itinerary
France - The Way of St. Therese and Healing of the Soul
Leb Travel Retreat - Fr. Stefan Starzynski
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Join Leb and walk in the footsteps of one of the Catholic Church’s most beloved saints, St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus—the Little Flower. From the busy streets of Paris to the quiet beauty of Lisieux, from the great cathedrals of Chartres to the shores of Normandy and the majestic Mont-Saint-Michel, this pilgrimage invites us to be immersed into the Merciful Heart of God through the “Little Way” spirituality. Through this pilgrimage we will encounter places marked by the presence of Our Lady, the saints, the Eucharist, and generations of pilgrims who have come seeking healing, peace, and renewed faith. Under the spiritual guidance of Fr. Stefan Starzynski, this Travel Retreat will offer opportunities for Holy Mass, Confession, the Rosary, spiritual conferences, personal prayer, and quiet reflection. Come prepared not simply to see France, but to encounter Christ, walk with the saints, and allow God to transform your heart.
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Nature of a Travel Retreat
Our Leb Travel Retreats are religious pilgrimages, not standard tourism. They are organized for spiritual, devotional, and cultural purposes, often involving prayer, sacraments, walking, physical exertion, and exposure to unfamiliar conditions. Participants are expected to approach the Travel Retreat with respect for Catholic teaching, liturgy, clergy, sacred sites, the tour guide, and fellow pilgrims.
Day 1. April 10. ARRIVAL TO PARIS - RUE DU BAC
Where Our Lady Invited the World to Pray
Our pilgrimage begins in Paris, where we will be welcomed by your private LEB retreat guide at Charles de Gaulle Airport and travel by private motorcoach into the heart of the city. Our first sacred destination will be the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal on Rue du Bac, where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St. Catherine Labouré in 1830. Here, before the miraculous image of Our Lady, we will celebrate Holy Mass. We will also have the opportunity to venerate the incorrupt body of St. Catherine Labouré and see the chair associated with the apparitions. After time for prayer and a visit to the religious gift shop, we will continue to our hotel for check-in. That evening, we will gather for a welcome dinner, meeting our fellow pilgrims and beginning this extraordinary journey together.
Overnight: Paris
Day 2. April 11. PARIS - NOTRE DAME DES VICTOIRES AND NOTRE DAME DE PARIS
Following the Prayers of St. Thérèse
Today we begin to follow more closely in the footsteps of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. We will visit the Basilica of Notre-Dame des Victoires, a place particularly dear to Thérèse. Before entering Carmel, she prayed before the image of Our Lady of Victories, entrusting her vocation and her future to the Blessed Mother. We will celebrate Holy Mass and have time for the Rosary and personal prayer. After lunch at a nearby restaurant, we will visit the magnificent Notre-Dame de Paris, one of the world’s most recognizable cathedrals and a living testament to centuries of Catholic faith. We will have time to experience the beauty of the cathedral and stroll along the Seine. Pilgrims may return to the hotel by private motorcoach or remain in Paris to explore independently. The evening and dinner are at leisure to explore on your own.
Overnight: Paris
Day 3. APRIL 12. PARIS - MONTMARTE AND FREE AFTERNOON
Resting in the Heart of Christ
This morning we travel to Montmartre, one of the most beautiful and historic neighborhoods of Paris. We will ascend by funicular to the magnificent Basilica of the Sacred Heart, rising above the city as a visible reminder of Christ’s love and mercy. Here we will celebrate Holy Mass and have the precious opportunity for Eucharistic Adoration and personal prayer. The afternoon is free for lunch, shopping, personal exploration, or optional visits throughout Paris. In the evening, we will gather for dinner near our hotel.
Overnight: Paris
Day 4. APRIL 13. CHARTRES – MONTLIGEON – ALENCON
From the Beauty of Mary to the Hope of Heaven
We leave Paris and travel toward Chartres, home to one of France’s greatest Gothic cathedrals. The Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres has drawn pilgrims for centuries and is especially renowned for its magnificent stained glass and its treasured relic, the Veil of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We will receive a guided tour and celebrate Holy Mass within this extraordinary sanctuary. After lunch, our pilgrimage continues to the Shrine of Notre-Dame de Montligeon, a place dedicated in a special way to prayer for the faithful departed. Here we will slow our pace and turn our hearts toward the mystery of eternal life. There will be opportunities for Confession and personal prayer. We then continue to Alençon, the birthplace of St. Thérèse’s parents for an overnight. We will enjoy a group dinner at the hotel after we check-in.
