Group Co-ordinators Familiarisation Tour
An opportunity to immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and culture of Portugal and Lisbon, the WYD host city. Gain a sense of the important on the ground knowledge to maximise the WYD experience for your pilgrims. This unique and tailored orientation tour will supply and equip you with the tools and inside information about accommodation, transport, WYD organisation and logistics, holy sites, and all things Portuguese. The perfect preparation for WYD Lisbon 2023!
This Familiarisation Tour is available to designated group representatives from dioceses and religious groups travelling under the care of Harvest Journeys for WYD 2023.
Lisbon (5 Nights), Fatima (2 Nights)
Upon arrival in Lisbon, we will be met and transferred to our centrally located hotel for dinner and overnight.
Lisbon overnight (D)
Proposed Mass: TBA
After breakfast this morning we will meet with our local guide and enjoy a tour of Lisbon city.
Our first stop is St Anthony’s Basilica where we celebrate a group Mass. Despite what might be assumed from his name, St Anthony was born and grew up in Lisbon and today remains the patron saint of lost articles.
Visit the World Heritage-listed Jeronimo’s Monastery dating back to the 16th Century with its stunning combination of flamboyant Gothic, Moorish and early Renaissance influences; see nearby Belem Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries. See Europe’s longest suspension bridge, inspired by the Golden Gate Bridge of San Francisco, and view the inspiring Statue of Christ the King pointing the way north to Fatima.
Lisbon overnight (BD)
Proposed Mass: TBA
Today will be devoted to various meetings with Directors and Staff of the WYD 2023 Office in Lisbon.
We aim to hear of details and developments in the co-ordinational planning for the weeklong WYD event.
Such departments proposed to contribute to today’s agenda include:
Also today we attend an important meeting with the Australian Ambassador to Portugal at the Australian Embassy Offices in Lisbon, and other DFAT related meetings. We expect there will be time for questions and answers throughout the meetings.
We will also embark on a site inspection of the main WYD venues culminating in a visit to the planned site of the WYD Vigil and Final Mass.
We are free tonight to explore dinner options around town.
Lisbon overnight (B)
Proposed Mass: TBA
This morning is dedicated to visiting Harvest’s pilgrim accommodation locations, where you will be able to inspect and scope the site according to your own requirements.
This afternoon we will continue our discovery of the WYD2023 city and navigate our way around the city with a view to better understanding the logistics of the event. As a group, we may wish to allocate various reconnaissance tasks including:
Later this afternoon we will regroup to discuss the day’s findings.
We are free tonight to explore dinner options around town.
Lisbon overnight (B)
Proposed Mass: TBA
Our final day in Lisbon will allow free time for further exploration of Lisbon and follow up of any of our findings. Option to revisit accommodation sites for further scoping.
Tonight, we will enjoy a special group dinner.
Lisbon overnight (BD)
Proposed Mass: TBA
Today we depart for Fatima.
Enroute we will visit the 13th Century Holy Miracle Church of St Stephen at Santarem containing the oldest recorded Eucharistic miracle.
We proceed onto the seaside resort town of Nazaré, known for its beaches and surfing and as the location of The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazaré – an imposing Marian shrine that memorialises an ancient miracle occurred under the intercession of the Virgin Mary. It is located on the hilltop called O Sítio, overlooking Nazaré and was founded in the 14th Century. Enjoy a lunch at a seaside restaurant overlooking the beach.
Continue on to the Monastery of Batalha, a Dominican convent in the municipality of Batalha. Originally, and officially, known as the Monastery of Saint Mary of the Victory, it was erected in commemoration of the 1385 Battle of Aljubarrota and would serve as the burial church of the 15th Century Aviz dynasty of Portuguese royalty.
This afternoon we arrive into Fatima where in 1917 the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to three children as ‘a lady in white’. Walk down to the Sanctuary for a first visit of the Fatima shrine and township by foot before dinner.
Fatima overnight (BLD)
Proposed Mass: TBA
We commence our walking tour of the Square (the largest square in Christendom), including the site of the Apparitions, Rosary Basilica with the Tombs of the Visionaries, the Museum, Blessed Sacrament Chapel and other main sites.
We will walk and pray the Stations along the beautiful Way of the Cross (the Sacred Way) culminating at the Chapel of Calvary which overlooks all of Fatima. Continue to Valinhos, the site of Our Lady’s appearance to three peasant children Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta. Proceed on to the little village of Aljustrel to visit the homes where the children lived. Finally we enter the original Parish church and see the Baptismal font where the children were baptised.
This afternoon we will conduct site visits of proposed Fatima accommodation locations for pre or post WYD stays.
Fatima overnight (BD)
Proposed Mass: TBA
Our Familiarisation Tour will come to an end as we journey out this morning to Lisbon airport to board our homebound flight connections.
MEAL CODES: (B) Breakfast, (L) Lunch, (D) Dinner
$1490 AUD Per Person Twin or Dbl.
Plus Airfares from Australia.
Single Room Supplement: $890
