Fr. Ryan’s Final Homily of the Pilgrimage - Day 8 As we gather for this final Mass of our pilgrimage, I find myself returning to a simple question: Why did God bring us here? Not why did we choose France. Not why did we choose Lourdes. But why did God bring us here, at this moment, in our lives? Because I don’t believe this pilgrimage was an accident. God has been at work long before we boarded a plane in Miami. Long before we packed our suitcases. Long before we ever imagine

Saint David Parish Pilgrimage to France – Day 8: Lourdes Our final full day in Lourdes was truly a day of grace, prayer, and reflection as we continued to walk in the footsteps of St. Bernadette. The day began with visits to the Bernadette Museum and the humble birthplace and family home where St. Bernadette lived. Standing in these simple places helped us appreciate the extraordinary way God works through ordinary people. Bernadette was a poor and unassuming young girl, yet

Fr. Ryan’s Homily - Day 7 Lourdes Tonight feels different. For seven days we have journeyed together through France. We have walked in the footsteps of saints. We have prayed in places where God has done extraordinary things. We have celebrated Mass in beautiful churches and shrines. Every stop has been a gift. But I must confess something to you. This is the place I have been waiting for. Long before this pilgrimage was planned, long before flights were booked or itineraries

Pilgrimage Day 7 – Lourdes Today we said au revoir to Paris and began the next chapter of our pilgrimage journey. Early this morning we boarded France’s high-speed train and traveled south through the beautiful French countryside toward one of the most beloved pilgrimage destinations in the world: Lourdes. Much of the day was spent on the train, giving our pilgrims an opportunity to rest, pray, reflect, and enjoy fellowship as we journeyed together. Pilgrimages are not only a

Fr. Ryan’s Homily on Day 6 of the Pilgrimage. Today we gather in one of the most extraordinary yet surprisingly simple places in all of Paris. Unlike the grandeur of the great cathedrals and basilicas we have visited, the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal is modest and unassuming. If you were walking down the street, you might pass it without giving it a second glance. And yet, heaven touched earth here. It was in this very chapel in 1830 that the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to

Day 6 – Walking with the Saints in Paris Today marked the sixth day of our Saint David Parish Pilgrimage, and it was a day filled with grace, history, and profound encounters with some of the great saints of France. Our morning began with Holy Mass at the Shrine of the Miraculous Medal, the motherhouse of the Daughters of Charity in Paris. In this simple and unassuming chapel, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St. Catherine Labouré in 1830 and entrusted to her the design of

Fr. Ryan’s Homily - Day 5 As we gather on this fifth day of our pilgrimage, we find ourselves in one of the most recognizable churches in the world: the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, known as Sacré-Cœur, overlooking the city of Paris from the heights of Montmartre. This magnificent basilica was built after a period of great turmoil in France during the late nineteenth century. It was conceived as a place of prayer, reparation, and hope—a visible reminder that God’s mercy is g

Saint David Parish Pilgrimage – Day 5: Montmartre & the Heart of Paris Today our pilgrims spent the day in one of the most charming and historic corners of Paris—Montmartre, the picturesque hilltop village that has inspired artists, saints, and travelers for centuries. With its winding cobblestone streets, quaint cafés, and stunning views, Montmartre feels more like a small village than a bustling part of one of the world’s largest cities. Towering above the neighborhood is t

Fr. Ryan’s Homily - Day 4 Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Matthew 9:36–10:8 St. Peter Church, Arromanches, Normandy As we gather today on Day 4 of our Saint David Parish pilgrimage, we bring with us the experiences, prayers, and graces of these past several days. We have walked in the footsteps of St. Thérèse in Lisieux, climbed to the heights of Mont Saint-Michel, and today we find ourselves here in Normandy, gathered in the beautiful Church of St. Peter in Arromanches. Eac

Saint David Parish Pilgrimage – Day 4 Today marked our final morning in the historic Normandy region, and it was a day filled with prayer, remembrance, and gratitude. We began at Omaha Beach, one of the principal landing sites of the Allied invasion on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Standing on the sands where thousands of brave young men stormed ashore under heavy enemy fire, we were reminded of the tremendous courage and sacrifice that secured freedom for future generations. Looking

Fr. Ryan’s Homily on Day 3 of the Pilgrimage. Today the Church celebrates the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It is a providential gift that on this third day of our pilgrimage we find ourselves here at Mont Saint-Michel, celebrating Mass in St. Pierre Church, the parish church that has served the people of this remarkable island for centuries. When we arrived at Mont Saint-Michel, we were greeted by a sight unlike any other in the world. Rising from the sea, crowne

Saint David Parish Pilgrimage – Day 3 Today began bright and early… or perhaps more accurately, before bright and early! Many of our pilgrims were awake at “zero dark thirty,” with breakfast scheduled for 5:15 a.m. and our motorcoach departing at 6:00 a.m. for the two-and-a-half-hour journey to one of France’s most breathtaking spiritual treasures: Mont Saint-Michel. Rising dramatically from the sea, Mont Saint-Michel traces its origins to the year 708 when Saint Michael the

Day 2 of the Saint David Parish Pilgrimage Today we walked in the footsteps of one of the Church’s most beloved saints, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the “Little Flower.” Our day began at the Carmelite Carmel where Thérèse lived her vocation alongside her sisters Marie, Pauline, and Céline. In the quiet simplicity of the convent, we experienced the contemplative atmosphere that shaped her spirituality and inspired her “Little Way” of holiness. We also had the opportunity to pray be

We arrived in Lisieux and had Mass this evening at the Basilica of Saint Therese. More to come!

Arrived in Paris, now off to Lisieux!

Today we begin an incredible journey of faith as our Saint David Parish Pilgrimage to France gets underway. Over the next several days, we will walk in the footsteps of saints, celebrate Mass in some of the most sacred places in the Church, and entrust our prayers to the Lord through the intercession of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, St. Bernadette, Our Lady of Lourdes, and so many others. From Lisieux and Mont Saint-Michel to Paris and Lourdes, we pray not only for ourselves but fo