Overnight: Alençon
Day 5. APRIL 14. ALENCON – LISIEUX
Entering the World of the Martin Family
Today we enter more deeply into the story of the saint who has brought us to France. In Alençon, we will discover the world of St. Louis and St. Zélie Martin, the parents of St. Thérèse—and the first married couple in the history of the Church to be canonized together. We will visit their family home, the Basilica of Notre-Dame (where Thérèse was baptized) and the bridge where Louis and Zélie first met. Holy Mass will be celebrated at the Basilica of Notre-Dame. After lunch, we travel to Lisieux, the spiritual home of St. Thérèse. Upon arrival, we will visit Les Buissonnets, the Martin family home where Thérèse spent her childhood, and St. Peter’s Cathedral, where she attended Mass with her family. As we walk through these places, the story of Thérèse begins to become remarkably personal: a child, a daughter, a sister, a young woman—and ultimately a saint who discovered that the path to God could be walked through simple, trusting love. We will check into our hotel and proceed to a group dinner.
Overnight: Lisieux
Day 6. APRIL 15. LISIEUX
The Little Way of St. Thérèse
Today is the spiritual heart of our pilgrimage. We will dedicate the day to the life, spirituality, and message of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus. We will visit the magnificent Basilica of St. Thérèse and its impressive crypt, where we will celebrate Holy Mass. Lunch will be on your own. We will then visit the Carmelite Monastery, where Thérèse lived her religious vocation and where the shrine and relics of the saint are preserved. Here we will have time to pray, reflect, and contemplate the message that has made this young Carmelite one of the most beloved saints of modern times. Thérèse did not believe we needed to accomplish great things to become saints. She discovered a “Little Way” of trusting love—offering God the ordinary moments, sacrifices, joys, weaknesses, and struggles of daily life. For those seeking healing of the soul, her message is particularly powerful: we do not have to be perfect before approaching God. We are invited to approach Him as beloved children—with confidence, humility, and trust. This day offers a special opportunity to place our own lives and intentions before the Lord through the intercession of St. Thérèse. We will have a group dinner before retiring for the evening.
Overnight: Lisieux
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DAY 7. APRIL 16. LISIEUX – NORMANDY BEACHES
From the Little Way to the Call to Intercede
We begin the morning with Holy Mass at the Carmel of Lisieux, then depart for the historic coast of Normandy. Our pilgrimage now takes us from the world of the saints into one of the most solemn chapters of modern history. At Omaha Beach, the Normandy American Cemetery, and Pointe du Hoc, we will remember and pray for the men who gave their lives during the D-Day landings. We will also visit Sainte-Mère-Église, one of the first towns liberated by American forces and a particularly meaningful place for American pilgrims. In these sacred places of memory, we will pray for the fallen, for their families, and for peace in our world. Our journey then continues toward the Mont-Saint-Michel area to our hotel for check-in and a group dinner.
Overnight: Mont-Saint-Michel area
DAY 8. APRIL 17. MONT-SAINT MICHEL
Spiritual Warfare with St. Michael
Today we encounter one of France’s most breathtaking sights: Mont-Saint-Michel. Rising dramatically from the surrounding landscape, this medieval sanctuary dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel has drawn pilgrims for centuries. Depending upon local conditions and the tides, pilgrims may have the opportunity to experience something truly unforgettable: a guided walk across the bay. With our guide, we will explore the medieval village and visit the magnificent abbey, whose architecture and setting make it one of the great religious landmarks of Europe. We will celebrate Holy Mass. Lunch will be on your own. Whether walking through the ancient village, praying in the abbey, or simply standing before the vastness of the sea, this day offers a beautiful reminder of the majesty of God and the centuries of faith that have shaped this land. We will gather for a group dinner before retiring to our hotel.
Overnight: Mont-Saint-Michel area
DAY 9. APRIL 18. SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF HOPE
A Day of Peace, Prayer & Hope
As our pilgrimage draws toward its conclusion, we enter a quieter and more reflective day. We travel to Pontmain, home of the Shrine of Our Lady of Hope, where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to a group of children in 1871. Here we will celebrate Holy Mass and have time for Confession, Eucharistic Adoration, the Rosary, and personal prayer. After the many miles, sacred places, and experiences of this pilgrimage, this is a day to become still—to listen, to give thanks, and to place everything once more into God’s hands. The afternoon will be free for prayer, reflection, and shopping before we gather for a special farewell dinner, celebrating the friendships and graces of our pilgrimage.
Overnight: Mont-Saint-Michel area
DAY 10. APRIL 19. PARIS – CHARLES DE GAULLE AIRPORT
Carrying the Pilgrimage Home
In the early morning, we depart by private motorcoach for Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and our return flight to Washington Dulles International Airport. Our pilgrimage services conclude, but the journey does not. May the “Little Way” continue long after we leave France—transforming our homes, our families, our work, our suffering, and our daily lives into opportunities to love God.
End of pilgrimage services.
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