Joyful Catholic Journeys

St. Teresa of Avila Marian Pilgrimage

hosted by Fr. Luca Pinapati, St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Parish, Harrah, OK
departing Oklahoma City.

$3,619 plus current air taxes, fuel surcharge and tips.

Download  RESERVATION FORM and INFORMATION HERE

Saturday, June 11- DAY 1 – DEPART USA – Today we depart our home airport to connect with our overnight flight aboard a wide-bodied jet. We are served complimentary beverages, inflight movies, dinner and breakfast aloft.

Sunday, June 12 – DAY 2 – Pentecost LISBON/FATIMA We arrive in Madrid and transfer to our flight to Lisbon Airport, where we are met and given a short orientation tour of Lisbon before the drive
to Fatima. If possible, we celebrate Mass at the Church of the famous Eucharistic Miracle at Santerem. Balance of the day at leisure. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Monday, June 13 –DAY 3 – FATIMA - This full day is devoted to visiting the Basilica and Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima and the birthplaces of Francisco, Jacinta and Lucia to whom the Virgin appeared for the first time on May 13th, 1917. In the evening, we join the Rosary and candlelight procession. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Tuesday, June 14 DAY 4 – FATIMA/SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA - Today we depart Fatima, passing by the ancient capital and university city of Coimbra, where Lucia, the only living Fatima visionary is a cloistered nun. We continue northwards into Spain and on to Santiago de Compostela, one of the most famous shrines in the western world. This is the site of the ancient pilgrimage to the Shrine of St. James. Tradition holds that the Apostle James was cast ashore here preaching for seven years and being responsible for the conversion of Spain before returning to the Holy Land. The Cathedral of 11th to 13th century with its splendor, and the portico are masterworks of Romanesque art. On arrival this afternoon, we enjoy a visit to the Cathedral and the Old City here. While dinner is included at our hotel, the adventurous might consider enjoying the varied delights of the Galatian restaurants in the nearby Old City.

Wednesday, June 15 – DAY 5 – SANTANDER – Following our walk to Mass at the Cathedral of Santiago we return to our hotel for breakfast and then head east to Santander along one of the many “Routes of St. James”. While this is our longest coach day, the wonderful scenery of mountains and sea awe us as our roads hug the northern Spanish seacoast. Lunch on our own is taken along our route. Dinner and overnight in Santander.

Thursday, June 16 – DAY 6 – LOURDES - We continue eastward along the Basque coast via San Sebastian and cross the border into France. In late afternoon we arrive in Lourdes for dinner before joining the Torchlight Pilgrim’s Procession.

Friday, June 17 – DAY 7 – LOURDES - This day is spent in devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes. Visit the Grotto, Shrine and Basilica and partake of the legendary, healing waters of the miraculous Lourdes spring. Tonight, we have the option of once again participating in the Torchlight Procession.

Saturday, June 18- DAY 8 – LOURDES/ ZARAGOZA - This morning we depart Lourdes and traverse the Pyrenees southward entering northern Spain. we travel eastward to Zaragoza, the capital of Aragon. On arrival, we visit the city which was founded by the Romans. Its luxuriant vegetation, with its many cascades and grottos make it a miniature Switzerland in the middle of arid upper Aragon. This city was also the birthplace of Goya, whose works grace many of the sites we visit. The number one Marian shrine of Spain, the Pilar Basilica commemorates apparitions of Our Lady the Pillar to St. James in 40 AD, and if possible we celebrate Mass. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Sunday, June 19 – Holy Trinity – DAY 9 – ZARAGOZA/MADRID - This morning leaving the city and traveling south, we reach Madrid. This afternoon we visit all the highlights of Madrid, capital of Spain, including the Gran Via Plaza de España, the Viaduct, Plaza Major, the Bull Ring, Independence and Cibeles Squares, the University, and the Paseo de la Castellana. Later we make our way to our hotel for dinner and overnight

Monday, June 20 -DAY 10 – AVILA/VALLEY OF THE FALLEN/MADRID – This morning we drive to Avila, the birthplace of St. Teresa of Jesus, (1515-1582), one of the Church’s greatest and most influential mystics. Here we will also visit the Cathedral and the Convent of the Incarnation, where St. Teresa lived for three decades and St. John of the Cross, her spiritual director and confessor lived for the last two years of her life. Later we head back towards Madrid which will take us past “El Escorial” and a brief stop at the Valley of the Fallen a spectacular monument to the dead of the Spanish Civil War. We return to Madrid for dinner and overnight

Tuesday, June 21 DAY 11 – RETURN - We transfer to the airport for our flight home with unforgettable memories to cherish always.

