† Round Trip Airfare from Seattle, WA † All Airport Taxes and Fuel Surcharges † Accommodations as follows or similar:
~ 2 nights: Aug 17 – 20: Best Western Ville – Marie
~ 1 night: Aug 20 – 21: Maison de la Madone
~ 2 night: Aug 21 – 22: St Anthony’s Ermitage
~ 3 nights: Aug 22 – 25: Hotel La Concorde † Transfers as per itinerary † Breakfast and Dinner daily † Wine with dinners (glass) † Transportation by air-conditioned motor coach † Assistance of a professional local Christian guide(s) † Sightseeing and admissions fees as per itinerary † Mass daily & Spiritual activities †Flight bag & portfolio of all travel documents
Day 1, Aug 16, Tue: USA - Montreal Today depart from your home town for your flight(s) to Montreal.
Day 2, Aug 17, Wed: Montreal
Arrive in Montreal, the second largest French-speaking city in the world. Upon arrival meet your driver/tour escort, and transfer to your hotel located in downtown Montreal. Later this afternoon you’ll tour Montreal and enjoy a guided visit of the city. Visit Notre Dame Basilica, which plays a significant part in Montreal’s religious heritage. Built between 1824 and 1829, it dominates Old Montréal with its imposing structure. Its neo-gothic architecture and the richness of its decoration, both interior and exterior, make it stand out like a jewel from the modern buildings surrounding it. Dinner and overnight in Montreal.
Day 3, Aug 18, Thu: Montreal
Continental breakfast at your hotel. We’ll make a top on Mount Royal and view this spectacular panorama of the city. Visit St Joseph’s Oratory, the world’s largest Shrine dedicated to St Joseph, which was built at the instigation of brother André. Each year, this pilgrimage center receives over two million visitors who come to meditate, pray or just find solace in this haven of peace. St. Joseph's Oratory grew from a small Chapel on beautiful Mount Royal to the premier Shrine dedicated to St. Joseph, and is one of the world's most visited Shrines. The Basilica's huge dome reaches 97 meters and is second only in height to Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome. The sheer size of it contrasts sharply with its frail founder, Brother André, the humble doorkeeper who had initiated its construction in 1904. The Shrine consists of a primitive Chapel, a votive Chapel, a crypt and a Basilica large enough to accommodate 10,000 worshippers. Relics of Brother André are exhibited. The Basilica's great organs and 52 bell chimes will occasionally rekindle solemn works of great composers. You have a tour of the Oratory and time for the Way of the Cross on the mountainside. We’ll attend Mass and continue with visit of Basilica Marie-Reine-du-Monde ( Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral), and the seat of the Roman Catholic archdiocese of Montreal. It is the third largest Church in Quebec after St. Joseph's Oratory and the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré. Afterward We’ll visit the Marguerite Bourgeoys Museum and the Chapelle-Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours. This 300 year-old Chapel and history museum will give insight of the exceptional life of a woman of action, Marguerite Bourgeoys, and about those early settlers who built Montreal. Visit the many exhibition rooms which lead you from the stone crypt to the very top of the tower where a spectacular view of Old Montreal and the Old Port. Later, enjoy some free time in the city center before dinner and overnight in Montreal.
