Pilgrimage Itinerary

DAY 1 - Arrive Fatima

Check in at Dublin airport for our flight to Lisbon. On arrival in Lisbon, we will be met by our guide and be escorted to the coach for our transfer to Fatima where we will check into the 4 Hotel Steyler on a full board basis. Depending on our time of arrival, we will receive a light snack or dinner before settling into our rooms.


DAY 2 -Guided tour of the Sanctuary

Our introduction to Fatima will begin with a morning tour of the sanctuary which will include visits to the Chapel of the Apparitions (considered as "the heart" of the Marian Shrine and where the Virgin Mary appeared in 1917); the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary (where we will see the tombs of the three little shepherds: Lucia dos Santos, St. Francisco and St. Jacinta Marto); and the modern Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, built to accommodate the growing number of pilgrims arriving in Fatima.

We will have an afternoon at leisure and in the evening have the opportunity to participate in the Rosary at the sanctuary, followed by the Candlelight Procession.


DAY 3 - Valinhos & Aljustrel

Our morning guided tour will take us to Valinhos, the site of the 4th apparition of Our Lady on August 19, 1917. After time for private prayer, we will walk to Loca do Cabe�o where the first and the third apparition of the Guardian Angel of Portugal (also knowns as the Angel of Peace) took place. Continuing onto the village of Aljustrel, we will see the late 19th century family houses of the children. Our morning tour will conclude with a visit to the Parish Church of Fatima where the three shepherd children were baptized.

We will return to our hotel for lunch and in the afternoon celebrate Mass which will include the Sacrament of the Sick. After dinner there will be Rosary in the sanctuary, followed by the Candlelight Procession.


DAY 4 - Trip to Santarem

This morning there will be an optional half day excursion to Santarem. Here we will visit the Church of St. Stephen - current Sanctuary of the Most Holy Miracle - which marks the place where the sacred particles of the 13th century Eucharistic miracle are preserved. We will celebrate Mass and afterwards venerate the relics of the Eucharistic Miracle which took place in 1247.

After dinner there will be Rosary in the sanctuary, followed by the Candlelight Procession.


DAY 5 - International Mass

This morning after breakfast we can attend International Mass in the Sanctuary.

After lunch we will have the opportunity to visit the museum and permanent exhibition �Fatima Light and Peace�, home to the precious Crown of Our Lady of Fatima with the bullet that hit John Paul II and the wonderful Monstrance which was gifted by the people of Ireland to the Shrine of Fatima in 1949.

In the late afternoon we will attend the Blessed Sacrament Procession and Benediction in the Sanctuary and attend Holy Mass in the Hotel Chapel before dinner. Rosary and Candlelight Procession in the evening.


DAY 6 - Optional Trip to Nazare

After breakfast we will meet in the sanctuary where we will have Holy Mass in a private chapel for our group. Then some free time to shop or spend some time in private prayer. After early lunch there will be an optional trip the seaside town of Nazare. Here we will first stop at Sitio on the cliffs and go to the Church of Our Lady of Nazare to visit the ancient statue of Our Lady dated back to the early days of Christianity that legend tells us may have been carved by St. Joseph. Afterwards we will drive down to the promenade where there will be some time to browse in the shops or sit and have coffee or some fresh sardines for which Nazare is famous. Return to hotel in Fatima in time for dinner and then attend the Rosary and Candlelight procession.


DAY 7 - Hungarian Way of the Cross

This morning we will walk the Way of the Cross. The �Sacred Way� marks the path taken by the three shepherd children when they came from Aljustrel to Cova da Iria to graze their herds. As we arrive at the 15th station, dedicated to the Resurrection of Jesus, we will have time for private prayer. After the celebration of Mass at the Chapel of St. Stephen, we will have the opportunity to climb the steps to the calvary on the roof of the chapel, where we can enjoy beautiful views of Aljustrel, Fatima parish church and the Rosary Basilica. We will return to our hotel and have the afternoon at leisure for private sightseeing. After dinner there will be Rosary in the sanctuary, followed by the Candlelight Procession.


DAY 8 - Holy Relic of St. Brigid

This morning we will have time at leisure to return to the sanctuary and after lunch depart to the village of Lumiar, situated on the outskirts of Lisbon. We will celebrate the closing Mass of our pilgrimage in the parish church of St. John the Baptist, home to a precious relic of St. Brigid which has been carefully preserved for centuries. After time for private prayer, we will drive to Lisbon airport for our return flight to Dublin.