Marian Shrines

A Pilgrimage to France, Spain, & Portugal

November 6 - 15, 2024

About

Join Verso Ministries on a Marian pilgrimage across France, Spain, and Portugal. From Lourdes to Fatima, pray at both ancient and modern Marian sites and immerse yourself in the vibrant culture and spirituality of the Iberian Peninsula. From breathtaking vistas to delicious cuisine to encounters with saints like Theresa of Avila, Dominic, and Anthony, this pilgrimage will inspire you to embrace Mary’s example of faith and increase your love of Jesus by entering into deeper relationship with his Mother.

Trip Details

Group Type

Open to All

Length

10 days, 9 nights

Accommodations

Standard

Cost

As low as

$4,268

Deposit:

$500

What's Included

Dedicated pilgrimage director, supplemented by local guides
Custom booklet for each pilgrim
Private transportation on motor coach
All tickets and donations for included activities listed on itinerary
Standard accommodations
Breakfast daily at hotel, one lunch, seven dinners
Gratuities for pilgrimage director, guide(s), driver(s), and meals
Audio headsets for pilgrims

Itinerary

November 6
Depart U.S.
  • Depart U.S. (flights not included in the package)

 

November 7
Toulouse - Lourdes
  • Arrive in Toulouse, France by 2:00 P.M.
  • Transfer as one group to Lourdes
  • Opening Mass
  • Welcome Dinner in a local restaurant
  • Candlelit procession
  • Overnight in Lourdes
  • Accommodations: Hôtel Beau Site or similar
  • Meals included: Dinner
November 8
Lourdes
  • Morning tour of Lourdes
  • Mass as a group, followed by a free afternoon in Lourdes for prayer, shopping, and exploration
  • Dinner at the hotel
  • Candlelit procession
  • Overnight in Lourdes
  • Accommodations: Hôtel Beau Site or similar
  • Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
November 9
Zaragoza
  • Depart for Zaragoza, where Mary appeared to St. James in 40AD
  • Tour of the Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, followed by a private group Mass
  • Free evening for dinner and exploration on your own
  • Overnight in Zaragoza
  • Accommodations: Ibis Styles Zaragoza Ramiro I or similar
  • Meals included: Breakfast
November 10
Calaruega - Segovia - Ávila
  • Depart Zaragoza for Calaruega, the birthplace of St. Dominic
  • Celebrate Mass in Calaruega and have lunch with the local Dominican friars or nuns
  • Continue to Segovia and visit the cave of St. Dominic Check in to the hotel in Ávila
  • Dinner at the hotel
  • Free time in the afternoon
  • Overnight in Avila
  • Accommodations: Hotel Las Leyendas or similar
  • Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
November 11
Avila
  • Morning Mass, followed by a tour of Ávila, including the cathedral and the convent built of the site of Teresa’s home
  • Free afternoon and evening to explore the charming town of Ávila
  • Overnight in Ávila
  • Accommodations: Hotel Las Leyendas or similar
  • Meals included: Breakfast
November 12
Alba de Tormes - Salamanca - Fátima
  • Depart for Alba de Tormes, celebrating Mass there and praying at the tomb of Teresa of Ávila
  • Free time in Salamanca for lunch and exploration before continuing the journey to Fátima
  • Arrive in Fatima
  • Dinner at the hotel, then participate in evening candlelight rosary procession
  • Overnight in Fatima
  • Accommodations: Hotel Santo Amaro or similar
  • Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
November 13
Fatima
  • Tour of the Shrine of Our Lady of Fátima, including the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, Apparition Chapel, and Basilica of the Holy Trinity
  • Visit Valinhos, including the site of Our Lady’s fourth apparition and the children’s homes
  • Dinner at the hotel
  • Overnight in Fatima
  • Accommodations: Hotel Santo Amaro or similar
  • Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
November 14
Santarém, Lisbon
  • Depart for Lisbon, stopping for morning Mass in Santarém on the way there
  • Visit St. Anthony’s birthplace & the Lisbon cathedral
  • Afternoon free time in Lisbon
  • Farewell Dinner in a local restaurant
  • Overnight in Lisbon
  • Accommodations: Ibis Styles Lisboa Centro Liberdade or similar
  • Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

 

November 15
Departure
  • Transfer as one group to the airport
  • Depart Lisbon
  • Meals included: Breakfast

Led by

Group LeaderChaplain
Steven Serafin
Scotch Plains, NJ

Dr. Steven Serafin is the Pastoral Associate of St. Bartholomew’s in Scotch Plains, NJ. He recently graduated from Catholic University with a Doctor in Ministry, received a Masters in Theology focusing on Evangelization and Catechesis from The University of Notre Dame’s Echo program and a B.A from Catholic University with a minor in Finance and Management.