Day 4, Aug 19, Fri: Montreal/Our Lady Of The Cape Shrine
Continental breakfast at your hotel. We’ll depart to Kanawake for a visit to St. Xavier Church. Here we will see the tomb of St. Kateri Tekakwitha. This historic mission was established in 1667 and was later renovated. The Mission exhibits many gifts from France and historic treasures of Native, Canadian & European artifacts dating from the 17th to 20th centuries. Other items of interest in the Church include a replica of the United States World Trade Center fashioned by our Mohawk ironworkers, and the legendary Deerfield Bell. The museum contains ivory crucifixes, religious artefacts, statues, paintings, manuscripts, carvings, old vestments, arrowheads, flints, tomahawks, corn mashers and traditional beadwork. Among its valued treasures are the many depictions of St.Kateri Tekakwitha, including the earliest known oil painting (1690) by Father Claude Chauchetiere S.J., her spiritual director. We’ll continue to Shawinigan and its region. You will visit Church of St. Pierre, and enjoy a relaxing break to listen to a local musician. After a short drive, we’ll arrive at the Pilgrim house La Madone at Our Lady of the Cape. Located in the majestic region of Mauricie, Our Lady of the Cape Shrine is Canada's National Shrine to Our Blessed Mother. Standing on the shore of the Saint Lawrence River, the Shrine welcomes over 500 000 pilgrims annually. Visitors can admire the historical Chapel built in 1714, the oldest Church kept in its integrity in Canada. A large modern Basilica was inaugurated in 1964. Its stained glass windows are magnificent and the Casavant organ is one of the largest in Canada. With its beautiful gardens overlooking the river, the Shrine reveals an oasis of greenery and inspires peace and tranquility. The attractiveness of this Marian pilgrimage site, its atmosphere conducive to reflection and its variety of activities all favor an encounter with God. and later visit of Our Lady of the Cape Shrine and outdoor stations of the cross. Dinner and Adoration will follow. During the evening, we will participate in a prayer march and a torch-lit procession (weather permitting).
Day 5, Aug 20, Sat: Montreal/ St Anthony’s Ermitage
Breakfast. Today we held towards St-Anthony's Ermitage riding through the forest. Lunch at the Ermitage. A few minutes away from the majestic Lac-St-Jean, on wooden grounds located at Lac-Bouchette, the Ermitage Saint-Antoine is a destination appreciated as much by pilgrims than people on an inner quest or travelers seeking natural beauty and tranquility. Founded in 1907 and animated by the Capuchin’s religious order, this national Shrine offers quality logging, a restaurant and many more activities and services: guided tour, heritage buildings, museum and works of art, walking trail, the famous Kapatakan (trail) of Our Lady (a 215 kilometers Compostela-style pilgrimage) and so much more.
In the afternoon, you will discover the Ermitage with your guide. Mass.Dinner.
Day 6, Aug 21, Sun: St Anthony’s Ermitage
Breakfast. Day of prayer and pilgrimage at the Hermitage.Dinner.
Day 7, Aug 22, Mon: St Anthony’s Ermitage - Quebec
Breakfast. Morning mass. Road to Quebec, the cradle of French culture in North America.Visit of the Huron-Wendat museum.The Huron Traditional Site is a unique opportunity to discover the history, the culture and the lifestyle of Hurons of the past and of today. Dinner and overnight.
Day 8, Aug 23, Tue: Quebec
Breakfast. Visit of the Museum of Art Albert Gilles Copper. Learn about the art of embossing copper, how it is extracted and used all over the world. View exclusive pieces and the museums worldwide architectural achievements. Lunch at leisure. Arrival at the national Shrine of Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré which welcomes each year over a million visitors from all over the world. Visit national Shrine of Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré, and learn its fascinating history through artistic masterpieces such as its mosaics, stained-glass windows, stone and wood sculptures and its numerous Chapels. Visit of St. Anne museum. Free time to explore the Shrine : Old stoned Church, outdoor tour of the way of the cross, Scala Santa. Mass followed with a prayer march and a torch-lit procession (weather permitting). Back to Québec for dinner and overnight.
Day 9, Aug 24, Wed: Quebec
Breakfast. Visit Montmorency Falls Park, a short distance from Québec City. The waterfalls are 272 feet tall, 100 feet higher than Niagara Falls. You can admire the view from the cable car, suspended bridge, stairs climbing up the side of the cliff or the many lookout points throughout the site. This afternoon you’ll enjoy a city tour of Québec city on the theme of the "Three Founders of Québec city" where you will learn more about the preponderant role of religion in the history of Quebec. You will visit: The Basilica-Cathedral Notre-Dame de Québec ( including the crypt and the François de Laval Center), the Ursulines Monastery and the Marie-de-l’Incarnation Center, the Augustines Monastery and the Catherine de Saint-Augustin Center.Dinner. Overnight in Québec.
Day 10, Aug 25, Thu: Quebec - USA
Continental breakfast at your hotel. Early Mass at the Basilica Notre-Dame de Quebec. Transfers to the airport for your departure with wonderful memories of Pilgrimage in Canada.
Museum of Art Albert Gilles Copper, Quebec