For more information, call Melani at 405-642-8139 or email melani@travelovertures.com

Download RESERVATION FORM and INFORMATION HERE

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Can I pay with my credit card?
We accept VISA, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. You may also pay by check or money order.

What are the Cancellation Penalties?

Until June 10, 2010: $ 100 per person
Until July 10, 2010: $200 per person
Until August 20, 2010: $300 per person
Until September 15, 2010: $400 per person
Until October 15, 2010: $500 per person
Until November 15, 2010: $600 per person
Until December 11, 2010: $700 per person
Until January 11, 2011: $1200 per person
NO AMOUNT REFUNDABLE AFTER THIS DATE

Can we fly out of our own local airport?
Yes, you may fly out of additional gateways. Bear in mind, however, that you may be on a different international flight than those departing from New York.

Can we book our own air from our local airport to New York?
Yes, you may. You will need to allow plenty of time to make your connection with the transatlantic flight. That flight itinerary will not be available until early 2011. Booking the cruise air add-on now eliminates a lot of worry, and online flight research time on your part.

Can we fly First or Business Class?
We cannot differentiate between seat classes with bulk group pricing. It is better that you book your own roundtrip First or Business class airfare from your gateway to Athens. In this case, we recommend flying in a day earlier. A very nice hotel is the Athens Imperial, $180 per dbl per night. Then the next morning you would transfer to the cruise ship. We can help you with these arrangements.

We want to use air miles to pay for part of our flight costs. Can we do so?
It is not possible to use air miles to pay for bulk-priced flights booked by the cruise line. Therefore, if you want to purchase air with earned air miles it is recommended you only purchase the cruise only, and book your own roundtrip air from your gateway to Athens. If so, you may deduct $500 from the cost of the cruise package per person and ignore the airport taxes.

When will we know our flight schedules?
Flights schedules are available approximately one month before the sailing.

I have a wheelchair. Can I still participate in this cruise and the tours?
The Cristal has elevators on it. The streets we will travel on our daily excursions are very old, cobblestoned, and sometimes unpaved. Vehicles are not allowed within the old city of Jerusalem. You must have someone accompanying you to help you and the chair maneuver through the streets. Note that there will be, at times, steep inclines and downhill slopes, and passageways built of stairsteps between some of the buildings.

I have special needs and diet. Can these be accommodated?
Wheelchairs can be requested for traversing airport terminals, and transatlantic flight special dietary meals can often be requested. We must know your special needs in advance, at the time of booking!

I need a cane or stroller to help me walk. Can I still participate in this cruisetour?
On most of our daily excursions, the motorcoach will be able to park close to the sites, although there still may be some uphill, downhill, uneven pathways to walk. In Jerusalen, no vehicles are allowed, so you will need to be able to walk from outside the city walls into its interior and around to the sites.

I am a priest. Are their special considerations/discounts for Religious?
On all Joyful Catholic Journeys itineraries, the first Catholic priest to sign up, and agree to serve as the group’s Spiritual Leader for the entire trip, will travel free. The priest must pay upfront any airport and port taxes and fees, which will be reimbursed after the trip is over. All other Religious (clergy, nuns, and monks) traveling with the group will pay the regular per person fares for a double or single accommodation.

Must one be Catholic to participate in this cruise?
One need not be Catholic. The group leader on this cruise is a priest, and daily Mass will be offered for any who wish to attend. Attendance at daily Mass is not required of anyone. Catholics are obligated to attend Mass on Sunday.

Will daily Mass be offered?
Yes, all Joyful Catholic Journeys itineraries offer you the option of attending daily Masses. These are presided over by the group’s spiritual director, who is the group leader. Mass will sometimes be held in the morning or evening aboard ship, and on other days at our visited sacred sites.

We’re married. Do cabins have Double or Queen sized beds in them?
Cabins have twin beds which may be pushed together to make a “matrimonial.” This is best requested at the time of booking.

I have opted for the shorter, Lands of the Bible itinerary. When do I leave the group and return to the USA?
Passengers on the March 9-18, 2011 LOB cruise will disembark on the 18th followed by an Athens and Corinth tour. They will overnight at a very nice hotel in Athens, departing for the USA on March 19th.