Fr. Matthew Gonzalez
Scotch Plains, NJ

Fr. Matthew Gonzalez is a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark and parochial vicar at St. Bartholomew the Apostle Church, Scotch Plains, NJ. He holds a BA in Catholic Theology from Seton Hall University, as well as an MDiv and an MA in Systematic Theology.

Pricing

As low as

$4,268

Package Cost

Optional Add-ons

Single room supplement (limited availability)
$1,161/person
Recommended travel protection
Quotation provided after 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 premium is calculated based on a variety of factors and optional plans are provided by Travel Insured International”

Rates assume a minimum of 30 full-paying pilgrims.

  • Roundtrip airfare
  • Passport, visa, or luggage fees
  • Any personal purchases
  • Meals while traveling, all meals not explicitly listed on the itinerary, and drinks at meals (except for wine at dinners)
  • Recommended travel insurance (optional add-on)
  • Anything else not explicitly mentioned as included

Designated Arrival and Departure Times

Arrival Information

  • Arrive by: November 7, 2024
  • Arrival time: By 11:00 a.m.
  • Arrival airport: Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS)
  • Arrival transfer: Pilgrims arriving by 11:00 a.m. will be transferred to the hotel in one group at noon.

Departure Information

  • Depart on: November 15, 2024
  • Departure time: Anytime after 11:00 a.m.
  • Departure airport: Humberto Delgado Lisbon International Airport (LIS)
  • Departure transfer: Pilgrims will be transferred to the airport in one group, arriving at the airport by 8:00 a.m.

Standard Accommodations:

  • Lourdes: Hôtel Beau Site or similar
  • Lisbon: Ibis Styles Lisboa Centro Liberdade or similar
  • Fatima: Hotel Santo Amaro or similar
  • Avila: Hotel Las Leyendas or similar
  • Zaragoza: Ibis Styles Zaragoza Ramiro I or similar

Need to get around? Private transfers

  • 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.
  • 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

There is no extension for this pilgrimage. Please contact us at hello@versoministries.com or call us at (574) 383-9396 with any questions or special requests.

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 (as of July 2023). 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.

Cancellations are possible at any time, but refunds will be subject to the cancellation fees listed on the specific website of the pilgrimage departure and the terms of our suppliers. All suppliers have their own cancellation policies, which apply to your booking. Cancellation fees are for individual pilgrims, and fees will be charged per person per booking.

Typically, the cancellation fee schedule is as follows:

  • Required deposit is fully refundable up to 14 days after payment (if deposit is made more than 180 days prior to departure).
  • Cancellation 14 days after deposit and 91 days or more from departure: deposit retained
  • 90-61 days prior to departure: 25% of the trip cost is non-refundable
  • 60-31 days prior to departure: 50% of the trip cost is non-refundable
  • 30-0 days prior to departure: 100% of the trip cost is non-refundable (no refund given).

The cancellation fee schedule for each particular departure may vary from the typical schedule. Please refer to the exact cancellation fee schedule for each pilgrimage which is listed on the information page for each pilgrimage listed on the www.VersoMinistries.com website.

Any cancellation charges incurred from other suppliers or vendors (flight, lodging, ground transportation, tickets, etc.) may come in addition to the administrative fees listed on the specific website of the pilgrimage departure. 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. Suppliers may choose to provide a travel voucher or credit in lieu of refund. We are not responsible for a supplier’s failure to pay a refund or for supplier bankruptcy or insolvency.

FAQ

The sooner you register for the pilgrimage, the better! Not only does registering early guarantee you a spot on the pilgrimage before the departure fills up, but you don’t want to miss out on available discounts, including the early bird savings (see “Trip Savings” in the Pricing section above more details). Also, there is no risk for 14-days after you register should you then have to cancel (must register 180 days or more prior to departure). So let’s say you register for a pilgrimage, but then realize you can no longer attend, as long as you cancel your pilgrimage within 14-days of registering and registered more than 180s days prior to the departure, then we will fully refund your deposit no questions asked. Just send us a written confirmation of your cancellation and we will take care of the rest. Plus, the sooner you register the sooner your journey begins. Register today!

There is no risk! Your deposit will be fully refunded as long as you cancel within 14-days of registering and you have registered more than 180 days or more prior to departure. With no risk, why wait? Get registered today!

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 a private transfer 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.

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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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