Friday, May 22, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Welcome Home!
Now that we have been home a few days, I definately wanted to wrap up the tour and say a big thank you to all of the tour members and those who have tuned in on a regular basis.
Sorry that our last few days in Paris were not well documented as time was very short due to the busy schedule and countless of things to see and do while there.
We started the day on Tuesday by taking the Metro to the Miraculous Medal Chapel where we had Mass and visited with St. Catherine. We took a short walk around the corner to then visit with Saint Vincent de Paul.
Even though we all had free time at that point, we all went to Notre Dame, and Sacre Couer together. Afterwards we did seperate as abot 19 of us wanted to go to the Effeil Tower and the others went back to rest.
Dinner was on our own that evening for our farewell to Paris.
Our return trip home went as smoothly as our outbound. Upon getting back on the bus in Boston, our first stop was McDonalds! What better way to celebrate being home!
God Bless to all and please use the blog to communicate frequently. I will add some other pictures shortly.
Chris
Sorry that our last few days in Paris were not well documented as time was very short due to the busy schedule and countless of things to see and do while there.
We started the day on Tuesday by taking the Metro to the Miraculous Medal Chapel where we had Mass and visited with St. Catherine. We took a short walk around the corner to then visit with Saint Vincent de Paul.
Even though we all had free time at that point, we all went to Notre Dame, and Sacre Couer together. Afterwards we did seperate as abot 19 of us wanted to go to the Effeil Tower and the others went back to rest.
Dinner was on our own that evening for our farewell to Paris.
Our return trip home went as smoothly as our outbound. Upon getting back on the bus in Boston, our first stop was McDonalds! What better way to celebrate being home!
God Bless to all and please use the blog to communicate frequently. I will add some other pictures shortly.
Chris
From Fr. Bob on May 4th
Greetings and Peace from Paris! We've had a wonderful day with St. Therese in Lisieux. Beautiful day and awesome ride on the Train. God has been so good to us! Been praying for all our intentions we carry in our hearts especially our family and friends! We have just had an excellent dinner and some have come back to the hotel (because I make sure they come back tired) and some are off playing at the Eiffel Tower. As I say, on these pilgrimages, we pray hard and we play hard.I have kept us going all day long, but tomorrow we celebrate Mass at the Miraculous Medal Chapel where the Blessed Mother appeared to St. Catherine Laboure in 1830, then we'll spend a few moments with the body of St. Vincent de Paul, then I give them the rest of the day to visit Paris on their own, even though most want to come with me to Sacre Coeur de Monmartre Shrine, the Notre Dame Basilica and then to the Eifel Tower. Our pilgrims have been so good with no problems at all and all the energy they need, except when they drop dead in their beds for the night. I am so grateful for the many graces that have been poured into these saints-in-the-making and the many graces that have come your way. Please claim the power of our humble prayers for you. Shalom, my dear friends! Rich blessings be yours!Fr. Bob
Saturday, May 2, 2009
A Day in Paray-le-Monial
Good Morning everyone
Please keep your comments coming as veryone is happy to hear from you via the blog.
Its hard to believe we are more than half way through! Yesterday we spentmost of the day in Paray-le-Monial. After breakfast we took a tour of the area and had Mass in the Chapel of the Apparitions. It was perfect. Fr. Bob used Barbara as a prop to demonstrate the love God pours out to us from His heart. The locals are probably thinking thsese Americans are crazy!
It was a very relaxing pace as we also went to adoration and enjoyed the quaint little town. At 5 pm we departed for Taize with a stop for dinner in Cluny, the home of one of the worlds largest Abby. We got to Taize early to get good seats and it was good we did as there was thousands of young adults there to join in song and prayer. What an experience. We arrived back at the hotel by 11 pm.
It is another gorgeous day today and we are off to Nevers to have Mass and see Bernadette. Everyone is excited. After that, it is off to Paris! (They are excited about that too!)
sorry to be breif but wanted to get something up and send our love to all back home.
I will try to get a few more pictures up.
Au Revoir!
Friday, May 1, 2009
Some Photos
Fr. Bob saying Mass at tombof St. John Vianey
You have shown me the way to Ars, now I will show you the way to Heaven - Cure D ArsCandle lightprocession At Lourdes
Group Photo in Lourdes Fr. Bob saying Mass in the Grotto
The Grotto, where the Blessed Mother appeared to Bernadette
Ars to Paray-le-Monial
Bonjour!
