Pilgrimage to France

The Roots of Catholic Indiana with Fr. Eric Augenstein

October 1 - October 10, 2025
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About

Join Fr. Eric Augenstein and Verso Ministries on a hand-crafted pilgrimage to France where you will encounter the sites that shaped Catholic Indiana. Encounter the birthplace and first convent of St. Mother Theodore Guerin in Ruille-sur-Loir and Estables-sur-Mer. Pray in Saint-Sulpice where the first bishop of the what is now the Archdiocese of Indianapolis was ordained. Discover Le Mans, where Bl. Basil Moreau founded the Congregation of Holy Cross. Experience the fullness of French culture, cuisine, and faith and return home refreshed and inspired by Indiana’s Catholic roots and all that France has to offer.

Trip Details

Group Type

Open to All, Hosted by Fr. Eric Augenstein

Activity Level

Moderate

Length

10 days, 9 nights

Accommodations

Standard

Cost

As low as

$4,298

Deposit:

$1,000

What's Included

Local, licensed tour guide(s)
Verso pilgrimage booklets and pilgrim kits
Audio headsets
Gratuities for pilgrimage director, guide(s), driver(s), hotel staff, and meals
Standard accommodations
Breakfast daily, 2 lunches, and 4 dinners
Airport/hotel transfers
Opportunity for Daily Mass

Itinerary

October 1
Depart U.S.
  • Depart U.S. (flights not included in the package)
October 2
Paris (D)
  • Arrive Charles De Gaulle Airport and transfer to hotel
  • Welcome Mass in local Church and
  • Dinner in local restaurant
  • Overnight in Paris
  • Accommodations: Hotel Ibis Style Opera or similar
  • Meals included: Dinner
October 3
Chartes, Le Mans (B, L)
  • Morning transfer to Le Mans with enroute stop at Chartres
  • Tour Chartes with Mass
  • Continue to Le Mans
  • Hotel check-in
  • Overnight in Le Mans
  • Accommodations: Hotel Ibis Le Mans Centre or similar
  • Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
October 4
Le Mans (B)
  • Tour of Le Mans, birthplace of the Congregation of the Holy Cross including Plantagenet City and the Cathedral of St. Julien
    Mass at Notre-Dame de Sainte-Croix Church, home to the International Shrine of Blessed Basil Moreau
  • Overnight in Le Mans
  • Accommodations: Hotel Ibis Le Mans Centre or similar
  • Meals included: Breakfast
October 5
Le Mans, Ruillé-sur-Mer, Rennes (B, D)
  • Visit to Ruillé-sur-Mer to visit the Motherhouse of the Sisters of Providence with Mass
  • Continue to Rennes
  • Tour Rennes with Mass at the Church of St Germain where Bishop Brute was baptized, and visit to the school where
    Theodore Guerin taught.
  • Hotel check-in and dinner
  • Overnight in Rennes
  • Accommodations: Hotel Ibis Styles Rennes Centre Gare Nord or similar
  • Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
October 6
Estables sur Mer, Saint Pern (B)
  • Day trip to Estables sur Mer, the hometown of St. Theodore Guerin with Mass
  • Stop in Saint Pern, to visit the Motherhouse of the Sisters of the Poor and tomb of St. Jeanne Jugan.
  • Overnight in Rennes
  • Accommodations: Hotel Ibis Styles Rennes Centre Gare Nord or similar
  • Meals included: Breakfast
October 7
Rennes (B, D)
  • Tour of Rennes Parliament building and Mass in local church
  • Free time to explore Rennes
  • Overnight in Rennes
  • Accommodations: Hotel Ibis Styles Rennes Centre Gare Nord or similar
  • Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
October 8
Paris (B, L)
  • Morning transfer to Paris
  • Visit St. Vincent de Paul Chapel and Miraculous Medal Chapel with Mass (pending availability)
  • Overnight in Paris
  • Accommodations: Hotel Ibis Style Opera or similar
  • Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
October 9
Paris (B. D)
  • Celebrate Mass at Saint Sulpice Church where Bishop Brute was ordained a priest
  • Tour Sainte Chapelle and Notre Dame
  • Free afternoon for exploring and lunch on own
  • Farewell Dinner
  • Overnight in Paris
  • Accommodations: Hotel Ibis Style Opera or similar
  • Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
October 10
Depart France (B)
  • Transfer to Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
  • Meals included: Breakfast
Register

Led by

Chaplain
Fr. Eric Augenstein
Indianapolis, IN

Father Eric Augenstein, “Fr. Eric,” currently shepherds the community of Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ Church in Indianapolis as pastor, and is also Director of Seminarians for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. A seasoned pilgrimage chaplain, he has accompanied groups to Oberammergau, Italy, Greece, the Holy Land, Poland, and three World Youth Days (Rio de Janeiro, Krakow, and Panama City).