When do we board the cruise ship?
Embarkation will normally begin around 3:00 PM on March 9th.

What time will our flight arrive in Athens?
Generally in the morning.

What time do we disembark the Cristal on the 25th?
Very early in the morning.

Can someone outside the USA participate in this cruise?
Yes. Let us know the gateway s/he wishes to depart from, and the cruise line will arrange their roundtrip air to and from Athens. Contact us for a price quote.

Do USA passport holders need a Visa?
No, US passengers holding a valid US passport will not need a visa. The passport should be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date you enter Israel. Citizens of other countries may need various types of visas, such as a multi-entry Schengen visa for Greece and Turkey, plus a separate visa for Egypt. Passengers are responsible for acquiring their own proper travel documents! Check with your Embassy or Consulate for requirements. Do this as soon as you know you wish to participate, as papers can take weeks to process.

What airline will we use for our transatlantic flight?
It will be on one of the following: Delta, Lufthansa, British Airlines, or Olympic Airlines

Why should I purchase the travel insurance?
Even the best-planned vacation can be turned upside down by the unexpected, putting your vacation investment at risk. Trip delays, lost baggage, or unexpected injury or illness can cost you more than just your vacation. They also can cost a lot of extra money you had not planned on spending. It is always a good idea to insure your vacation to receive the peace of mind you deserve while traveling. We are proud to represent CSA Travel Protection insurance. View details by clicking here.

Please tell me a bit about the ship Cristal.
The Cristal was originally a Norwegian Cruise Lines vessel. It has a maximum passenger capacity of 1200 persons among 10 passenger decks. There are four elevators. The electric current is 110-220V AC. It has a cruising speed of up to 18 knots. There are 317 Outside Staterooms, 163 Inside Staterooms for a total of 480 staterooms. More information on the ship including cabin photos and room dimensions is available here. Also check out the Useful Information sheet here.

Is smoking allowed onboard?
There is no smoking inside cabins and public rooms. Smoking is allowed in designated areas outside on deck.

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Submitted by Greg Christie
Tuesday, 08 June 2010 14:09

The Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Nassau, the Most Reverend Patrick C. Pinder, STD, CMG, will lead a group of pilgrims to Grand Bahama this weekend as he continues visits to catholic parishes throughout The Bahamas. The Golden Jubilee Pilgrimages, under the theme: “A Year of Favour from the Lord,” commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Elevation of the Roman Catholic Vicariate of The Bahamas to the dignity of a Diocese. Read more

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from CatholicCulture.org

This week the Vatican is opening an exhibit featuring Diego Gelmirez, the first Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela, Spain who was instrumental in the construction of that city’s cathedral and in establishing the traditional pilgrimage to Compostela that countless thousands of Christians have made over the years. Read more

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from The Guardian
Armchair pilgrims can go online to light electronic candles next to the shrine at Santiago de Compostela’s St James’s cathedral.

It is the most famous and arduous Christian pilgrimage in Europe, but those without the time or energy to traipse all the way to the Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela now need only a credit card and an internet connection to light a candle at the shrine of St James. Read more

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Planning a Family Vacation? Business trip? Cruise? Honeymoon or Destination Wedding? Visit our main travel site, Travel Overtures all your travel needs

with Rev. James Goins, Chickasha, OK 

October 3-15, 2011
12 Days

$3,899.00 per person

Montecassino Abbey

plus Taxes, Fuel Surcharges, and Tips

Roundtrip from Oklahoma City (other gateways available)

Day 1 – USA/ITALY
Day 2 – ROME/MONTECASSINO/SORRENTO ***visit the Mother House of St. Gregory’s Benedictine Order
Day 3 – CAPRI *** cruise the Bay of Naples to Isle of Dreams; visit Anacpri and the Blue Grotto
Day 4 – POMPEII/AMALFI COAST ***travel the world’s most beautiful scenic highway
Day 5 – SORRENTO/SAN GIOVANNI ROTUNDO *** Mass at Padre Pio’s tomb; visit his church and his cell
Day 6 – LANCIANO/LORETO *** see the oldest Eucharistic Miracle certified by the Roman catholic Church
Day 7 – PERUGIA/ROME
Day 8 – ROME
Day 9 – ROME
Day 10- ROME
Day 11- Free Day in Rome
Day 12- ITALY/USA

$300 deposit per person. Balance due by August 1, 2011.

