Suggested Itinerary

DAY 1 — Departure for France

Depart the United States on our overnight flight to Paris.

Our pilgrimage begins with the question that lies at the heart of Joan’s extraordinary life:

How do we recognize God’s call — and what happens when we have the courage to answer it?

Meals and overnight in flight.

DAY 2 — Welcome to France Arrival in Paris

Arrival at Paris airport, where we meet our local team and transfer to our hotel.

After time to settle in, we gather as a pilgrimage community for an introduction to the journey ahead.

When arrangements permit, we celebrate our opening Holy Mass, entrusting the pilgrimage to God through the intercession of St. Joan of Arc.

Welcome dinner and overnight in Paris.

DAY 3 — Paris • Reims From Notre-Dame to the Coronation City

We begin at the heart of Catholic Paris with Notre-Dame Cathedral.

After our visit, we leave the capital and travel toward Reims, one of the most important cities in the story of France — and of Joan of Arc.

Here stands the magnificent Notre-Dame de Reims Cathedral, the traditional coronation church of the French monarchy.

On July 17, 1429, Joan witnessed the culmination of one of the central objectives of her mission: the coronation of Charles VII as King of France.

For Joan, the victory was not fundamentally about her.

She believed she had been given a mission — and at Reims she saw part of that mission accomplished.

The source itinerary likewise uses Notre-Dame de Paris and Reims Cathedral to introduce the pilgrimage before following Joan into Lorraine.

Holy Mass when possible. Dinner and overnight in Reims.

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DAY 4 — Domrémy-la-Pucelle

Where Joan’s Story Began

Today we travel into the countryside of Lorraine toward Domrémy-la-Pucelle.

Here, in 1412, Joan was born into the family of Jacques d’Arc and Isabelle Romée.

We visit the places associated with her childhood, including her birthplace and the Parish Church of Saint-Rémy, where Joan was baptized.

It was in this quiet rural world that the young Joan prayed, attended Mass and eventually began experiencing what she described as communications from heavenly voices.

She identified among them St. Michael the Archangel, St. Catherine and St. Margaret.

When possible, we celebrate Holy Mass in the parish church where Joan herself was baptized, one of the most meaningful Eucharistic celebrations of the pilgrimage.

We then continue to Vaucouleurs.

Here Joan sought the assistance of Robert de Baudricourt, asking to be taken to the Dauphin.

Initially dismissed, she persisted.

Vaucouleurs therefore represents one of the great spiritual themes of Joan’s life:

Perseverance.

She believed God had called her.

And she refused to abandon that call simply because others considered it impossible.

The source program similarly joins Domrémy’s birthplace and baptismal church with Vaucouleurs, where Joan sought help to begin her mission.

Return to Reims.

Dinner and overnight in Reims.

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DAY 5 — Troyes • Orléans The Maid of Orléans

After breakfast, we depart for Troyes.

Joan passed through the city while accompanying Charles toward his coronation in Reims. We visit its magnificent cathedral and, according to availability, celebrate Holy Mass.

We then continue toward the city forever associated with Joan’s name:

Orléans

When Joan arrived in 1429, the city had been under English siege for months.

Her presence became inseparable from the dramatic change in French fortunes that followed.

The liberation of Orléans transformed Joan from an unknown teenage girl into one of the most extraordinary figures of medieval Europe.

For Catholics, however, her story poses a deeper question:

What gave this young woman such extraordinary conviction?

Tonight we remain in the city that remembers her simply as:

La Pucelle d’Orléans — the Maid of Orléans.

The source itinerary follows this same historical progression through Troyes into Orléans.

Dinner and overnight in Orléans.

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DAY 6 — Orléans • Loches • Tours Victory & Mission

This morning we continue exploring Orléans, including its cathedral and places associated with Joan.

Its stained-glass windows preserve her story within the sacred architecture of the city she helped make famous.

We then travel toward Loches.

Joan came here shortly after the victory at Orléans as she continued pressing for Charles to travel to Reims for his coronation.

Our pilgrimage is now following not isolated monuments but the actual progression of her mission:

Domrémy → Vaucouleurs → Chinon → Orléans → Loches → Reims.

We continue to Tours for dinner and overnight.

Holy Mass when possible. Dinner and overnight in Tours.

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DAY 7 — Poitiers • Chinon Discernment & the King

We travel first to Poitiers.

Before Charles entrusted himself to Joan’s extraordinary claims, she was questioned and examined.

Her character, beliefs and theological claims were scrutinized.

This episode gives our pilgrimage another spiritual dimension: discernment.

The Church does not ask us to follow every claimed inspiration blindly. Authentic discernment seeks to distinguish our own desires from the will of God.

We then continue to one of the most dramatic places in Joan’s story:

Chinon

At the royal court here, Joan met Charles VII, then still the Dauphin.

The meeting became a turning point.

The unknown teenager from Lorraine had reached the man she believed God had commanded her to help.