It is now 10 pm in France (4 pm US). It was sad to leave the peaceful setting of Ars. Many of us did not know what to expect of Ars, but after two days there, we are understanding the reason why Fr. Bob loves it so much. To here him talk about it all week, it was like a parent taking his kids to Disneyworld. It was a perfect spot to reflect, visit with St. John Vianey and pray for our priests. Fr Bob had another wonderful Mass in the Basilica and gave each of us an amazing gift...a second class relec of St.John Vianey...WOW!
After Mass we left Ars and made a brief stop at the home where St Vianey was raised. Our next stop was in Taize where we were able to purchase our gifts and see where Bro.Roger is buried. Then off to Paray-le-Monial where we arrived and visited the Chapel of the aparitions of St. Margaret Mary Alaqouqe. We had a wonderful dinner (first night of not having chicken-yeah!) at the hotel and a few went for an evening stroll while others went to bed early as tomorrow will be a late one.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Bonjour ! Finally an update!
Dear Friends and family of Pilgrims,
Alas, we have a few minutes to post some updates! Our apologies to those who have been tuning in, as there was absolutlutely no internet connections in Lourdes so this is the first opportunity.
Let us start by saying; GOD IS GOOD! Today we are in Ars, the home of St. John Vianey, the Cure of Ars.
Everyone is doing amazingly well and the Holy Spirit is traveling with us!
Our day of travel on Sunday went as smoothly as possible. All of our flights were on time and we arrived in Lourdes by lunch time on Monday. All of the weather forecast for Lourdes said rain all week, however, we were met with much sunshine with only an occasional raindrop. Fr. Bob showed us around the sanctuary and grounds. Many decided to do the baths on the first day, which can only be described as powerful! Larry Boulet had such an incredible aura about him after he went in that was so wonderful to see! We celebrated Mass in the St. Joan D Arc Chapel in the Basilica along with a group of Korean Americans that we invited to join us. It was perfect. We all went to bed early that night as we had been up nearly 30 hours.
Tuesday we had Mass at 6:00 AM in the Grotto, the place where the Blessed Mother appeared to Bernadette. To celebrate the Mass in that holy place can only be described as awesome! There was a bit of rain, but none noticed. After breakfast, we toured the town by foot to see the places significant to St. Bernadettes life. The Cachot, the church were she prayed, the hospice, plus other spots. After a nice lunch, many did the Stations of the Cross and more did the baths. The evening ended with a beautiful candelight procession with over 10,000 other pilgrims praying for the intercession of the Blessed Mother. Simply amazing.
On Wednesday we celebrated Mass in St. Gabriels Chapel and departed for Toulouse. In Toulouse, we made a brief stop at the Basilica of St. Serin prior to going to the airport. We arrived in Ars about 9 pm last evening.
Today in Ars was again, powerful. We started with Mass in the Basilica in front of St. John Vianey. Fr. Bob ended the Mass by asking Matt, a hopeful seminarian to stand in front of the Cure D Ars so we could pray over him and for him through the intercession of the beloved saint. There were no dry eyes. Tonight we have the opportunity for confession in Ars, which is what St. Vianey was known for. I will try to post a few pictures but if I am not able, I will do so at first opportunity. I wanted to mostly say that every one here is doing perfect and we have kept you all in our prayers and we ask for yours as well.
Au Revoir for now!
Alas, we have a few minutes to post some updates! Our apologies to those who have been tuning in, as there was absolutlutely no internet connections in Lourdes so this is the first opportunity.
Let us start by saying; GOD IS GOOD! Today we are in Ars, the home of St. John Vianey, the Cure of Ars.
Everyone is doing amazingly well and the Holy Spirit is traveling with us!
Our day of travel on Sunday went as smoothly as possible. All of our flights were on time and we arrived in Lourdes by lunch time on Monday. All of the weather forecast for Lourdes said rain all week, however, we were met with much sunshine with only an occasional raindrop. Fr. Bob showed us around the sanctuary and grounds. Many decided to do the baths on the first day, which can only be described as powerful! Larry Boulet had such an incredible aura about him after he went in that was so wonderful to see! We celebrated Mass in the St. Joan D Arc Chapel in the Basilica along with a group of Korean Americans that we invited to join us. It was perfect. We all went to bed early that night as we had been up nearly 30 hours.
