The seventeen-day pilgrimage took 39 pilgrims to the famous Marian shrines in Italy, France, Spain and Portugal. After they landed in Rome on October 15, 1997 Clare, the tour escort, brought them to the hotel located outside Rome. That same afternoon they celebrated Mass in the basilica of St. Peter in Chains located near the coliseum.

The next day they visited the Vatican, the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, the coliseum, St. Calixtus catacombs, St. Paul outside-the-wall basilica, the Trevi fountain and the Spanish Steps. One pilgrim who arrived one day later joined the group at the coliseum. They returned to their hotel that evening after a sumptuous meal at an elegant Roman restaurant.

Because the earthquake badly damaged the town of Assisi the pilgrims could not visit the hometown of St. Francis, but instead they stopped at Orvieto where they celebrated Mass in the hospital chapel located next to the magnificent 13th cathedral. The cathedral houses a Eucharistic relic - a blood stained corporal. Tradition says that a priest who was having doubts about the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist found the corporal stained with blood after the consecration one day.

After Mass in a hospital chapel in Orvieto they headed for Pisa on their way to Florence where they stopped for the night. In Florence they visited the famous Santa Croce and the Santa Trinita churches. It was too difficult for the pilgrims to refrain from shopping in the squares. They left Florence on October 19, 1997 and drove through the beautiful countryside of cypresses, olive groves and vineyard to visit the famous leaning tower of Pisa. They continued along the Liguorian coast to the famous French Riviera where they stopped for the night.

It was then time to travel along the beautiful Mediterranean to Lourdes where more than five million pilgrims visit every year. In one of the apparitions to Bernadette, Mary identified herself as the Immaculate Conception. Lourdes was a place to treasure God's graces. The pilgrims had excellent weather during their three nights there. The three days at the shrine allowed them to take the Lourdes bath, make the Stations of the Cross and join the spiritually moving evening processions of the sick as well as the healthy. They also had time to visit the shrines on their own, do personal devotions and spend quiet time with Our Lord.

After Lourdes they headed for Zaragosa, Spain to visit the basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar where tradition says Mary appeared to the Apostles James. The pilgrims were able to see the revered statue of Mary adorned with precious jewels donated by various European kings. After Zaragoza they also visited Madrid, Toledo, Avila, Alba de Tormes, Salamanca, Coimbra before arriving in Fatima on October 27, 1997.

It was at Fatima that Mary appeared to the three shepherds in 1917. About four million people visit the shrine every year. In Fatima the pilgrims joined the evening processions, celebrated Mass at Cova de Iria, and viewed the houses where the three shepherds lived and made the Stations of the Cross at Valinhos. They also went to the site of Holy Miracle of the Eucharist in Santarem. The town is about 40 minutes drive from Fatima. The relic of the "Bleeding Host" has been kept in this church since 1269. After a long, but fruitful journey the pilgrims returned home on October 30, 1997 filled with memories of the visit to the Marian shrines and other Catholic shrines of Europe.

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