drove through the French countryside to Lisieux where we visited the Cathedral of St Peter and had the privilege of touring Les Buissonets, the family home of St Theresa of Lisieux (1873-1897). Pope Pius X called her the Greatest Saint of Modern times. In the home we viewed many relics, clothing and personal items belonging to the Little Flower, a name given to her by her adoring father. In his homily, Fr Ed stated that St Theresa became a saint not for doing big things but for doing many minute things with humility and great love of God. In the evening many of the pilgrims attended vespers in the chapel with the Carmelite sisters. In the chapel is  the body of St Theresa and as we knelt to offer prayers to St Theresa for her intersession  to God on our behalf there was the unmistakable sweet fragrance of roses. 

Day 5: October 25, Lisieux/Omaha Beach/Mont St Michel

We began our morning attending mass in the Carmel Chapel with the Carmelite sisters just as St Theresa would have done daily as a member of this Carmelite Order. Once again we boarded our bus for the drive to Normandy and Omaha Beach. It was a very sobering experience to view this quiet little village of summer vacation homes along a pristine sandy beach with soft waves rolling ashore and realizing the horrors of this scene 75 years ago.  D-Day June 6, 1944 our military faced the Germany army. The landing force was primarily the US Navy and Coast Guard with the help of British and Canadian forces. Beach homes were destroyed, the beach littered with tanks and artillery of war and hundreds of ships set in the ocean. The sand was crimson red and covered with the bodies of thousands who paid the ultimate price for justice and freedom. We must never forget those who died so that generations of others could live in peace. After visiting the museum and watching an informative video of the story of D-Day we went on top of the bluff to the American cemetery overlooking the beach. It gave a somber perspective to the magnitude of the D-Day landing as we wandered quietly around 9,388 white marble crosses over 175 acres given to the US aa a gift from France and is maintained by the US.

Day 6: Friday October 26, Mont St Michel/Nevers

This was an exciting morning as we drove to Mont St Michel. What a fabulous sight to see this French abby that rises up out of the water just off the coast. It is on the UNESCO list and the 60 buildings of the village are protected. The population is around 50 people. Walking up and through the village is very difficult as it is all steep uphill grades on uneven cobble stones but very well worth the efforts. Fr Ed celebrated mass in the Chapel of St Aubert in the middle of the town. After mass 28 daring pilgrims ventured up to the Abby which entailed a steep climb up 300 uneven stairs and then many more stairs to tour the 3 levels of the Abby. It was a strenuous adventure but a proud accomplishment for these pilgrims. Back on the bus for the drive to St Malo for the night.

Day 7: Sunday October 27, Nevers/Paray Le Monial

After a short drive we visited the convent of St Gildard where St Bernadette (1844-1879 )became a Sister of Charity. Fr Ed celebrated mass in the chapel where the incorrupt body of St Bernadette is reposed in a glass coffin. St Bernadette and her family lived most of their life in poverty. She was sickly her whole life after having cholera as a toddler and was a poor learner who couldn’t read or write till the age of 14.. She was the eldest of 9 children. After driving for a few hours, we made an unplanned stop in Reims at the Notre Dame De Reims Church. Since it was a Sunday most shops were closed but we did find two delightful French bakeries opened and we enjoyed some special treats and just about cleaned out the stock for both little shops that afternoon! We then continued on to Paray Le Monial known as the City of the Eucharist. It is the site of the Shrine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and St Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690). In one of his homilies, Fr. Ed said that as we followed and learned about the lives of so many Saints that there is one common message through out in their humble service to God and in the apparitions that “Jesus wants us to return to Him.”

Day 8: Monday October 28, Paray Le Monial/Ars/Lyon

The day began with mass at the shrine and then down the street we visited the Chapel of the Visitation where Jesus exposed His Sacred Heart to St Margaret Mary during her apparitions and saw the chasse of St Margaret Mary containing her relics. Our trip continued on to Ars where St Jean-Marie Vianney (1786-1859) spent the majority of his life. He is the patron saint  of parish priest and so this was a special stop for Fr Ed to see and walk through the chapel where St Jean spent as many as 18 hours a day in the confessional hearing up to 80,000 confessions a year. He became known as the Curé d’Ars. He spent much of his life, giving powerful sermons and living the gospel by his prayers and his way of life. Fr. Ed quoted Bishop Fulton Sheen in saying that “We may be the only gospel some people hear.” Fr. Ed led the rosary in the chapel with St jean Vianney in repose behind him. Fr. Ed was grateful for the opportunity to go through St Jean Vianney’s house and see his personal belongings. We then took a short ride to the town of Lyon for the night.

Day 9: Tuesday October 29, Lyon/Lourdes

Today began bright and early as we ventured on a 7-hour bus ride to Lourdes and the birthplace of St Bernadette. Upon arrival Fr Ed celebrated mass in a St Patrick chapel and we had our first visit to the Grotto of Massabielle where Our Blessed Lady appeared to Bernadette in 1858. Being in Lourdes is the pinnacle of our pilgrimage and we look forward to the next two day here. We said our good-byes to our very capable bus driver Roberto as we will be on foot from here on.

