One of the first things pilgrims did when they arrived in Lourdes April 2 was attend Mass in a chapel at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Lourdes is where Mary appeared to a young girl, Bernadette, in 1858. (Malea Hargett photo)

Ava LaChance, a member of St. Stephen Church in Bentonville, prepares for a rosary candlelight procession to the shrine at Lourdes with the Arkansas group April 3. (Malea Hargett photo)

Mitch and Cathy Carter, members of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Little Rock, and Kathy Primm, of North Little Rock, who served as the travel agent for the pilgrimage, pray the Our Father April 4 at the chapel in Rocamadour, a pilgrimage site for centuries. (Malea Hargett photo)

Father T.J. Hart of Blytheville celebrates Mass April 5, joined by Father Tony Robbins (left) and Father Stephen Hart of Lake Village at the church of St. John Vianney, who is the patron saint of parish priests. The saint’s incorrupt body is displayed behind the altar. (Malea Hargett photo)

A tour guide at the American Cemetery in Normandy shows a map April 7 of where American forces came ashore on D-Day 75 years ago. After a short tour, the pilgrims were allowed to walk the grounds of the cemetery where 9,387 Americans are buried. British and Canadian cemeteries are also located in the area. (Malea Hargett photo)

Father T.J. Hart and Rena Harrison, a member of St. Joseph Church in Pine Bluff, walk the pedestrian street of Mont St. Michel, looking at the restaurants and shops. Some pilgrims climbed up 1,000 steps to see the Benedictine church at the top. (Malea Hargett photo)

Terry and Anna Canterbury, members of Holy Redeemer Church in El Dorado, light a votive candle in the Basilica of St. Therese in Lisieux April 9. (Malea Hargett photo)

Five days before the massive fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, Arkansas pilgrims toured the inside of the church. (Malea Hargett photo)

Twenty-two pilgrims from the Diocese of Little Rock, including three diocesan priests, pose for a photo April 11 on the steps of the Sacre Coeur, also known as the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Montmartre in Paris. (Malea Hargett photo)

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Arkansas Catholic pilgrimage explores shrines of France

Group of 22 pilgrims traveled to 10 cities during Lenten journey in April

Published: May 11, 2019

By Malea Hargett
Editor

Malea Hargett

A statue of St. Bernadette greets visitors to the Convent of St. Gildard in Nevers, where the incorrupt body of the saint is venerated. Nevers was one of the towns visited by Arkansas pilgrims April 1-12.

Malea Hargett

The lives of saints like St. Therese and St. Bernadette and devotions like the Sacred Heart of Jesus came alive for 22 pilgrims who traveled with Arkansas Catholic April 1-12 to France.

The Lenten journey included stops in 10 cities, some not well-known even to those who have lived in the country for years. While Father Tony Robbins, pastor of St. Joseph Church in Conway, served as the spiritual director, he was joined by two other priests, Father T.J. Hart and Father Stephen Hart, who also assisted by celebrating Mass and hearing confessions.

Some of the towns like Lourdes and Paris were well-known to the pilgrims, but many others like Paray-le-Monial where the Sacred Heart of Jesus was exposed to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque were new and most appreciated by the pilgrims.

The trip concluded in Paris, including a tour of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame, which suffered a massive fire five days after the pilgrims visited. In the capital, Arkansans also learned about the Miraculous Medal and the green scapular and had time to tour a museum or another sight on their own.

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