Friar James and Friar Dan at the Grotto of Massabielle, of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes (France). It was here that the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St. Bernadette in 1858.
Our pilgrims walking the “Way of the Cross” (the Shepherd’s Way) within the Santuário de Fátima. This path was traveled by Lúcia, Jacinta and Francisco from Aljustrel to Cova da Iria, it ends at the Hungarian Calvary, (in the background).
“The two most famous apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in modern times took place in Lourdes (France) and Fatima (Portugal). Saints and Popes, as well as believers from all over the world, have visited these miraculous sites. Since 1982, the Franciscans have been guiding pilgrimages in the footsteps of their fellow friar St. Maximilian Kolbe, the “Knight of the Immaculate,” who himself once went on pilgrimage to Lourdes. This trip with the Friars … immersed participants in an unforgettable experience of culture, history, religion, and spirituality…”
Our friars arranged an October 9-21, 2018 Pilgrimage to Paris, Lourdes, Fatima and Lisbon with Fr. Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv. (Our Lady of the Angels Province M.I. Assistant) serving as Pilgrimage Director and the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. (Our Minister Provincial) serving as Spiritual Guide. The other friars of our province among the pilgrims were Fr. Dan Fink, OFM Conv. (Pastor of St. Mark Catholic Church, in Boynton Beach, FL) and Fr. John Voytek, OFM Conv. (Parochial Vicar at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in Atlanta, GA).
Before heading to Lourdes, the pilgrims enjoyed some time in Paris including a sightseeing tour of La Ville Lumière, Tour Eiffel, Montparnasse, and Mass in the Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Médaille Miraculeuse a (where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Catherine Labouré), La Basilique du Sacré Cœur de Montmartre, Île de la Cité, Place Vendôme, La rue de Rivoli, Jardin des Tuileries (Musée du Louvre), Saint-Germain-des-Prés, and l’Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile on the Champs-Élysées (pictured here behind Friar John). The pilgrims also celebrated Mass at Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris.
The Pilgrimage ended in Lisbon, Portugal, with a stop on the way for Mass at the Gothic Igreja do Santissimo Milagre, home to the 13th century Eucharistic Miracle of Santarém. Once in Lisbon they visited the Igreja de Santo António de Lisboa built on the site of the birthplace of St. Anthony of Padua (Pictured here are the four friar pilgrims with Fr. Jobe holding a wrist bone relic of St. Anthony of Padua and Fr. James holding a pouch companion intentions that had been placed on the Altar at each Mass throughout the pilgrimage, now left at this site., as well as the font in which he was baptized. The last day of Lisbon was a tour day of the Belem Tower, 15th century Monastery of Jerónimos and the oldest part of the city, the Alfama Quarters. The entire pilgrimage ended with an excursion to the Santuário de Cristo Rei, overlooking Lisbon.