Fr. Eric was ordained a priest in 2004 and previously served as Associate Pastor of the Richmond Catholic Community and Chaplain of Seton Catholic High School, Richmond, IN (2004-2007), Pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, New Albany, IN (2007-2013), Chaplain of Our Lady of Providence High School, Clarksville, IN (2011-2013), and Sacramental Minister of St. Agnes Catholic Church, Nashville, IN (2013-2019).

Pricing

As low as

$4,298

Package Cost

$4,298

Optional Add-ons

Single room supplement (limited availability)
$1,191 /person
Travel protection
Quote available upon registration*

Pricing listed per person in double-occupancy rooms and does not include airfare.
The number of available single-occupancy rooms is limited.

*Travel protection price is calculated based on a variety of factors and optional plans are provided by Travel Insured International.

Rates assume a minimum of 20 full-paying pilgrims.

  • Roundtrip airfare
  • Passport, visa, or luggage fees
  • Any personal purchases
  • Any meals not indicated on itinerary, as well as beverages at meals
  • Any required COVID tests or vaccinations
  • Recommended travel protection with Cancel for Any Reason coverage
  • Anything else not explicitly mentioned as included

Designated arrival and departure times

  • Arrival information
    • Arrive by: October 2, 2025
    • Arrival time: Arrive by 12:00 p.m.
    • Arrival airport: Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport (CDG)
    • Arrival transfer: Pilgrims will be transferred to the hotel in one group.
  • Departure information
    • Depart on: October 10, 2025
    • Departure time: Depart at or after 11:00 a.m.
    • Departure airport: Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport (CDG)
    • Departure transfer: Pilgrims will be transferred to the airport in one group

 

Want to arrive or depart outside of the designated times?

  • Please note: If you arrive/depart outside of the designated times, private transfers (fee applies) can be arranged on your behalf. Airport transfers outside of the designated arrival/departure times are not included in the package pricing.
  • Private transfer information and pricing can be found in the Additional Information section below.
  • Need to book a private transfer? Contact us at hello@versoministries.com or call us at (574) 383-9396.

 

Want help arranging your flights?

Standard Accommodations

  • Paris: Hotel Ibis Style Opera or similar
  • Le Mans: Hotel Ibis Le Mans Centre or similar
  • Rennes: Hotel Ibis Styles Rennes Centre Gare Nord or similar

Need to get around? Private transfers

  • Please note: If you arrive/depart outside of the designated times at the designated airport, private transfers (fee applies) can be arranged on your behalf. Airport transfers outside of the designated arrival/departure times and locations are not included in the package pricing.
  • Need to book? Contact us at hello@versoministries.com or call us at (574) 383-9396.

 

Arriving early or staying late? Pre-stay and post-stay options

Deposit due upon registration – $1000/person

120 days prior to departure – Final balance

Please note: Payment plans can be arranged if needed. Please contact us if you would like to pay in several installments. Final package price is estimated. Pricing is based on currency exchange rates as of June 2024. Any drastic fluctuations in currency exchange rates may impact final pricing. If you have any questions about pricing and when final pricing decisions will be communicated, please do not hesitate to contact us at any time.

 

Cancellation Policy

All cancellations must be submitted to Verso Ministries in written form and received via email or mail. Any refunds, as applicable, will be processed based on the date stamp of email or mail received. Cancellation fees are for individual pilgrims and fees will be charged per person per booking. Cancellations are possible at any time, but refunds are subject to cancellation fees at the rates listed here.

Within 2 weeks of deposit: Free Cancellation*

91 days or more from departure: Deposit is retained

90-61 days prior to departure: 25% of trip cost is non-refundable

60-31 days prior to departure: 50% of trip cost is non-refundable

30 days or less prior to departure: 100% of trip cost is non-refundable

*To qualify for free cancellation within 2 weeks of deposit, deposit must be made 180 days or more prior to departure.

Any cancellation charges incurred from other suppliers or vendors (flight, lodging, ground transportation, tickets, etc.) may come in addition to the administrative fees listed here. All group flight airline tickets, optional excursions, trip options, pre/post extensions, private transfers, and additional hotel nights are non-refundable 100 days or less prior to departure unless otherwise noted.

Register

FAQ

Registration closes when the pilgrimage reaches the maximum number of pilgrims. If the pilgrimage is filled when you register, you will be added to our waiting list, and contacted in the event that space on the pilgrimage becomes available. Don’t miss your chance, register now and begin your journey.

