Make your way to your local airport, where you will board your overnight flight(s). Your meals will be served on board.

Upon landing at Lisbon Airport, head to baggage claim and collect your luggage. Proceed to the arrival hall, where you will be greeted by your tour guide and/or driver. Board the bus and begin a panoramic sightseeing tour of Lisbon. We will stop at St. Jerome’s Monastery, built to give thanks to the Virgin Mary for guiding Vasco da Gama on his voyage that linked Europe and Asia. Continue to drive by the Belem Quarter, which contains the iconic entryway to the Lisbon harbor, the Belem Tower. This important historic structure has many beautiful sculptures, such as depictions of St. Vincent and Our Lady of Safe Homecoming. The next stop is St. Anthony’s Church, built upon the site of Saint’s birth; it is here that we will celebrate Mass. Although the patron Saint of lost things is known as St. Anthony of Padua (Italy), he was born in Lisbon, Portugal. This Church is built upon St. Anthony’s birth site and is also where Saint John Paul II visited in 1982. After Mass, we will drive to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Today, we will travel north to the old city of Santarem. We will attend Mass at the Church of St. Stephen, which holds a 13th-century Eucharistic Miracle. Continue to Fatima and visit the Hamlet of Aljustrel, the home of the three shepherd children. Visit the Parish Church and Fatima Parish Cemetery. Continue to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Today will be a memorable experience as you pray and meditate upon one of Our Blessed Mother’s apparition sites. Our Lady appeared to three shepherd children: Lucia (age 10), Jacinta (age 7), and Francisco (age 9). These apparitions occurred monthly from May until October of 1917. Historically, as the entire world was in turmoil, Our Lady’s most prominent message was to pray for world peace. The destruction of the world at that point in history was also mentioned by Our Lady, particularly in her second secret to the children. Our profoundly reflective day begins with a visit to the Little Chapel of the Apparitions. This simple yet modern chapel is where the Virgin Mary first appeared on May 13, 1917. Next, you will see the stunning neoclassical church, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary. This Sacred space contains the tombs of Blessed Francisco, Blessed Jacinta, and Sister Lucia. View the monument that commemorates the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the square. In honor of Our Lady’s requests to pray the Rosary, the Basilica also features fifteen altars each dedicated to a mystery of the Rosary. Visit the Museum with the “Fatima: Light and Peace” exhibition. Continue with a visit to the Holy Trinity Basilica. After free time for lunch, we will experience Christ’s unconditional love by participating in the Stations of the Cross along the Via Sacra. The “Sacred Way” marks the path taken by the shepherd children of Fatima to their first apparition with Our Lady. It is composed of fifteen small chapels commemorating the Passion of Our Lord. The fifteenth station, the Resurrection, can be found close to the Chapel of Calvary, dedicated to St. Stephen, King of Hungary. Ending the day with a visit to Valinhos, the site of Our Lady’s August 1917 apparition and the first and third apparition of the Angel. Your night will conclude with private devotions and a candlelight procession, as requested by Our Lady in 1917. Enjoy dinner and a comfortable night’s rest in Fatima.

Today, depart from Lisbon for your flight(s) to Medjugorje. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by your tour guide and/or driver, who will take you on the 2.5 hour drive to the village of Medjugorje. Dinner and overnight.

The most beautiful features of Medjugorje are its simplicity and peace. A local guide will accompany your group throughout your stay in the village.

Some activities that will accompany you in your spiritual journey:

Attend Daily Mass: Each morning at 10:00 AM, your group will assemble at St. James Church for Mass (English-speaking). At the end of each Mass, regardless of language, there is a blessing of the religious articles that you have with you.

On Feast Days, and Sundays, English Mass is at 12 PM.

Climb Apparition Hill: This mountainous hill is where the visionaries first encountered Our Lady. At the base of this hill is a Blue Cross, where it is said Our Lady appeared to the children while they hid from the communist police in the early days of the alleged apparitions. While climbing, your group is invited to recite the Rosary, pausing five times for each decade. At the top of the hill, you will witness the exact location of the first alleged apparition of Our Lady to the visionaries. Enjoy private time for prayer.

