Rev.
Howard Venette, FSSP
Pastor of Queen of Angels
Oratory in St. Catharines
Invites You to Join Him to Lourdes
150th
Anniversary Pilgrimage
September 17
–
25, 2008
The
fame of the once-humble grotto of Massabielle is, like that of its beloved
visitor St. Bernadette, universal in its scope. Catholics familiar with
the events of a century and a half ago, which brought about the
establishment of Our Lady's renowned shrine at Lourdes, cannot but help be
moved by its grace-filled story. Those who make this pilgrimage will
experience a five-day immersion in the spirit of "the Lady" who
communicated to St. Bernadette the truth about herself, the Immaculate
Conception. Rounding out our spiritual journey, we will fly to Paris for a
two night stay, in a city with its own tradition of saints and churches.
Visits
to the tombs of St. Catherine Laboure and St. Vincent de Paul, a tour of
the famous church of Sacre-Coeur at Montmartre, and the piece de
resistance –
a visit to Notre-Dame Cathedral await the pilgrim here.
Holy
Mass will be offered daily in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite,
known as the Traditional Latin Mass - the form of the Mass known and loved
by St. Bernadette. Daily devotions, on-site tours, and time for personal
prayer will enable each pilgrim to drink fully of the spirit of devotion
and the spiritual history which await visitors to each holy site.
Rev.
Howard Venette, FSSP
Welcome
to the Celebration of the Lourdes Jubilee Year
Come and join Father Venette to this Holy Place of
Reconciliation, Healing and Grace!
Day
1, Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Toronto –
Paris
We meet early afternoon at Toronto airport, terminal 3 to check in with
Air France for our transatlantic flight to France. Dinner and breakfast
served on board.
Day
2, Thursday, September 18
Paris –
Pau –
Lourdes
After arriving in Paris we change planes for our flight to Pau. The
scheduled arrival time in Pau is 10:10 am where a transfer will be waiting
to take us to hotel La Solitude, our home for five nights in Lourdes. The
hotel is a stone's throw away from the Shrine. After check in at the
hotel, we will walk to the Sanctuary our Lady of Lourdes for a brief
orientation. Afterwards there will be time to rest till we meet at 5:30 pm
in our hotel for dinner. At 7:00 p.m. we will unite our prayers with
pilgrims from around the world to pray for the sick and the poor in the
nightly Torchlight Marian Procession of the Rosary requested by Our Lady.
Day
3, Friday, September 19
Lourdes
After breakfast, a local guide will take us on a walking tour of Lourdes
and we will visit places associated with the life of Bernadette. These
include the Boly Mill in Rue Bernadette Soubirous, where she was born; the
Locale Mill, residence of her parents; the Cachot, formerly used as a jail
and where Bernadette lived at the time of the Apparitions; the Chapel
where she received her First Holy Communion; and the Parish Church
containing the Baptismal Font where she was baptized. We will return to
the hotel for lunch. At 3:30 pm we will meet at the Grotto of Massabielle
for the Rosary.
Day
4, Saturday, September 20
Lourdes
Day
5, Sunday, September 21
Lourdes
After breakfast you may wish to walk to the world's largest underground
church, the Basilica of St. Pius X, and join in the weekly International
Mass of Lourdes. This afternoon you have an option to go on an excursion
to Gavernie in the French Pyrenees, home to the highest waterfall in
Europe, and along the route of the old Pilgrim way to the tomb of St.
James at Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
Day
6, Monday, September 22
Lourdes
Morning Mass has been requested at the Grotto of the Apparitions where
Bernadette encountered the mother of the Lord. Petitions carried from home
will be placed in the Grotto during this Mass. The remainder of the day is
free for private devotions. You may wish to pray in the chapel built on
the very rock of the Grotto, in obedience to the request of the Immaculate
Conception; drink from the curative spring which appeared at the base of
the Grotto and has flowed uninterrupted since 1858; fill bottles with Holy
Water; light candles for your loved ones; shop for souvenirs; submerge
yourself into the Miraculous Baths, which claim thousands of healings; or
go on an optional excursion to Bartres, and visit the parish church where
Bernadette prepared for her First Holy Communion. Tonight you may wish to
participate once more in the candlelight procession or simply spend
private time at the grotto. Father Venette will be available for
confessions and special blessings.