We highly recommend that all pilgrims buy travel protection. Travel protection is not only for peace of mind, but helps protect you and those you are traveling with from unforeseen emergencies, which always seem to happen at the worst possible time. In the event of emergencies, both before and during your travels, as well other circumstances, like travel delay, lost baggage, missed connection(s), and much more, travel protection can help. Upon registration you will receive a travel protection quotation. If you have any questions regarding your quotation, please call the issuing company. If you need an updated or new quotation, please contact us at hello@versoministries.com or call us at 574-383-9396. We are happy to help!

Including optional add-ons with your pilgrimage can really add to your experience whether it is one of the optional extension or arranging an extra night stay beforehand so you are rested when the pilgrimage begins. If you would to add on any optional arrangements, as listed above, please email us at hello@versoministries.com or call us at 574-383-9396.

A pilgrimage, at its simplest, is a trip of faith. Which means a pilgrimage can be anything from a walk around your city to an encounter of Jesus in the Holy Land. For Catholics, it’s a trip of faith that people have been taking for hundreds or even thousands of years, many times in the same exact places you can visit today. It’s an opportunity to experience the spots God has made his presence known most in time and space, whether that’s where Jesus walked, where Mary appeared, or where the saints have lived and worked.

At Verso, we believe in crafting pilgrimages that offer you a view of God’s world and his work in it that you can’t get anywhere else. We believe everything from the holy sites, to the meals, to daily Mass, to your fellow pilgrims are ways God can speak to you, which means we’re intentional about it all. We also believe a pilgrimage isn’t just the days you travel, it’s how you prepare from the moment you sign up, to the days and weeks after you arrive home. Which means it’s our intention to shepherd you through the entire process — before, during, and after — so you can have the best, most transformative experience possible. We’re not just travel experts, we’re experts in Catholic pilgrimage.

We know from experience that preparing for a journey is just as important as the journey itself. Our goal is to make sure you’re physically, logistically, and spiritually ready for your pilgrimage. You’ll receive essential emails that will walk you through the process and give you ways to prepare your mind and heart for what you’ll encounter. A pre-trip webinar will make sure you are in touch with the Verso leader of the trip, can get trip-specific info, and can ask questions. We’ll send you a pilgrim kit that contains a comprehensive booklet for your trip along with some Verso swag (such as a bag, pen, and sticker) that you can bring along with you on your pilgrimage. And of course, we’re always available by phone or email if you have any questions or special needs.

Have a Question?

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Activity Level

Easy
This trip’s activity level is easy. It’s recommended that travelers be in good health to enjoy this itinerary and be able to walk and climb stairs on their own. Trips at this activity level may include half or full-day itineraries with 1-3 hours of leisurely walking per day on smooth or slightly inclined terrain. The pace is more relaxed, with opportunities to rest throughout the day.

Moderate
This trip’s activity level is moderate. Travelers must be in good health and be in good physical condition to enjoy this itinerary. Travelers must be able to walk and climb stairs on their own. Trips at this activity level may include full-day itineraries of 3-5 hours of walking at a normal to brisk pace per day on varied terrain including uneven surfaces, stairs, and hills. The pace is faster and more demanding, with some breaks throughout the day.

Difficult
This trip’s activity level is difficult. Travelers must be in good health and physically fit to enjoy this itinerary. Trips at this activity level may include full-day itineraries with up to 5-7 hours of walking at normal to brisk pace per day on varied terrain including uneven surfaces, stairs, and steep hills. The pace is vigorous and demanding, with little down time each day.

Accommodation Level

Simple
For the duration of your trip, enjoy a range of lodging accommodations — from quaint guesthouses to simple-styled hotels. Discover a newfound appreciation for each of these locations which often have a unique character of their own. With your private bathroom and sleeping quarters, these locations will provide you with a clean, comfortable, and cozy place to settle into during your journey.

Standard
Venues at this level will provide you with the best accommodations at a reasonable cost. Not only will you have access to modern amenities and services, but special care is taken to ensure hotels are located in close proximity to the area’s local attractions. Expect your stay at this level to provide you with an added feeling of comfortability and convenience as you experience your pilgrimage.

Premium
Your stay at the premium level will ensure that your travel involves the opportunity to experience some of the most unique and luxurious stays that a destination has to offer. You’ll find that traveling at this level will afford you the opportunity to optimize your experience at each spot. From fine dining to scenic views, anticipate that your pilgrimage will provide you with breathtaking experiences no other location could provide.

How will I know what my stay will be like?
Each of our pilgrimage locations come with their own unique accommodations. From simple to luxurious, you can know that the care and satisfaction of each pilgrim is our greatest priority. While specific amenities will vary, we are sure that each of these handpicked locations will leave you rested, rejuvenated, and ready for each day.

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