Fr. Marcos Velasquez France September 2026

Pilgrimage to France

Trip Date:
Sep 1, 2026
- Sep 10, 2026
Group Type
Open
Activity Level
Moderate
Price
From $5,397
Deposit $500
Hosted by
Fr. Marcos Velasquez and Fr. Martin Martinez

Trip Overview

Join Fr. Marcos Velasquez, Fr. Martin Martinez, and Verso Ministries on an intentional pilgrimage filled with breathtaking churches and many inspirational saints to discover. From the Lourdes sanctuary to magnificent French cathedrals, from the historic cities to the world’s best food, this pilgrimage to France is a trip no pilgrim would want to miss.

What’s Included?

  • Local, licensed professional guide for the duration of the pilgrimage
  • Roundtrip airfare
  • Airport/hotel transfers (if arriving/departing on group flight)
  • Transportation on private motorcoach as needed per itinerary and via train
  • Accommodations in double-occupancy rooms, including taxes (single rooms available on a limited basis)
  • Meals as indicated on itinerary, including wine at dinners
  • Opportunity for daily Mass
  • Tickets for included activities
  • Audio headset for each pilgrim
  • Verso pilgrimage booklets and pilgrim kits
  • Preparation and follow-up materials
  • Promotional kit and pilgrim registration support
  • Pack & Prep Meeting for all pilgrims to review itinerary, activities, logistical arrangements, and spiritual preparations

Itinerary

September 1, 2026
  • Depart the U.S. on your overnight flight to Paris
September 2, 2026
  • Arrive in Paris
  • Transfer to the Cathedral Basilica of Saint-Denis, the first Gothic building and burial place of French monarchs, dedicated to St Denis, martyr and apostle to Paris
  • Entrance to the Crypt, the largest royal necropolis housing over 70 royal tombs
  • Transfer to the hotel
  • Welcome Dinner in a local restaurant
    Overnight in Paris

Accommodations: Hotel Andre Latin or similar

Meals Included: Dinner

September 3, 2026
  • Visit the St. Vincent de Paul Chapel and venerate his relics
  • Celebrate Mass at the Miraculous Medal Chapel, where Mary appeared to St Catherine Laboure and asked that a medal be created and worn in her honor, beginning the Miraculous Medal devotion
  • Time for lunch
  • Afternoon visit to the Basilica of Sacre-Coeur de Montmartre, a sanctuary of perpetual adoration with an iconic dome
    offering some of the best views of Paris
  • Extended time for adoration and Vespers, and to explore the artistic Montmartre neighborhood
  • Overnight in Paris

Accommodations: Hotel Andre Latin or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast

September 4, 2026
  • Morning Mass (pending availability) and tour of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris, one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture, newly renovated following the fire of 2019
  • Visit Sainte-Chapelle, a thirteenth century royal chapel with the oldest and most famous stained glass in Paris, depicting a total of 1,113 biblical scenes
  • Free afternoon and evening for exploring Paris, with lunch and dinner on your own
    Consider crossing over Pont Neuf for lunch and an afternoon at the Louvre, the world’s largest art museum and home to da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa”
  • Alternatively, walk over to the Church of Saint-Etienne-du-Mont, built on the site of the sixth century Abbey of Sainte-Genevieve, and pray at the tomb of St Genevieve, the patroness of Paris
  • Overnight in Paris

Accommodations: Hotel Andre Latin or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast

September 5, 2026
  • Morning transfer to Lisieux with en route stop at Chartres
  • Celebrate Mass and tour Chartres Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to having undergone only minor changes since its construction in the thirteenth century
  • Time for lunch before continuing on to Lisieux
  • Dinner at the hotel
  • Overnight in Lisieux

Accommodations: Grand Hotel de l’Esperance

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Chartres Cathedral, France
September 6, 2026
  • Spend the day discovering Lisieux with a guided tour of the Sanctuary of St Therese, which includes the Basilica of St. Therese, Les Buissonets (the childhood home of St Therese), and the Carmelite Convent, where she is buried
    Celebrate Mass at the Basilica, where St Therese’s parents – SS. Louis and Zelie Martin – are buried
  • Free evening to enjoy dinner and explore the city on your own
  • Overnight in Lisieux

Accommodations: Grand Hotel de l’Esperance

Meals Included: Breakfast

September 7, 2026
  • Mass in the Cathedral of Saint Pierre, where St Therese made her first confession
  • Transfer to Paris train station, then take the high-speed train from Paris to Lourdes
  • Dinner at the hotel
  • Overnight in Lourdes

Accommodations: Hotel Beau Site

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

September 8, 2026
  • Celebrate Mass at the Sanctuary of Lourdes
    Tour the Sanctuary, including the Chapel of Reconciliation, the Basilicas, the Grotto of Massabielle, and the Baths
  • Spend the afternoon at the Sanctuary and take time to participate in prayers at the Grotto, walk the Way of the Cross,
    visit the healing baths, or receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation
  • Participate in the nightly Rosary and torchlit procession
  • Overnight in Lourdes

Accommodations: Hotel Beau Site

Meals Included: Breakfast

September 9, 2026
  • Morning Mass at the Sanctuary
    Explore the town on your own, including the museums of Moulin de Boly, where St Bernadette was born, and Le Cachot, where she lived with her family
  • Free afternoon to take part in a variety of devotional practices at the Sanctuary
  • Farewell Dinner in a local restaurant
  • Participate in the nightly Rosary and torchlit procession, time allowing after dinner
  • Overnight in Lourdes

Accommodations: Hotel Beau Site

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

September 10, 2026
  • Transfer to Toulouse airport and depart on your journey home

Meals Included: Breakfast

Pricing

Package Cost
$5,397

Trip Savings

Land-only Package Savings
-$1,299/person

Optional Add-ons

Travel protection
Price calculated during registration*
Single room supplement (limited availability)
$1,039/person

*Travel protection price is calculated based on the age of the traveler and the total package cost.