We visit Chinon Castle and celebrate Holy Mass in the area when arrangements permit. The reference itinerary connects Poitiers’ examination of Joan directly with Chinon and her meeting with Charles.

Return to Tours.

Dinner and overnight in Tours.

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DAY 8 — Mont-Saint-Michel • Lisieux St. Michael the Archangel

Today our pilgrimage moves beyond places Joan physically visited and explores a place intimately connected with the world in which she lived.

Rising dramatically from the tidal flats of Normandy is one of Christianity’s most extraordinary pilgrimage destinations:

For centuries, this great sanctuary has been dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel — the same archangel whom Joan identified as one of the heavenly voices that guided her mission.

During the Hundred Years’ War, Mont-Saint-Michel resisted English attacks and remained in French hands. Its survival became an important symbol of resistance.

We ascend through its medieval streets toward the great abbey overlooking the bay.

There will be time for prayer and reflection before continuing toward Lisieux. The supplied route intentionally connects Mont-Saint-Michel’s resistance and devotion to St. Michael with the story of Joan.

Dinner and overnight in Lisieux.

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DAY 9 — Lisieux

Today reveals a beautiful connection between two of France’s most beloved saints:

St. Joan of Arc and St. Thérèse of Lisieux.

Thérèse deeply admired Joan.

She even wrote theatrical works about Joan and portrayed her in community performances at Carmel.

For Thérèse, Joan was not merely a national heroine. She represented a soul consumed by a mission received from God.

We visit the magnificent Basilica of St. Thérèse, Les Buissonnets, her family home, and the Carmel of Lisieux, where she entered religious life.

The source itinerary specifically emphasizes Thérèse’s devotion to Joan and notes that pilgrims can encounter material associated with Thérèse’s portrayals of the saint.

This creates one of the most beautiful spiritual contrasts of the journey.

Joan’s vocation led her onto battlefields.

Thérèse’s vocation led her behind the enclosure of Carmel.

Yet both teach us that holiness does not depend upon where God places us.

It depends upon how completely we answer Him there.

Holy Mass. Dinner and overnight in Lisieux.

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DAY 10 — Rouen Joan’s Passion & Martyrdom

After her capture, Joan eventually fell into English hands and was brought here for trial.

She endured months of imprisonment and interrogation.

On May 30, 1431, she was taken to the marketplace of Rouen and burned at the stake.

She was approximately nineteen years old.

We visit the places associated with her imprisonment, trial and death and spend time in prayer near the site of her martyrdom.

Her story did not end here.

Decades later, the original proceedings were formally revisited and the judgment against Joan was overturned.

Centuries later, the young woman condemned at Rouen would be proclaimed by the Church as Saint Joan of Arc.

The source itinerary likewise makes Rouen the culmination of the chronological story of Joan’s life before returning pilgrims to Paris.

After our visit, we continue to Paris.

Holy Mass when possible. Dinner and overnight in Paris.

DAY 11 — Catholic Paris Saints, Apparitions & the Sacred Heart

Today we discover some of the great Catholic treasures of Paris.

We begin with a church associated specifically with St. Joan of Arc, recalling her presence near Paris during her campaign of 1429.

Our pilgrimage then continues to the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St. Catherine Labouré in 1830.

Nearby, we visit the church associated with St. Vincent de Paul and pray before his relics.

We continue through Paris, seeing many of its most recognizable monuments before climbing toward Montmartre.

Here we recall another extraordinary chapter of Catholic history.

In 1534, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Francis Xavier, St. Peter Faber and their companions made vows at Montmartre that became foundational to the story of the Society of Jesus.

Finally, we visit the great white Basilica of Sacré-Cœur, overlooking Paris.

This rich Catholic day—Joan, the Miraculous Medal, St. Vincent de Paul, Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur—is also a central part of the source itinerary.

Holy Mass. Dinner and overnight in Paris.

DAY 12 — Chartres Under the Mantle of Our Lady

Our final full day takes us to one of the greatest cathedrals of Christendom:

Notre-Dame de Chartres

The medieval cathedral is renowned for its architecture, extraordinary stained glass and its celebrated relic traditionally identified as the Veil of the Virgin Mary.

We will also see its famous medieval labyrinth.

After days spent following Joan’s victories, sufferings and martyrdom, Chartres gives us a quieter conclusion.

We entrust our own vocations, families and intentions to the Blessed Virgin Mary and give thanks for everything received during the pilgrimage.

The source route likewise uses Chartres and its Marian tradition as the final pilgrimage excursion before departure.

Return to Paris.

Tonight we gather for our farewell dinner.

Holy Mass when possible. Dinner and overnight in Paris.

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DAY 13 — Paris • Return Home

After breakfast, transfer to Paris airport for our return flight to the United States.

Our pilgrimage began with an ordinary girl in an ordinary village.

Joan could not have known where her answer to God would lead.

Neither do we.

We return home asking for the grace to imitate what mattered most in her life:

to listen, to discern, and when God calls — to have the courage to answer.

St. Joan of Arc, pray for us.