Day 1 – Monday - Arrival in New Orleans - French Quarter

Arrive in New Orleans and meet the group at the hotel before heading to the French Quarter to see Saint Mary’s and the Old Ursuline Convent Museum. There will be a private transfer for those arriving by plane. Afterwards, you’'ll have the afternoon free for a late lunch, check in, and time to explore New Orleans before the Welcome Dinner at Brennan’s or Café Sbisa.

The Old Ursuline Convent Museum building was authorized by King Louis XV in A.D. 1745 and has been used as a convent-school, the archbishop’s residence, a Catholic boy’s school, the city’s first public school, and seat of the Louisiana legislature. In A.D. 1727, some of the Ursulines in Normandy came to New Orleans to found a convent and a school for girls. The first building wasn’t officially completed until A.D. 1734. However, with significant deterioration of the exposed timber walls, it had to be rebuilt and was completed in A.D. 1753. Then, in A.D. 1845, Saint Mary’s Church was established adjacently. The convent and school, Ursuline Academy of New Orleans, expanded and moved uptown in A.D. 1912, and is the oldest, continuously operating school for girls in the United States.

Day 2 – Tuesday - French Quarter

This morning, you may have breakfast at the hotel or hold off until we get to the French Quarter to have Café Du Monde before beginning the day! After breakfast, you’ll get to visit the Prayer Room that is dedicated to Venerable Henriette Delille and the Saint Louis Cathedral, where you’ll have Mass around Noon.

Saint Louis Cathedral is the seat of the Archdiocese of New Orleans and is the oldest continuously operating Cathedral in the United States. It was first established in A.D. 1718 and was destroyed in the Great New Orleans Fire on Good Friday, March 21, A.D. 1788. The cornerstone of a new Church was laid in 1789 under the Spanish rule, raised to Cathedral rank in A.D. 1793, and was completed in 1794. In A.D. 1819, a central tower was added with a clock and bell, embossed with “Victoire” in commemoration of the victory of the Battle of New Orleans. It was later expanded and rebuilt in the A.D. 1850s. Since then, the Cathedral survived a bomb in A.D. 1909, a major hurricane in A.D. 1915, and Hurricane Katrina in A.D. 2005.

The Prayer Room dedicated to Venerable Henriette Delille is located in the old baptistry of Saint Louis Cathedral. Born in A.D. 1812, Henriette Delille is the first African American born in the United States whose cause for canonization is officially open. In A.D. 1836, she founded the Sisters of the Congregation of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary for the purpose of nursing the sick, caring for the poor, and instructing the ignorant. Part of her ministry also included being a sponsor and witness for people of color to receive the Sacraments. In A.D. 1842, the sisters became the Sisters of the Holy Family. During that same year, they also founded the Old Folks Home for the sick and elderly, which was rebuilt in A.D. 1847 and became the Hospice of the Holy Family. Henriette died at the age of 50 in A.D. 1862, was declared a Servant of God by Saint Pope John Paul II in 1988, and was decreed Venerable by Pop Benedict XVI on March 27, A.D. 2010.

Then, you’ll have time for lunch nearby before convening in Jackson Square around 2:30pm. This afternoon, you’ll get to visit the International Shrine of Saint Jude at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church as well as the Immaculate Conception Jesuit Church.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Church & International Shrine of Saint Jude is the oldest Church building in New Orleans, built in A.D. 1826. It was first established as The Mortuary Chapel of St. Anthony of Padua specifically to hold funerals for those who died from yellow fever, to prevent spread of the fever through the dead. From A.D. 1841 to A.D. 1918, the Chapel had a variety of purposes, such as helping St. Louis Cathedral with baptisms, serving the army, serving the Italian immigrant community, and housing the Dominicans. Then, in A.D. 1918, Archbishop Shaw requested the presence of the Oblate Fathers to take residence and minister to the Parish. Twelve years later, parishioners began to regularly pray to St. Jude, and the International Shrine was constructed to the left of the altar, including a relic of Saint Jude. Now, Our Lady of Guadalupe, the chapel is the official Chapel of the New Orleans Police and Fire Departments.

Afterwards, you’ll head back to the hotel to freshen up and get ready for dinner at Arnaud’s.

Day 3 – Wednesday - Mid-City - City Park

Enjoy a leisurely morning with breakfast at the hotel before heading to the Saint Francis Cabrini Shrine and Our Lady of the Rosary Church, where you’ll have Mass.