Day
7, Tuesday, September 23
Lourdes –
Paris
During our last private daily Traditional Latin Mass in Lourdes, we will
give thanks for the many blessings bestowed on us during our stay. We bid
au revoir to the friendly staff in Hotel La Solitude and depart for the
Lourdes airport. The Air France flight departs at 11:05 am and arrives in
Paris/Orly at 12:30 pm. We meet our driver and English speaking guide who
will take us on a panoramic tour of Paris. Before going to our hotel de
L'Ocean we will visit and pray in the Gothic Notre-Dame Cathedral, one of
the world's most famous houses of worship. Dinner is on your own tonight.
You may opt for a meal in one of the bistro terraces nearby the hotel.
Day
8, Wednesday, September 24
Paris
Today we hope to celebrate Holy Mass in the nearby Eglise St. Eugene.
After Mass and breakfast we take the subway to Montmatre and then the
funicular up to the highest point in Paris, the Sacre Coeur Basilica,
dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. After a visit and prayers in the
Basilica there is free time to enjoy Montmartre's narrow streets and the
Place du Tertre. There are ample places to buy a baguette or sit down for
an enjoyable lunch in one of the many quaint restaurants. The tour bus
will meet us at 1:00 pm and take us to the Chapel de la Medaille
Miraculeuse where Saint Vincent de Paul's heart is kept and to the tomb of
St. Catherine Laboure. A visit to Paris would not be complete without
seeing Paris by night. We invite you to join us on an illumination and
dinner cruise on the famous Seine River, from where we may bid Adieu to
the City of Light.
Day
9, Thursday, September 25
Paris –
Toronto –
Home
A last private Latin Mass on French terra firma, a petit dejeuner and then
it is off to the airport to catch Air France 352, departing Paris/Charles
de Gaulle at 10:40 am flying non stop to Toronto, with an expected arrival
time of 1:05 pm.
Father
Venette will announce each day where and at what time the private
Traditional Latin Mass will be held to which all his traveling companions
are invited. This daily Holy Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman
Rite is in addition to Mass Celebrations open to the public in Lourdes
Package price in Canadian dollars
-
$2975 per person based on double occupancy, airport taxes of $350 are included in the price
-
$ 625 extra for those wanting single accommodation (limited availability)
-
$ 275 deposit due at initial registration. Second deposit in the amount of $1000 per person due by April 15th, final payment is due on July 15, 2008
-
Optional insurance extra (due at time of deposit – see information below)
Inclusions
-
Daily mass/prayers and religious services by Spiritual Director Father Howard Venette FSSP, who speaks a bit of French
-
Roundtrip flights Toronto – Pau/Lourdes – Paris – Toronto with Air France
-
Airport taxes (currently $350.03 subject to change)
-
Seven nights quality hotel accommodation with twin bedded rooms and private facilities
-
Daily buffet breakfast, four lunches and six dinners including a special dinner cruise on the Seine River
-
All admission fees to sites as per itinerary
-
Transportation as required
-
Services of English speaking licensed guides on September 19 in Lourdes and on September 23 and 24 in the afternoon in Paris
-
Hotel service charges and taxes
Not
included
-
Three lunches and one dinner
-
Gratuities to guides, drivers and hotel restaurant staff
-
Optional but highly recommended cancellation/interruption, medical insurance protection which can be obtained through Brinkman Travel. Premium is pending upon age, duration and tour cost.
Hotels:
Lourdes: 5 nights in Hotel Le Solitude; Paris: 2 nights in the superior
three star hotel de L'Ocean, in a quiet location between Opera and Gard du
Nord.
