Proposed Pilgrimage Itinerary *

DAY 1 - Arrive Fatima

This morning we will depart from Dublin to Lisbon. Awaiting us in the arrival's hall will be our Marian Pilgrimages guide who will take us to the village of Lumiar, located just six miles from Lisbon. We will celebrate the opening Mass of our pilgrimage in the parish Church of St. John the Baptist, where carefully preserved in a precious reliquary is part of the skull of St. Brigid. We will hear about the arrival of the skull of St. Brigid in Lumiar and afterwards venerate this special relic. We will continue our drive to Fatima and upon arrival, will check into our rooms and have time to relax before dinner.

After dinner can return to the sanctuary to attend the Candlelight Procession and Rosary which take place each evening at 9 pm.


DAY 2 - Guided tour of the Sanctuary

After morning Mass, accompanied by our guide, we will enjoy a tour of the sanctuary which will include visits to the following:

- Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary - It was barely a decade after the apparitions that construction began on this church with its stirring Neo-Baroque architecture. It is now home to the tombs of the shepherd children.

- Chapel of the Apparitions - considered as the heart of the Marian Shrine and where the Virgin Mary appeared in 1917

- Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity - built to accommodate the growing number of pilgrims arriving in Fatima. The basilica can accommodate more than 8,000 pilgrims and boasts some magnificent works of liturgical art.

Each year, between the months of May and October, especially on the 12th and 13th of each month, thousands of pilgrims come to Fatima guided by their faith. This evening we will join fellow pilgrims in the celebrations marking the Anniversary of the second apparition of Our Lady in Fatima.


DAY 3 - Hungarian Way of the Cross, Valinhos & Aljustrel

Winding a way through the olive and cork trees of the Fatima countryside the Way of the Cross is the path taken each day by the three shepherd children as they went to graze their herds. Today we will visit the sites associated with the apparitions and three shepherd children.

Loca do Cabeco As the site of the first and third apparitions of the Angel of Peace to the children of Fatima, Loca do Cabeco is a true place of reflection and prayer.

Valinhos Between the 8th and 9th station of the Way of the Cross in the Path of the little Shepherds, there is the place where the fourth apparition of Our Lady took place, on August 19th, 1917.

Aljustrel Here we will see the late 19th century family houses of the children. In the backyard of Lucia's house, we will see the famous well associated with the second apparition of the Angel, in the summer of 1916.

Church of St. Stephen Our morning will end at the Hungarian Calvary where we will celebrate Mass in the church dedicated St. Stephen, King of Hungary.


DAY 4 - Optional trip to Nazare

After morning Mass we will have time at leisure for private prayer.

This afternoon there will be the opportunity to visit the town of Nazare. Departing from Fatima, our first stop will be Sitio, a historic and charming district of Nazare. We will visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazare, home to a unique statue, believed to be the earliest carved statues of Mary and the child Jesus, which legend tells us may have been carved by St. Joseph. After time for private prayer, we will drive down to the seaside town of Nazare where we can have time for shopping and private sightseeing, enjoy a walk along the promenade, or simply relax in one of the many cafes and bars and soak up the atmosphere of this modern resort.


DAY 5 - Eucharistic Miracle of Santarem

This morning we will attend the International Mass at the sanctuary and enjoy time at leisure.

In the afternoon, we will depart Fatima and drive to the Church of the Holy Miracle in Santarem. The Eucharistic Miracle of Santarem which dates to 1247, is considered amongst one the most important Eucharistic Miracles. Today we will have the opportunity to venerate the relics of this Eucharistic Miracle which have been carefully preserved for centuries in the church dedicated to St. Stephen. We will have time in the historical town of Santarem before driving to Lisbon airport for our flight home.