Itinerary Includes:

● Holy Mass on Monday at the National Shrine of St. Dymphna

● Veneration of the holy relic of St. Dymphna at the Shrine

● Holy Mass on Tuesday in the Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption

● Opportunities for Confession, time for private prayer, and fellowship with other pilgrims

● Pray the Rosary, Chaplet of St. Dymphna, Liturgy of the Hours, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and other traditional Catholic devotions as a group

● Banquet dinner at Kozmo's Grille in Massillon, OH

● Frequent stops on Sunday and Tuesday. We stop about every 2 hours for quick rest breaks.

COST

Pilgrimage fee is $199 per person plus hotel. Fee includes round-trip transportation in a luxury motor coach, admittance to all sites, bus driver gratuity, and all snacks and meals.

RESERVE YOUR SPOT BY:

1. Access the registration form by clicking the link below or by calling Sue at 704-431-2861.

Reservation Form

2. Mail a check for $199 made out to “Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church” with “St. Dymphna” in the memo line and mail to:

Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church

725 Deese St.

Monroe, NC 28112

3. Deadline for registration is February 16, 2025.

4. Last day for refunds is February 26, 2025. See refund policy for more information.

***Please note your spot is not confirmed until payment is received***

HOTEL

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Hampton Inn in Massillon, OH.

· $115 per night + 15.5% tax for 2 queen beds

· $125 per night + 15.5% tax for 1 king bed.

Group Code is 91K.

Reservations can be made by 1 of 4 ways:

- Calling the hotel directly at 330-834-1144

- Calling 1-800-HAMPTON using the Group Code 91K

- On-line www.hamptoninn.com the Group Code 91K

- On-line using this Direct Booking Link: Hilton Hotels

Reservations must be made by February 10, 2025, to take advantage of the discounted rate.

Frequently asked questions

Who is St. Dymphna?

St. Dymphna was born in the 7th century in Ireland. Her father, a pagan was king of Oriel. Her mother, a descendent of nobility, was a devout Christian who was remarkable for both her piety and beauty. Baptized by Fr. Gerebran, Dymphna was filled with love for Jesus Christ, and chose Him for her Divine spouse. She consecrated her virginity to Him and to His Blessed Mother by a vow of chastity. Dymphna lost her mother at a very young age. Her father sought another spouse, but was unsuccessful. He then turned his intentions toward Dymphna. Dymphna fled her father with the aid of Fr. Gerebran to Gheel, Belgium.

Eventually her father found them and in his rage beheaded both Fr. Gerebran, and Dymphna. She was 15 years old. When the King of Oriel and his raiders had left, the townspeople buried the two in a cave near Gheel. They were later buried properly in consecrated ground. Today St. Dymphna’s relics repose in a beautiful golden reliquary in the magnificent church of St. Dymphna, on the cave site where the bodies were first buried. And the miracles began.

When St. Dymphna’s relic was touched to those suffering mental and emotional disorders, the number of cures defied belief.

For fully 14 centuries the Irish Princess who died at the hand of an insane father has continued to manifest the power of God’s saints to a world that – in some ways as transfixed as her father – still cannot comprehend. The help of St. Dymphna is sought around the world by those afflicted with deep anxiety, depression, mental fear and all other mental disorders.

Where is the National Shrine of St. Dymphna located?

The National Shrine of St. Dymphna is located inside St. Mary's Catholic Church at 206 Cherry Rd NE, Massillon, OH 44646

Do I have to ride the bus?

Yes. The majority of the pilgrimage occurs on the bus. A very important part of the pilgrimage experience is the time spent in community on the bus. We understand not everyone is able to travel by bus for a variety of reasons. Regrettably this may not be the trip for you. We invite you to be with us in prayer during the trip. Also, you are welcome to visit the shrine on your own at another time. Please visit their website for hours.

What if I get motion sickness?

This is probably not the trip for you. We travel by motorcoach on major interstate highways but the roads can get curvy and bumpy especially through parts of WV. If you normally suffer from motion sickness, it is recommended that you do not join this trip.

Can I bring food on the bus?

Yes! In fact, we ask that you bring a sack lunch with you when we leave on Sunday. All other meals are provided. Some snacks and bottled water will be provided.

What is a bus pilgrimage?

One spiritual director, one bus, and 40-50 pilgrims. Two full days on the bus with a day in between to be at the shrine. Since we spend most of the day Sunday and Tuesday traveling on the bus, we take full advantage of this time together. While on the bus we will join in community prayers such as the rosary, the divine chaplet of mercy, and the St. Dymphna novena. We even watch movies hand-selected by our spiritual director. Of course we will also have all day Monday at the National Shrine of St. Dymphna, too!

A pilgrimage is also a personal and sometimes private journey. No one is asked to share their reasons for coming on this trip. This is a special time to be in community but also to be reflective. There may be laughter, there may be tears, but most of all there will be the experience of God's love and mercy fueled by the fervent prayers of our dear St. Dymphna.

What time does the bus leave/return?

The bus has 2 pickup locations. For the Monroe, NC location the pick up time is Sunday at 11:30 am. For the Mooresville, NC location the pick up time is 12:30 pm. The bus returns on Tuesday at approximately 8:00 pm in Mooresville and 9:00 pm in Monroe.

Are there any gift shops?

Yes, both the National Shrine of St. Dymphna and the Basilica of St. Mary have gift shops with a variety of religious items. They both accept cash or credit cards.

We also plan to stop at Tamarack Marketplace in Beckley, WV which has an impressive selection of locally made items for sale. They also accept all major forms of payment.

What is the dress attire?

Casual. Jeans and tennis shoes are fine. Layers are recommend since it may be cool on the bus. You do not need to dress up for mass. We are pilgrims on this journey and are expected to dress as travelers.

Are children allowed on the pilgrimage?

Yes, but only with approval from both the spiritual director and the trip director. Keep in mind this is a long bus trip with a lot of time spent in quiet prayer at the shrine. Children/teens comfortable in this situation are welcome.

What is the cancellation policy?

Payment in full is required at the time of booking the reservation for the St. Dymphna Pilgrimage.

Should you need to cancel your trip contact the trip coordinator as soon as possible to discuss options.

Please refer to the list below for the refund schedule:

60 days prior to departure = 100%

30 days prior to departure = 50%

15 days prior to departure = 25%

< 15 days prior to departure = 0%