La Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière

Fourvière is a district of Lyon, France, a hill immediately west of the old part of the town, rising from the river Saône. The hill's landmark is the gleaming Notre-Dame Basilica, built in the late 1800s. Inside this ornate building, everything is covered with elaborate, gleaming mosaics that tell stories of the Virgin Mary. Next to the basilica, a chapel that predates the church by 500 years is capped by a glorious gold statue of Mary overlooking the city.

Before their departure for Texas, the new "missionary" band of Sisters celebrated Mass in the chapel, presided over by Bishop Claude Marie Dubuis, Bishop of Texas. (It was Bishop Dubuis who recruited the first women for the new mission.) According to accounts, a "large number of faithful" were present: "All joined in chanting the Sub Tuum, the traditonal prayer for travelers," and then another prayer to Mary, "consecrating the new Texas missionaries to Mary, Queen of the Apostles."