A Catholic Pilgrimage Tour to the Shrines of New England & Eastern Canada

September 23, 2019 – Monday
TRENTON / STOCKBRIDGE
Today we depart on our motor coach tour of New England and Eastern Canada. In the afternoon we arrive in Stockbridge, MA for a visit to the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy. Here we will have the opportunity to explore the shrine’s grounds where you will find numerous chapels and shrines including the “Lourdes Grotto” & Immaculate Conception Candle Shrines, the Holy Family Candle Shrine, the Shrine of the Holy Innocents & the Our Lady of Mercy Candle Shrine. Following Mass, we arrive at our hotel for dinner and overnight in Stockbridge.

September 24, 2019 – Tuesday
STOCKBRIDGE / QUEBEC CITY
Today we drive to Canada. In the afternoon we arrive in Québec City where we enjoy a motor coach tour of the city, with its French and English flavors. We visit the Historic District of Old Québec City, where we will see the Place-Royale and Old Port. We will also drive through Battlefields Park and see the Citadelle fortress, as well as the Plains of Abraham and the impressive Chateau Frontenac. Following check-in at our hotel, we enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Québec City.

September 25, 2019 – Wednesday
QUEBEC CITY / SAINT ANNE de BEAUPRE
This morning we will visit one of Québec’s natural treasures, Montmorency Falls, located at the mouth of the Montmorency River. The falls are over 250 feet high, the highest in the province and 88 feet higher than Niagara Falls. Next we drive to the Shrine of St. Anne de Beaupré and enjoy our day at this site where over 1.5 million pilgrims come each year to express their devotion to the mother of the Virgin Mary to whom this site has been consecrated since the mid 17th century. We celebrate Mass at the Basilica of St. Anne de Beaupré followed by a guided tour of the basilica, visiting a depiction of Saint Anne, known as The Statue of Miracles, which sees thousands of pilgrims each year placing their prayers of petition at its base. We will also visit the basilica’s museum, seeing the annals of devotion to St. Anne down through the centuries as well as the stirring story of pilgrimages to the shrine. We participate in the Stations of the Cross. Following dinner at Buffet des Continents, we join in the Rosary and Candlelight Procession. We return to Québec City for overnight.

September 26, 2019 – Thursday
QUEBEC CITY / TROIS-RIVIERES / OUR LADY OF THE CAPE / MONTREAL
Today we will visit the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Québec. Following our visit, we drive to Trois-Rivières and the Shrine of Our Lady of the Cape and the Basilica of Notre Dame; Cap-de-la-Madeleine. Sitting on the shores of the St. Lawrence River and midway between Québec City and Montreal, Cap-de-la-Madeleine is a place of peace, tranquility, serenity and beauty. Its history goes back to 1634 when the area was first settled. The following year the first Jesuit Missionaries arrived to serve the settlers of the new village. The first little timber chapel was built here in 1659 on a small piece of land known as ‘Blessed Mary’s fief’. Five years later it was to become the first of Canada’s Catholic churches to be dedicated as a Confraternity of the Holy Rosary, a very new form of prayerful devotion to Our Lady at that time. Here we enjoy a guided tour of the Shrine, followed by our celebration of Mass. Late afternoon we arrive for dinner at the festive, family-style Sugar Shack Chez Dany. Following dinner we continue on to Montreal for overnight.

September 27, 2019 – Friday
MONTREAL / ST. JOSEPH’S ORATORY
This morning we enjoy a motor coach tour of historic Montreal including a visit to Mary Queen of the World Cathedral and Notre Dame Basilica, one of the most beautiful churches in all of North America. Next we will visit the great basilica, Saint Joseph’s Oratory, built atop Mount Royale and recognized as one of the great temples of the world. Following Mass, we enjoy a guided tour of the Oratory and learn about the extraordinary life and works of the humble Brother André Bessette of the Holy Cross, the “Miracle Man of Montreal”, who was canonized in 2010. Like many sacred places in various countries, the Oratory, which has room for 10,000 people, attracts visitors who seek a haven of peace and a spiritual encounter. Following free time at the Oratory, we proceed Le Vieux Port Steakhouse to enjoy this evening’s “farewell dinner”. Overnight in Montreal.

September 28, 2019 – Saturday
MONTREAL / KAHNAWAKE / TRENTON
Today we begin our journey home beginning with a visit to Kahnawake, the town where one of the Church’s newest saints, Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, lived for most of her short life. Here we visit St. Francis Xavier Church and its museum. Next we bid farewell to Canada as we re-enter the USA, continuing on to Flemington. Though our pilgrimage has come to an end, the blessings of our time with the Lord and Our Lady are certain to strengthen and encourage us throughout our lifelong pilgrimage.