Ars Sur Formans

Paray le Monial and Ars by Train

St John Vianney

Introduction

In September 1873, The Duke of Norfolk led 500 pilgrims on the first Catholic Pilgrimage to leave England since the Reformation. They started their journey from Victoria Station and travelled via Dover and Calais to Paray-Le-Monial in France. Today we are able to recreate this experience but in less than half the time, taking the new Eurostar service from London St. Pancras to Paris, and onward by TGV express train to the charming town of Paray-le-Monial where St. Margaret Mary Alacoque received her revelations from Our Lord to promote the devotion to his Sacred Heart. During our stay here, a full-day pilgrimage will be made to Ars, the village parish of St. John Vianney, The Curé D’Ars.

Basic Itinerary

DAY ONE - MONDAY

London (or Ashford) - Paris - Paray-le-Monial

Morning departure by Eurostar from London St Pancras or Ashford to Paris, with onward travel by TGV train to Paray-le-Monial, where we check into our centrally located hotel for dinner and a three-night stay.

DAY TWO - TUESDAY

Paray-le-Monial

It was in the convent here between 1673 and 1675 that one of the Visitation nuns, St Margaret Mary Alacoque, received her revelations from Our Lord to promote the devotion to His Sacred Heart. St Margaret Mary passed on these revelations to her spiritual director, the young Jesuit, St Claude de la Colombière. He in turn was chaplain in the household of the future English king, James II, so devotion to the Sacred Heart was first preached in England. We attend Holy Mass either in the Superb Romanesque Basilica, or at the tomb of St. Margaret Mary in the apparition Chapel of the Visitation Convent. We also have a tour of the sites associated with St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and St Claude La Colombiere.

DAY THREE - WEDNESDAY

Ars & vineyard visit

Today we travel by coach to Ars (approx. 60 miles). Ars is the village parish of the famous Curé, St Jean-Marie Vianney, whose own devotion to the Sacred Heart was manifest in the love he showed his people. Here we will have Mass at the tomb of St Jean-Marie Vianney and then a tour of the places associated with the Curé of Ars. Whilst in Ars we will have lunch together in a local restaurant. After lunch we drive to a nearby chateaux at Montmelas-St-Sorlin, which is a popular producer of Beaujolais Villages. There will be the opportunity to taste and purchase the local vintage here. We return to Paray-le-Monial in the late afternoon.

DAY FOUR - THURSDAY

Paray-le-Monial - Paris - London

Final Mass in Paray-le-Monial, before our return travel by TGV Express to Paris, and onward by Eurostar to Ashford or St Pancras, arriving home in the early evening.

Travel Dates and Cost:

11th October 2010 - 14th October 2010
Four days
£499

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Terms of Payment:

Deposit of £120 (+ insurance of required) to be submitted with a completed booking form. Balance due two months before departure. This price is guaranteed for bookings received 4 months before the date of departure.

THIS TRIP INCLUDES:

Return Eurostar/SNCF/TGV: Ashford (or St Pancras) – Paris – Paray-le-Monial. 3-nights accommodation in twin/double bedded rooms with private facilities at the 3-star Grand Hotel de la Basilique (or similar). Full programme of devotions arranged Paray-le-Monial, including daily private Masses and guided tour of the basilica. Full day pilgrimage by coach to Ars (St John Vianney), including lunch, and visits to vineyard. Pax Travel French-speaking tour manager. Meal plan: 3 buffet breakfasts and 3 dinners (with wine). These will be Roman Catholic groups with daily Mass. Members of all Christian denominations welcome.

EXTRAS:

Travel insurance at £23 per person. Single room supplement at £54 per person for 3 nights (limited availability). Lunches. Transfers to Ashford or St Pancras.

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS AND WORSHIP:

Catholic

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