Christendom College is co-teaming with alumnus Joe Long ’12 and his tour company, ProRome Tours, for a special pilgrimage to Portugal and Spain this coming spring.
The trip, which will welcome alumni, faculty, staff, family and friends of the college, will take guests on an unforgettable eleven-day journey from March 6-16. Over the course of these eleven days, pilgrims will learn more about the Marian apparitions and the lives of the Carmelite saints in Portugal and Spain, becoming immersed in the deep Catholic heritage of these two nations.
The pilgrimage will begin with departure from Washington Dulles Airport, leading to the historic city of Lisbon, Portugal, where pilgrims will enjoy a panoramic tour featuring key sites like the Jeronimos Monastery and Belem Tower. Afterward, the group will travel to Fatima, where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to three shepherd children. The itinerary includes two nights in Fatima, offering time for Mass at the Basilica or La Capelinha, and visits to the Sanctuary, Valinhos, and Aljustrel, the hometown of the visionaries.
Continuing into Spain, the pilgrimage will include a visit to Santiago de Compostela, home to the shrine of St. James the Apostle. Pilgrims will explore the Old Quarter and participate in the Pilgrim’s Mass at the cathedral, which houses the saint’s relics. Other significant stops include the Basilica and Cave of Our Lady of Covadonga, associated with the first victory of Spanish Christians over the Moors, and the cities of Segovia and Avila, where St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila lived and worked.
The tour also features a visit to the Valley of the Fallen and San Lorenzo del Escorial in central Spain, with guided tours of these monumental sites. Christendom College attributes its origins to this area of Spain. College founder Dr. Warren Carroll directed the Christian Commonwealth Institute (CCI), an educational program held in this part of Spain. Held at San Lorenzo de El Escorial, the Institute offered students a chance to study and experience the achievement of Christian culture first-hand. The palace of El Escorial was a perfect setting for this kind of study. Built by King Philip II of Spain – the champion of the Catholic Reformation and the only sovereign in Christendom during that terrible age who remained unswervingly faithful to the Pope through all the years of his life – the complex included a palace and monastery, a college, a royal mausoleum, a basilica, and a small town. It embodied the triumphant Catholic culture of 16th-century Spain. Surrounded by this living Catholic culture, students received instruction in philosophy, theology, and other disciplines from a Catholic perspective. These programs were held for a number of consecutive summers at El Escorial and out of these programs came many of the prime movers of Christendom College.
In Madrid, pilgrims will experience a comprehensive tour of the city’s historic and cultural landmarks. The journey will conclude with a day in Toledo, where St. Teresa of Avila began her spiritual writings, before returning to Madrid for a special farewell dinner.
On the trip, guests can expect daily private Masses celebrated by alumnus Fr. Philip Briggs ‘13, three and four-star hotels, as well as a variety of private tours and experiences led by the ProRome Tours team.
The pilgrimage is open to alumni, faculty, staff, family, and friends of the College. Space is limited so interested guests are encouraged to register now.
For more information on the pilgrimage, including the daily schedule, visit here.