Download Complete Itinerary and Reservation Form. 

 

Custom itinerary provided by Unitours, Inc.

 

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Rev. James Caldwell, Krebs, OK, is leading a Fall, 2010  Pilgrimage to Medugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina.

 OCT. 11 – OCT 20, 2010
$2,449 .00 Round Trip from OKLAHOMA CITY

Complete Package Includes:

7 Nights in Medjugorje
Twin bedded rooms with private bath, double or triple occupancy
Breakfast and early Dinner daily in Medjugorje
English speaking guide
Full pilgrimage schedule
Private talk with Mirjana
Round trip air to Dubrovnik
Ground transportation to and from Medjugorje
Overnight hotel stay in Vienna w/breakfast on return
All taxes included (an additional fuel surcharge may be applied at time of ticketing)

All tips included

 Download Flyer and Reservation Form or call me at 405-642-8139!

Itinerary provided by Trinity Pilgrimages.

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EXCLUSIVE to Joyful Catholic Journeys! Grand Christian Cruise to the Holy Land aboard the SOPCC Cristal! March 8-25, 2011

Join Right Reverend Lawrence Stasyszen, Abbot of St. Gregory’s Abbey and Chancellor of St. Gregory’s University, and noted Catholic author Elizabeth Ficocelli on an incredible “once in a lifetime journey” to the Holy Lands.

Read their complete biographies here!

Visit the Lands of Goshen: Cairo, Great Pyramids of Giza, King Tut treasures, Jerusalem’s Western Wall, Mount of Olives, Gethsemane, Via Dolorosa, the Upper Room, the House of Caiaphas; Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity, Shepherd’s Field, the Sea of Galilee, Mount of the Beatitudes, the Church of the Fish and the Loaves, the Chapel of the Primacy; Capernaum, the River Jordan; Paphos, St. Paul’s Pillar; Rhodes: the Acropolis, St. Paul’s Bay; Athens (ancient Piraeus): the Acropolis, the Propylae, the Parthenon, the Erectheum, Mars Hill, the Agora, Olympic Stadium; Corinth: Archaeological Museum, the Market Place, the Temples, the Bema; Thessaloniki: the House of Jason, the Agora; Kavala (ancient Neapolis) and Phillipi, the Baptistry of Lydia; Istanbul: Topkapi Palace, the Sultan Ahmed (Blue) Mosque, St. Sophia; Pergamon; Kusadasi; Ephesus: restored ruins, ancient Agora, Library of Celsus, and the Great Theater mentioned in Acts; Patmos: the cave and monastery of St. John.

Get all of the details  HERE! What better time to visit the Holy Land than Lent in 2011!

Don’t have 16 days? Reserve your spot on our alternate Lands of the Bible Cruise!

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Want to avoid the potentially imminent increases if passport fees? Clear your schedule for Saturday, March 27, as all 23 regional passport offices will be open to the public in honor of Passport Day in the USA. Any citizen in need of a passport can walk into any of these 23 offices without an appointment between 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. A list of these office locations can be found at http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_4312.html.

The State Department formally announced its proposal to increase U.S. passport fees in order to fully recover its costs for producing these travel documents. The State Department said it intends to implement its proposed new fees as soon as practicable after it reviews public comments, but certainly not before April.

A summary of some of the proposed fee increases for both the passport book and card are as follows:

*    First-time Passport Book for Adult – Increasing from $100 to $135
*    Renewal Passport Book for Adult – Increasing from $75 to $110
*    Passport Book for Minors – Increases from $60 to $105
*    Passport Card for Adult – From $20 to $30
*    Passport Card for Minors – From $10 to $15

The National Association of Passport and Visa Services (NAPVS) member companies routinely help employees of the Fortune 1000, federal and state government agencies and national nonprofit organizations who need their passports and visas within 24 hours or 48 hours.

The NAPVS website (http://napvs.org/passport) lists and links to all member company sites to help the traveling consumer compare services and fees.

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Check out this virtual tour of the Sistine Chapel posted on the Vatican’s website! Move your mouse slowly, though, or you might feel dizzy!

Medugorje Pilgrimage Update

Father Oby, Polly, and 15 of their fellow pilgrims should be heading back to the US tomorrow via Vienna, Austria from Medugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina. Looking forward to hearing of their experiences in Medugorje as well as their night in Vienna.  

Message To Mirjana March 18, 2010 from Our Lady of Peace:

   

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