The Way of Light:
A Contemplative Pilgrimage in France
October 5 – 13, 2026 | $4190 per person
An invitation to walk the Way of Light—to encounter God through sacrred places, saintly lives, memory, beatuy, and silence.
Moving from cathedral to coastline, from labyinth to cloister, each day offers space for prayerful presence, guided reflection, and contemplative awareness. What unfolds outwardly as travel across Frances becomes inwardly a journey of illumination.
This 9 day France tour includes roundtrip air transportation from Houston, first class hotels (double occupancy), two meals a day (buffet breakfast and dinner), daily sightseeing with English-speaking tour guides, daily prayers, intrances fees, airport taxes, and fuel surcharges which may be subject to change. Tips to guides, headwaiters, porters, and drives are not included.
Spots are reserved on a first come-first served basis. Early registration is highly recommended.
9 Day Travel Itinerary:
Departure: Setting Out on the Way – Houston to Paris
Our pilgrimage begins as we depart Houston for Paris. As with every true pilgrimage, the journey starts not upon arrival, but in the moment we say yes. This day invites intention-setting: releasing what we leave behind and opening our hearts to the light we seek. Dinner and overnight in Paris.
Paris: Arriving in the City of Light
Upon arrival in Paris, we meet and transfer to our hitel for dinner and overnight. This day is one of gentle arrival allowing body and spirit to settle into a new rhythm. Paris welcomes us as a place where faith, art and history converge. Dinner and overnight in Paris.
Paris: The Light that Shines through Stone
Today we enter the luminous heart of Parisian faith. We visit Notre Dame Cathedral, long a symbol of Marian devotion and steadfast presence at the center of the city. After a group lunch, we step into the jewel-boc radiance of Sainte-Chapelle, built by King Saint Louis IX to house the Crown of Thorns and other relics of Christ’s Passion. Surrounded by over 1,100 biblical scenes rendered in stained glass, we are immersed in Scripcture told through light. Dinner and overnight in Paris.
Paris: The Hidden Light of Faithful Presence
We begin the day with a guided visit to Saint-Joseph-des-Carmes, associated with Brother Lawrence, whose practice of the presence of God reveals holiness in the ordinary. This quiet church also bears witness to suffering and martyrdom, reminding us that light endures even in hidden places. After a group lunch, the afternoon is free for personal reflection, rest, or wandering prayerfully through Paris. Dinner and overnight in Paris.
Chartres: Walking the Path of Wisdom
Today is a defining moment of our pilgrimage. We check out of our hotel and travel to Chartres Cathedral, one of the great Marian sanctuaries of Christendom and home to the sacred labyrinth. This is the only day the labyrinth is open for walking—an embodied prayer at the heart of our journey. The cathedral, guardian of the tunic of the Annunciation, invites us into the wisdom of trust, surrender, and faithful perseverance. After a group lunch, we continue to Mont Saint Michel for dinner and overnight.
Normandy: Courage, Memory, and the Radiance of Hope
This morning, we travel to the breathtaking Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel, rising from the sea as a symbol of heaven touching earth. Dedicated to the Archangel Michael, this holy mount proclaims the triumph of light over darkness and calls forth courage rooted in humility. After time to explore and lunch on your own, participants may choose between an excursion to WWII sites, cemeteries, and Omaha Beach. Return to Mont Saint Michel for dinner and overnight.
Lisieux: The Little Way of Love
We check out of our hotel and travel to Lisieux, home of Saint Thérèse, whose “Little Way” reveals that holiness is found in small acts of great love. We visit the Basilica, the Convent, and Les Buissonets, her family home, before enjoying a group lunch. We then continue to Paris for dinner and overnight.
Paris: Integration and Sending Forth
Our final day offers a free morning in Paris, followed by a guided city tour including Montmartre, Sacré-Cœur, the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Champs-Élysées. We gather in the evening for a farewell group dinner, carrying with us the light received along the way.
Paris to Houston or Burgundy Extension
Transfer to the airport and fly back to Houston OR begin an add-on to Burgundy. Places of note: Abbey of Fontenay (Bernard of Clairvaux connection), Hospice de Beaune, Vezelay Church (Mary Magdalene connection).