Rates assume a minimum of 20 full-paying pilgrims.

Led by

Co-Spiritual Director
Fr. Marcos Velasquez
Tucson, AZ
Fr. Marcos Velasquez is a Catholic priest originally from Superior, AZ and ordained in 1989 in St Augustine Cathedral in Tucson, AZ. He has served in several parishes in Arizona including Our Lady of Grace in Maricopa and Sacred Heart Parish in Nogales. While he was pastor at Our Lady of Grace, he was responsible and instrumental in the church’s growth from a mission to the building of a new church bringing together a vibrant community rooted in deep faith and joy. Currently, he serves the historic Santa Cruz Roman Catholic Church in Tucson, where once again he is loved & recognized for his dedication to the community and his work in developing various church projects.
Co-Spiritual Director
Fr. Martin Martinez
Sahuarita, AZ
Fr. Martin Martinez is a Catholic priest ordained in 1993. He currently serves as pastor at San Martin de Porres Catholic Church in Sahuarita, AZ. Parishioners speak of Fr. Martinez as a warm, dedicated and personable priest, describing his parish as a very compassionate and caring church. Members of this church are deeply grateful for the services it provides to the families who live within its community. They are in the process of building a new church.

Flights

There is an optional group flight available for this pilgrimage. Details are below. Pilgrims may also arrange their own airfare based on the designated arrival/departure times provided.

Arrival Flight Information -  September 1, 2026

  • Air Canada Flight #1720
    • Departs Phoenix (PHX) at 11:30 am
    • Arrives Toronto (YYZ) at 6:48 pm
  • Air Canada Flight #872
    • Departs Toronto (YYZ) at 8:40 pm
    • Arrives Paris (CDG) at 10:10 am (the next day)

Departure Flight Information  - September 10, 2026

  • Air Canada Flight #879
    • Departs Toulouse (TLS) at 12:15 pm
    • Arrives Montreal (YUL) at 2:45 pm
  • Air Canada Flight #1277
    • Departs Montreal (YUL) at 5:45 pm
    • Arrives Phoenix (PHX) at 7:56 pm

Transfer Information

  • Pilgrims on the group flight will be transported to/from the hotel in one group upon arrival and at departure.

Arrival Flight Information

  • Arrive by: September 2, 2026
  • Arrival time: Arrive by 10 am
  • Arrival airport: Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
  • Arrival transfer information: Pilgrims must arrange their own transfer from the airport to the hotel

Departure Flight Information

  • Depart on: September 10, 2026
  • Departure time: Depart at or after 12:00 pm (noon)
  • Departure airport: Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS)
  • Departure transfer information: All pilgrims will be transferred to the Toulouse airport from Lourdes in one group

More Details

  • Verso Pilgrimage Director (Groups of 30+ pilgrims get dedicated director)
  • Gratuities for pilgrimage director, guide(s), driver(s), hotel staff, and meals (optional add on)
  • Passport, visa, or luggage fees
  • Any personal purchases
  • Any meals not indicated on the itinerary, as well as beverages at meals (other than wine at dinners)
  • Any required COVID tests or vaccinations
  • Recommended travel protection with Cancel for Any Reason coverage
  • Anything else not explicitly mentioned as included

Deposit due upon registration – $500/person
Final balance due 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. Prices are based on the current exchange rate. Any drastic fluctuations in currency exchange rates could affect the final pilgrimage 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*
  • 14 days after registration and 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

*Free cancellation (if deposit is made more than 180 days 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I register now?

The sooner you register for the pilgrimage, the better! Pilgrimages can fill up quickly, especially if pilgrims decide to bulk register as a group, so registering as soon as you think you will be able to travel with us guarantees you a spot on open pilgrimages. If you register and find out you can no longer attend, as long as you registered more than 180 days prior to the departure and cancel within 14-days of registering, we will fully refund your deposit. Just send us a written confirmation of your cancellation and we will take care of the rest.
Read More

What is the latest I can register?

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!
Read More

What is my Pilgrim Portal?

Your Pilgrim Portal is how you will securely share the information we need for your trip. We collect all this information through your “tasks” in your Pilgrim Portal. After booking, you will receive access to your portal and can log in at the link at the top of this page.
Read More

Resources

Discover helpful guides and tips to prepare for your pilgrimage and enrich your journey with Verso Ministries.

Mary appeared to St. Bernadette Soubirous in Lourdes, France.

3 Things to Know About St. Bernadette Soubirous

A metaphor of one of the benefits of going on a pilgrimage, a highway comes into sharp focus through a camera lens.

5 Benefits of Going on a Pilgrimage

5 French Foods You Have to Try

What Our Pilgrims Have to Say

Father Kuhn

Jocelyn

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