Saint Francis Cabrini Shrine was started as 2 orphanages opened by Saint Francis Cabrini in 1892 and 1905. Mother Cabrini was the first woman to establish a missionary order of women, and they were requested by Pope Leo XIII in A.D. 1889 to minister to the immigrants in the United States. In 1959, both orphanages were combined to establish the Cabrini High School for young women. Today, her legacy is carried out by the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus as well as the faculty and staff of Cabrini High School. You’ll have the opportunity to visit the Shrine and Museum dedicated to Saint Francis Cabrini as well as her bedroom and the Sacred Heart of Jesus Chapel.

Afterwards, you’ll have the rest of the day free for lunch, exploring City Park, and resting. We would suggest trying Parkway Bakery & Tavern or Deutsches Haus for lunch! Tonight, dinner will be at 7pm at Galatoire’s.

Day 4 – Thursday - Downtown - Lower Garden District

After breakfast, you’ll head to downtown New Orleans, also known as the Central Business District. You’ll get to visit and walk through Saint Patrick’s Church before attending Mass at 11:30am.

Saint Patrick’s Church was founded in 1833 and was completed in 1840. It is the second-oldest parish in New Orleans, behind Saint Louis Cathedral, and is one of the nation’s earliest examples of Gothic Revival architecture. It was initially established for the Irish who immigrated in the early nineteenth century and was the pro-cathedral of the diocese during the rebuilding of Saint Louis Cathedral A.D. 1849-1851.

Then, you’ll have time for lunch nearby and to enjoy Lafayette Square. Around 2pm, we’ll meet back in front of Saint Patrick’s Church before heading to Julia Row and the National Shrine of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos.

The National Shrine of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos was established in 1959 to promote the cause of canonization of Blessed Father Seelos, a Redemptorist priest from Germany with a passion for missionary work. The Shrine is located in Saint Mary’s Assumption Church along with a Reliquary and is adjacent to the “Walk of Life” museum, dedicated to the life of Blessed Father Seelos. As you go walk through the grounds, you’ll also have the opportunity to view his remains, his original coffin, artifacts from his life, and first-class relics of various saints.

Then, you’ll have time to freshen up before heading to Ye Olde College Inn for dinner.

Day 5 – Friday - Uptown

This morning, after breakfast, you’ll get to visit the Basilica of Saint Stephen and the National Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor.

Basilica of Saint Stephen was first a very simple structure built in A.D. 1850. After exponential growth, the Church began construction in A.D. 1868, and had its first Mass on December 26, A.D. 1887, which is the feast of Saint Stephen. This Basilica was built in a German Gothic style and is the second largest Catholic Church in New Orleans. It is known for its six sided spire that rises over 200 feet high as well as its stained glass windows, which were designed by the Fanz Mayer Company of Munich, Germany.

The National Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor is adjacent to the Ursuline Academy and is ran by the Ursuline nuns. In A.D. 1803, most of the Ursulines left New Orleans for Cuba, and Mother St. Andre Madier was one of seven nuns that remained. She appealed to her cousin who was an Ursuline in France, Mother St. Michel. In December A.D. 1810, Mother St. Michel, some friends, and the statue of Our Lady of Prompt Succor arrived in New Orleans. Since then, this devotion has grown and was officially approved in A.D. 1912. Through the intercession of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, the Ursuline Convent was spared during the New Orleans Fire on Good Friday in A.D. 1788 and the city was saved from British control as General Andrew Jackson and his men were victorious in the Battle of New Orleans in A.D. 1815.

Then, there will be time for lunch, we suggest La Boulangerie or Osteria Lupo. The rest of the afternoon is free to walk through the pretty neighborhoods, visit Audubon Park, Audubon Zoo, and/or rest and pack for your return home in the morning. There will be a Farewell Dinner tonight at Commander’s Palace.

Day 6 – Saturday - Return Home

Today, after breakfast and farewells, you’ll return home. There will be a private transfer for those that are flying out.

Includes:

• 5 nights in the Hotel Tonnelle or similar with Porterage (1 piece per person)

• Catholic, English-speaking local guides

• Breakfast and Dinner Daily

• Water & A Glass of Wine with dinners

• Streetcar passes

• Airport Transfers

• Sightseeing and admissions fees as per itinerary

• Daily Mass and Spiritual Activities Coordinated