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What is the Sojourn Lasallian Pilgrimage & Renewal Program?
The Sojourn Lasallian Pilgrimage and Renewal Program was conceived in 2006 as a unifying activity for all Lasallian Schools in the Philippines in celebration of the 100th year of Lasallian presence in the Philippines. It was designed to deepen the spiritual experience of Lasallian Family members by a physical return to our Lasallian roots and was designed to facilitate an experience and provide spiritual and educational opportunities for deepening the Lasallian charism. At the end of every pilgrimage, pilgrims are returning home, feeling spiritually and culturally nourished and inspired.
Sojourn is a Lasallian pilgrimage to Western Europe, specifically to significant Lasallian places in France, Belgium, and Italy. The 20+ day pilgrimage consists of visits to Lasallian pilgrimage sites, Cathedrals dedicated in honor of Our Lady, historical and cultural sites, Masses, Lasallian prayer services, talks, personal sharing etc.
Who can join the Sojourn Lasallian Pilgrimage & Renewal Program?
Sojourn is open to all members of the Lasallian Family who:
are willing to know more about St. John Baptist De La Salle;
are willing to share to others what they have learned; and
are prepared to travel spiritually, physically, emotionally, and financially.
Who are the members of the Lasallian Family?
The Lasallian Family includes:
Brothers of the Christian Schools;
Guadalupana De La Salle Sisters;
De La Salle Sisters;
Lasallian Partners (Teachers and Staff);
School Administrators;
Students;
Alumni;
Parents; and
Members of the Board of Trustees.
What are the places to be visited?
Sojourn usually includes the four major places in the life of Saint John Baptist De La Salle which are Reims, Paris, Parmenie, and Rouen, all in France. This also includes visits to sites where Lasallian Saints are venerated like Thuret and Saugues for St. Benilde Romançon, Malonne, Belgium for St. Mutien Marie Waiux, Paris for St. Solomon Leqlerq, and Reims for Bl. Br. Arnould Reche. The Sojourn Coordinating Team (SCT) makes sure that the Pilgrims will be able to trace the footsteps of the Founder and so a visit to other Lasallian sites is also included.
Since 2023, the SCT added more value to the pilgrims' experience by including the Virgo Mariae and Ave Maria which consists of eight (8) Cathedrales in honor of Our Lady (Notre Dame) and 5 more churches/chapels in honor of Our Lady, such as: Cathedrale Notre Dame de Reims, Cathedrale Notre Dame de Rouen, Cathedrale Notre Dame de Bayeaux, Cathedrale Notre Dame de Evreux, Cathedrale Notre Dame de Chartres, Cathedrale Saint Etienne de Bourges, Cathedrale Saint Crois d'Orleans, Cathedrale Notre Dame de Paris, Notre Dame de Liesse, Notre Dame de Etoile, Notre Dame dela Medaille Miraculeuse, Notre Dame de Lourdes, and Notre Dame de Parmenie.
Cultural and Historical visits to at least four (4) sites in Belgium and France. Visits and experiences in various religious places that will enhance our Catholic Spirituality.
Lastly, is the visit to the seven (7) pilgrim churches of Rome: Basilica di San Lorenzo fouri le mura, Basilica di San Sebastiano fouri le mura, Basilica di San Pablo fouri le mura, Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano, Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano, Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, Basilica di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme.
Do we get some free time for our personal activities during the Pilgrimage?
Yes! While there is a schedule that you need to follow, the Pilgrimage activities do not usually take the whole day, except in some places. Once the activities are done, the SCT also gives everyone a chance to explore the place and experience the culture. Some may want to try the native delicacies, visit museums, or simply do shopping for souvenirs. These free times also allow the pilgrims to visit the laundromats to have fresh set of clothes when they move to another city.
In most places, most evenings are free and usually that is the best time to explore the place when the landscape changes as the night falls. In big cities like Paris and Rome, the pilgrims will have a whole day or two for themselves after the pilgrimage activities are done.
What are the accommodations like?
Since 2007, Sojourn was able to keep the cost low by staying in Diocesan houses, Lasallian facilities, and in some towns, 3-star hotels. The usual hotels are Hotel Roissy, Ibis, and B&B Hotels.
Rooming assignments are also done to maximize sharing and fellowship with fellow pilgrims.
How do the pilgrims travel around the destinations?
For the entire pilgrimage, pilgrims will be using a chartered coach. An exception to this is while the pilgrims are in Paris because each pilgrim will be given a free choice of where they want to spend their day after the visit to Lasallian sites. The Paris Metro is the best way to explore Paris. In going to Rome the pilgrims will take another flight via local airlines.
It is common for the pilgrims to have a chartered coach each for Northern France, Southern France, and Italy. The SCT has established a relationship with these coach providers who assign English-speaking drivers to the group.
How much does each pilgrim from the Philippines pay?
For pilgrims coming from the Philippines, the SCT will bill them to include the airfare from Manila to Paris and from Rome to Manila, travel insurance, and to cover the cost of pre-pilgrimage sessions. This is about Php260,000, which may vary due to the changes in Euros to Pesos exchange rate.
We can also accommodate requests for Business Class booking and for single room arrangement but the requesting pilgrim shall pay the cost difference. Request for single room is also subject to availablitity at the hotel.
Visa application charges shall be borne by the pilgrims. For visa application, we usually request for an onsite visa processing where all the pilgrims will enjoy an exclusive schedule where the visa screeners will come to our designated venue and shall only process the Sojourn pilgrims' applications. But this comes with a convenience fee to be paid on top of the visa fee.
How about for pilgrims coming from other countries?
For pilgrims coming from other countries the program costs around EUR3,600 (depending on exchange rate) and shall cover the following:
Airfare from France to Italy
Accommodation to hotels and diocesan houses
Chartered Coach
Pilgrimage materials
Pilgrimage Apparel
Administrative Fee
Entrance Fees
Pre-determined Meals
Airfare from city of origin to Europe and back to their country shall be for the account of the pilgrim, except for those flying out and back to Manila. Pilgrims from other countries usually link up with the main group at Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris.
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