Climb Mt. Krizevac (Cross Mountain): In 1933, the villagers built a 30′ high cross atop a mountain to commemorate Jesus’ passion and death on the cross. Your group will have the opportunity to climb this mountain and venerate that very cross. While climbing, your group is invited to pray the Stations of the Cross (to meditate on Jesus’ suffering on the Road to Calvary), pausing fifteen times for each Station.

Apparitions: Each evening at 5:00 PM (or 6:00 PM depending on Daylight Savings Time), your group can join the villagers and fellow pilgrims of Medjugorje at either St James Church or Apparition Hill to commemorate the time Our Lady appears to the Visionaries. There you can pray the Rosary, as you all await that time: 5:40 PM (or 6:40 PM during Daylight Savings Time).

*Afterward, Croatian Mass is held at St. James Church and all may attend. It is simultaneously broadcasted by radio in order to translate the services from Croatian into many languages. Following the Croatian Mass, there is a Blessing of the Sick.
**For details about the Visionaries, please visit: http://www.206tours.com/visionaries

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: Our Lady has always called us to be close to her Son. You will have the opportunity to adore the Blessed Sacrament at the altar outside of St. James Church. Adoration is held on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Veneration of the Cross is held on Fridays inside the church. Additionally, there is an Adoration Chapel on the grounds of St. James Church, where Adoration is held in the afternoon hours.

Visit the Community of Cenacolo:
Pilgrims will have the opportunity to visit the Community of Cenacolo, founded by Sr. Elvira Petrozzi, for young men and women who have taken the wrong path and are on the road to recovery. You will be able to listen to their inspirational testimonies about their journeys back to Jesus Christ.

Prayer at the Statue of the Risen Christ: The bronze statue of the Risen Christ is located on the grounds of St. James Church. Many pilgrims sit and pray on the benches surrounding this peaceful statue. This statue miraculously seeps droplets of water out of Christ’s right knee.

*Please be advised that there will not be a spiritual director with you throughout your stay in Medjugorje. Daily Mass in English and English confessions are available at St. James Church in Medjugorje.

After an early breakfast, make your way to the airport for your flight(s) to Mexico City. You will begin your stay with the holy sacrifice of the Mass either at the hotel or a church, depending on the time of arrival. Tonight, you will have the pleasure of meeting and enjoying dinner with your fellow pilgrims. Overnight at the hotel.

Today, you will go to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Patroness of the Americas. This Shrine was built in response to Our Lady’s request to St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin. When St. Juan relayed her request to the bishop, the bishop asked for a sign. Our Lady provided St. Juan with culturally significant flowers that miraculously bloomed in the middle of winter on Tepeyac Hill. When the seer returned to the bishop with his cloak (tilma) full of flowers, he poured the flowers on the floor, revealing a stunning image of Our Lady. Many studies have proven that the image was not made by human hands. Upon arrival at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, you will celebrate Mass as you marvel at the brilliantly colored Basilica built in her honor. Following Mass, you can kneel in front of St. Juan’s tilma, on which Our Lady’s image was miraculously imprinted. We will continue to San Juan Teotihuacan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. According to mythology, this site was seen as the center of the universe. It became a prominent political and religious center from the 2nd century to the 9th century. While in San Juan Teotihuacan, you will enjoy lunch at a nearby restaurant and a guided tour of the archaeological zone. View the pyramids of the Sun and Moon, the Temple of Quetzalcoatl, and local art markets. Your day ends with a delicious dinner and then overnight.