Tuesday we had Mass at 6:00 AM in the Grotto, the place where the Blessed Mother appeared to Bernadette. To celebrate the Mass in that holy place can only be described as awesome! There was a bit of rain, but none noticed. After breakfast, we toured the town by foot to see the places significant to St. Bernadettes life. The Cachot, the church were she prayed, the hospice, plus other spots. After a nice lunch, many did the Stations of the Cross and more did the baths. The evening ended with a beautiful candelight procession with over 10,000 other pilgrims praying for the intercession of the Blessed Mother. Simply amazing.
On Wednesday we celebrated Mass in St. Gabriels Chapel and departed for Toulouse. In Toulouse, we made a brief stop at the Basilica of St. Serin prior to going to the airport. We arrived in Ars about 9 pm last evening.
Today in Ars was again, powerful. We started with Mass in the Basilica in front of St. John Vianey. Fr. Bob ended the Mass by asking Matt, a hopeful seminarian to stand in front of the Cure D Ars so we could pray over him and for him through the intercession of the beloved saint. There were no dry eyes. Tonight we have the opportunity for confession in Ars, which is what St. Vianey was known for. I will try to post a few pictures but if I am not able, I will do so at first opportunity. I wanted to mostly say that every one here is doing perfect and we have kept you all in our prayers and we ask for yours as well.
Au Revoir for now!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Fr. Bob Vaillancourt's Pilgrimage to France
Bounjour!
Welcome to our Journey Of Faith Blog for Fr. Bob Vaillancourts Pilgrimage to France.
Please stay tuned for more details as we update this in the days and weeks to come.
A few Resources to veiw in preparation:
Website for Lourdes: http://www.lourdes-france.org/index.php?goto_centre=ru&contexte=en&id=405&id_rubrique=405
OUR HOTELS:
Lourdes: April 27 & 28 = Tara Hotel
website link: http://www.lourdes-tara.com/eng/hotel_tara_lourdes.htm
Phone : 011 33 56 62 94 22 33
e-mail tara.hotel@wanadoo.fr
Ars : April 29 & 30 = Providence- Maison D'Accueil
website link: http://pagesperso-orange.fr/la-providence/english.htm
Phone : 011 33 04 74 00 71 65
e-mail accueil@ars-providence.com
Paray-le-Monial: May 1 & 2 = Hotel 3 Pigeons
website link: http://www.h-3-p.com/index-gb.htm
Phone: 011 33 0 38581 0377
e-mail hotel3pigeons@wanadoo.fr
Paris: May 3, 4, & 5 = Mercure Terminus Nord
website link: http://www.mercure.com/gb/hotel-2761-mercure-paris-terminus-nord/index.shtml
Phone: 011 33 1 4280 2000
e-mail h2761@accor.com
Welcome to our Journey Of Faith Blog for Fr. Bob Vaillancourts Pilgrimage to France.
Please stay tuned for more details as we update this in the days and weeks to come.
A few Resources to veiw in preparation:
Website for Lourdes: http://www.lourdes-france.org/index.php?goto_centre=ru&contexte=en&id=405&id_rubrique=405
OUR HOTELS:
Lourdes: April 27 & 28 = Tara Hotel
website link: http://www.lourdes-tara.com/eng/hotel_tara_lourdes.htm
Phone : 011 33 56 62 94 22 33
e-mail tara.hotel@wanadoo.fr
Ars : April 29 & 30 = Providence- Maison D'Accueil
website link: http://pagesperso-orange.fr/la-providence/english.htm
Phone : 011 33 04 74 00 71 65
e-mail accueil@ars-providence.com
Paray-le-Monial: May 1 & 2 = Hotel 3 Pigeons
website link: http://www.h-3-p.com/index-gb.htm
Phone: 011 33 0 38581 0377
e-mail hotel3pigeons@wanadoo.fr
Paris: May 3, 4, & 5 = Mercure Terminus Nord
website link: http://www.mercure.com/gb/hotel-2761-mercure-paris-terminus-nord/index.shtml
Phone: 011 33 1 4280 2000
e-mail h2761@accor.com
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