In
preparation for your personal pilgrimage you are invited to come on
-
Thursday July 10 at 7:00 pm in the meeting room of Queen of Angels Oratory, 75 Rolls Avenue, St. Catharines to see a movie on the Life of St. Bernadette and to give Brinkman Travel Inc a cheque for final payment of the tour
-
Thursday September 4 at 7:00 pm in the meeting room of Queen of Angels Oratory, 75 Rolls Avenue, St. Catharines to obtain your complete information package
To register, please complete the Registration Form and return to Brinkman Travel Inc, 3 Mountainview Drive, St. Catharines, ON L2T 3H3.
Terms
and Conditions
Travel
Documentation A passport valid for at least six months from our date
of departure is required. Brinkman Travel would like to receive a
photocopy of your passport.
Reservations
and Payments To secure your spot, please complete the attached
registration form and submit with your $275 deposit and insurance premium
to Brinkman Travel Inc, 3 Mountainview Drive, St. Catharines, ON
L2T 3H3. A second payment in the amount of $ 1000 is due by April
15. Final payment is due by July 15, 2008. (May we suggest you write
post-dated cheques upon the time you pay your deposit?)
Cancellation
Fees Cancellations are
subject to the following maximum cancellation charges:
-
Up to April 15, 2008 $275 per person
-
Between April 16 and July 15, 2008 $1275 per person
-
Later cancellation 100%
If
you need to cancel, you must notify Brinkman Travel in writing. Brinkman
Travel Inc will refund all money paid towards the tour less the applicable
cancellation fee. These charges apply to the tour only, and do not include
applicable cancellation charges for any extra arrangements.
Insurance
All inclusive trip insurance is recommended through Brinkman
Travel, which uses RBC insurance. This will protect you against
cancellation charges due to sickness, accident, or death of an immediate
family member. It also covers baggage loss (limited) medical expenses and
return transportation home. Non medical insurance is also available.
Contact Ineke Brinkman for rates, as premium is pending upon your needs,
age and package price.
Shared
and Single Accommodation Passengers
must indicate at the time of booking whether they want to share a room or
if they prefer a single room; there are a limited number of single rooms
available. Your roommate, if known, should also be indicated. If no
compatible room mate can be found before July 15, we will ask you to pay
the single supplement. Triple rooms, while not recommended, can usually be
arranged.
Physical
Disabilities Any physical
disability requiring special attention or treatment must be reported when
reservations are made. Brinkman Travel and/or their agents reserve the
right to accept or retain anyone who may, in their sole judgment, require
care and attention beyond that which can be provided.
Minimum
Number of Participants To
guarantee the departure of this exclusive BT Pilgrimage Tour, a minimum of
32 passengers is required.
Baggage
Allowance Tour members
are allowed one suitcase per person, not exceeding 20 kilograms in weight
with dimensions not to exceed 158 cm in total, length plus width plus
height. Your suitcase will be portered at the hotels, but tour members are
responsible for their carry-on luggage at all times. Brinkman Travel
accepts no responsibility for the loss of or damage to any baggage or any
tour member's personal belongings.
Itinerary
Variations Unforeseen
circumstances beyond our control may make changes necessary; we reserve
the right to vary the itinerary and to substitute hotels.
Responsibility
Brinkman Travel Inc of St. Catharines, Ontario acts as an agent for
the various owners or contractors providing transportation, hotels and
other services for the tour members. Brinkman Travel Inc shall not be
liable or held responsible directly or indirectly for any delay, injury
(including death), loss of enjoyment, personal and/or property caused to
any person, company or association providing accommodation,
transportation, or other services in connection with the tour. The right
is also reserved to withdraw all or part of the tour should conditions
warrant and to make such alterations in the itinerary as may be found
desirable for the convenience of the members and proper execution of the
tour. The right is also reserved to decline or retain persons as members
of the tour, in which case equitable refund will be made at the discretion
of the operators. In the event of a tour being cancelled, Brinkman
Travel's sole responsibility shall be the refund of monies paid by the
participant.
Travel arrangements by Ineke Brinkman, Pilgrimage Tour Specialist. For further information and reservations contact Ineke at Brinkman Travel Inc .
Brinkman Travel Inc, 3
Mountainview Drive, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada L2T 3H3
Phone: 905.988.9100 Fax: 905.988.9400 Email: mail@brinkmantravel.com
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