After breakfast, you will depart for Holy Family Church, where you will view the tomb of the Jesuit martyr, Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro. Fr. Pro was exiled from Mexico during the Mexican Revolution because of religious persecution. Yet he bravely returned to Mexico and was aided by a clandestine group that helped him hide from the authorities. He assisted many individuals with their spiritual and temporal needs during the persecution. Although he helped many, he was eventually arrested and killed. His final words before the firing squad were “Viva Cristo Rey!” which translates to “Long Live Christ the King!” At Holy Family Church, you can venerate this saint’s relics and ask for his intercession. We will also celebrate Mass here and visit the small yet inspiring museum dedicated to Fr. Pro’s life, mission, and sacrifice. We will continue to the Church of Santo Domingo, which stands on the same site where the first temple was built after the conquest of the Dominicans. Inside the church, you will see several chapels and can pray the Rosary in the chapel dedicated to the Virgin of the Rosary. Another chapel is dedicated to the Spanish Virgin of Covadonga (patroness of the Asturian Immigrants), and another to the “Lord of the Rebozo.” This church is also significant for the historical characters buried here, such as Francisco Vazquez de Coronado. Next, we will have lunch near the city center before continuing to the Church of San José del Altillo to see the crypt where Blessed Conchita Cabrera is buried. Blessed María Concepción Cabrera Arias de Armida, known as Conchita, was a model of holiness as a wife, mother, widow, grandmother, and founder. Because of the depth of her writings, Conchita is now recognized as a great mystic of the 20th century. In addition to her voluminous writings, Conchita founded several apostolates under the banner: “Works of the Cross.” Pope Saint John Paul II declared her Venerable on December 20, 1999, and Pope Francis confirmed a miracle attributed to Conchita’s intercession on June 8, 2018. She was beatified in Mexico City on May 4, 2019. You will have time for personal prayer and reflection. Your day will conclude with another delicious dinner and overnight stay at your hotel.

After breakfast, you will enjoy a spectacular drive to what is known as Mexico’s most beautiful city: Puebla. Our ride will climb to over 10,000 feet above sea level. View two magnificent peaks: an active volcano and a mountain topped with snow. On our tour, we will visit the Cathedral dedicated to the Immaculate Conception and the Church of St. Dominic to admire the Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary, which was built in 1690. This Chapel is an outstanding example of Mexican Baroque, with dazzling use of gilded stucco and onyx stonework. Then, we will see the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, where you will view the incorrupt body of Blessed Sebastian of Aparicio, patron saint of travelers. Born to Spanish peasants, this field worker was a model of simplicity and chastity. Though he grew to accumulate great wealth as a farmer, he distributed his goods among the poor and became a Franciscan brother at 72. He collected alms for the friary and was charitable to everyone he met for 25 years, earning him the name “Angel of Mexico.” You will have time to venerate his body, miraculously incorrupt since his death in 1600. Afterward, you will enjoy a traditional poblano lunch and mole tasting at a local restaurant. This afternoon, you will have time in Puebla’s largest traditional handcraft market, El Parián, to shop its colorful glazed pottery. You will then return to Mexico City for dinner and an overnight stay at our hotel.

After breakfast, we will head to the Church of the Fifth Apparition, where the Blessed Virgin Maria de Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego’s uncle, Juan Bernardino, and healed him. Our Lady told St. Juan, “Listen, put it into your heart, my youngest and dearest son, that the thing that frightens you, the thing that afflicts you, is nothing: do not let it disturb you…Am I not here, I who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not the source of your joy? Are you not in the hollow of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms? Do you need something more? Let nothing else worry you or disturb you.” Here, you can find a well of healing water that locals drink. Reflect on the consoling words of our Mother Mary. We will celebrate Mass before we return to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe for one last prayer before the miraculous image of the Mother of God. You will have time for leisure and fun for our final afternoon before enjoying a fantastic last dinner, complete with live Mariachi music.

This morning, you will make your way to the airport for your return flight(s) from Mexico City to your final destination.

Disclaimer: The order of the visits/days could change if a particular museum or church changes its schedule without previous notice.

*206 Tours Disclaimer:
Occasionally local religious and national holidays, weather, traffic conditions and other events may necessitate changes in the sequence of events or the missing of certain events/places. Though every effort will be made to follow the itinerary, it should be considered as an indication, rather than a contract of events and places to be visited.