Day 10: Wednesday October 30, Lourdes

Today was an outstanding day of blessings as we walked in the footsteps of St Bernadette. Fr Ed celebrated mass in a chapel in the Basilica. A delightful young 11-year-old boy named Felix traveling with his family from India asked Fr if this was going to be an English mass. Fr asked him to be his alter server and Felix and his family beamed with pride. Fr Ed told Felix that it his meant that he was to become a priest. We continued the day touring the beautiful Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. The Basilica is 3 churches built on top of each other as the need for more sanctuary space was needed. There is also on the ground an enormous under- ground church. Fr. Ed led our group as we walked the stations of the cross. After a very informative video and presentation about Bernadette and the 18 apparitions we continued with a long and steep walk through the town to visit Boly Mill where St Bernadette was born and lived until hard times forced the family to move into the Cashot, an abandoned prison where the family of 6 shared one room. Our night ended with the very impressive and moving nightly candlelight procession with the prayers and rosary recited in various languages.

Day 11: Thursday October 31, Lourdes

As our pilgrimage winds down, today we attended a con-celebrated mass with Fr. Ed and two priest and their group of pilgrims we had met long our travels. One group was from New Mexico and the other from Minnesota. It was pouring rain, but we were sheltered in the grotto with the sound of the holy waters coming from the rocks and the statue of the Immaculate Conception looking down over us. Felix again was the alter server. The remainder of the day was ours to do what we wanted. We had many options in this holy place. Last minute shopping, private prayer at the grotto or in the Basilica, going to confession, walking the station and many of the group waited a couple of hours for the humble opportunity to go into the baths of the holy waters. This emotional experience was uniquely received by each person and no words adequately can express the feelings and blessing. Before dinner we attend mass in St Patrick Chapel to celebrate All Saints Day which had so much extra meaning as we ended our trail of so many Holy Saints. At our farewell dinner we thanked our wonderful tour leader LeAnn and our extremely knowledgeable and spiritual tour guide Véronique. They made our pilgrimage a wonderful and spiritual journey of Cathedrals, Saints and Soldiers. 

Day 12: Friday November 1, Return home to the USA

Our final day began early as we boarded our bus at 4:30 am for the last time for the drive to Toulouse airport and  our flight home. We had a short transfer in Munich Germany and then a 9-hour flight to JFK. Each of us got something different and special from our journey as pilgrims in France that we will carry with us, but I think we learned that we all need to be messengers for God and be His light for the world.

Comments and thoughts from Pilgrims 

Jesus Loves Us As We Are – Renea Boerhave

The 2019 CDA French Pilgrimage was an awesome trip with my sister, Mary Ann Kizer.  The high point was our spiritual renewal in the baths at Lourdes.  The blessings we experienced were a motivation to continue to trust in God’s plan for each of us.  
Nancy Stefka - Arkansas

Traveling together as mother and daughter, we shared moments where we felt the presence of our Holy Father and Blessed Mother.  What we didn't anticipate, was the amazing fellowship we shared with our CDA sisters, their family and friends.  As we celebrated mass together with Father Ed, in some of the most beautiful churches in France, his messages were inspirational and truly opened our hearts to the Holy Spirit.  God Bless You All!  Debra Johnson and Bethany Fuchs, Hardin, Montana.

As requested, my most memorable experience of this trip was Omaha Beach, the American cemetery and the museum.   While it’s hard to say why in words but the ravages of war and the lost of life on both sides was depicted well in the sites we visited and will stay with me for a long while.  Trish Kendig

The basilicas and cathedrals we visited were absolutely beautiful.

I am in awe of the dedication and time it took to plan, build and maintain them.

But the dedication of St. Bernadette, an uneducated very young woman who listened and followed the request of the Immaculate Conception, had a profound  impact on me.  All things are possible with God! I believe!  Sherry Nilles - Iowa

God is Loved, and He Loves us as we are.   Ed Guckin, PA,-  brother of Peggy Guckin

It was overwhelming to share with my CDA family on this pilgrimage to see the many shrines across France and to pay our respect at Omaha beach.  Peggy Guckin - PA

My summation of our trip brings to mind the quote from Mother Teresa "doing small things with great Love".I appreciated all the help I had in getting around. Joyce  Fleming - MA

The entire pilgrimage was the trip of a lifetime, but the most profound experience for me was the opportunity to bathe in the waters of Lourdes. It was a cold, rainy day, and the water was freezing, but I was warm in the embrace of Mary and her Son.  It was unforgettable! 

Olga Samaniego National Regent – TX

I am still basking in the afterglow of this awesome experience from the CDA Pilgrimage to Paris, France. Another item on my “Bucket List” was checked off, thanks to this trip.

While I enjoyed all the different shrines of the saints that we model our lives on, I must say that the  highlight of the trip for me was the entire Lourdes experience.

Words are inadequate to express the impact it had to me personally.  No picture taking was needed because the experiences are embedded in my mind and heart.

I followed an old Italian custom from my mother to make three wishes when going into a church, chapel or basilica for the first time.  I now have a long list of wishes from the many beautiful chapels, churches and basilicas that we celebrated Mass in or just visited to light candles. Thanks to so many who made this wonderful experience possible.  Helene Shepard, Immediate Past National Regent

The CDA pilgrimage was more than a trip to France; it was a time for me to re-energize my spirituality and an opportunity to meet so many beautiful CDA sisters.   
Thank you Olga for leading this pilgrimage and thank you Father Lamp for the beautiful homilies at each Mass.  

I will forever hold the memories made on this pilgrimage near to my heart.
Merci France pour les souvenirs. Maria Veloz, Arizona