Pilgrimage to Fatima and Santiago de Compostela September 17 27, 2012

Transcription

1 Pilgrimage to Fatima and Santiago de Compostela September 17 27, 2012 Join Msgr. Jack Macfarlane, Kathy Swartz, parishioners and friends of St. Elizabeth Parish for a rich pilgrimage to Spain and Portugal. We will travel to two of the most important pilgrimage destinations Santiago de Compostela and Fatima. We travel first to Lisbon, one of the great cultural capitals of Europe and birthplace of St. Anthony. We then travel to Fatima to the site where the Virgin Mary visited the three shepherds and where an important pilgrimage sanctuary has developed. We then travel to Santiago, the site of the tomb of St. James and the end point of the famous Camino de Santiago a trail from northern Europe upon which countless pilgrims have traveled over the centuries. On our return, we visit the beautiful city of Porto en route to Nazare, a picturesque coastal site from where we will do day trips to Alcobaca and Batalha with enough leisure time to enjoy time on the beach or lingering in cafés overlooking the ocean. This is a unique customized program that combines religious, historical, cultural and culinary activities. We invite you to join us! We are all members of a global community that is increasingly interdependent. The future of our world depends on our cultivating a spirit of hospitality, respect, understanding and compassion for one another. Enlightenment comes in many forms, but we believe that there are few life experiences more moving than exploring other cultures, meeting people of diverse backgrounds, and becoming a citizen of the world leading and inspiring respectful and compassionate ways of life.

2 Our Program Monday, September 17 th We depart Washington Dulles airport on an overnight flight to Lisbon. Dinner and breakfast will be served on the flights. Tuesday, September 18 th We arrive in Lisbon and meet our tour manager at the airport. We will transfer to the hotel via private deluxe motorcoach. After having some time to relax, freshen up and adjust to the new time zone we will have a walking tour of the Alfama area including the Cathedral and St. Anthony Church (with Mass at one of these sites). A Welcome Dinner is scheduled this evening at a local restaurant. Overnight in Lisbon. Alfama is one of the most historic neighborhoods of Lisbon, laid out under the influence of the Moors. Its tightly compact streets and stairways are some of the most picturesque of the city. When Alfonso Henriques defeated the Moors in 1150, he built a cathedral (Se - Seat of the Bishop) on the site of the old mosque. The current building has been renovated after a number of earthquakes and includes a mix of different architectural styles. The Church of San Antonio a Se is built over the birthplace of St. Anthony. The current church was built after the 1755 earthquake. Wednesday, September 19 th Breakfast. This morning we will visit the Belen area of Lisbon visiting the Monastery of the Jeronimos, the Church of Santa Maria and the Cloisters (including the archaeological museum). This afternoon, depending on people s interest we may visit the Museum of Ancient Art including works from the 12th to 19th centuries. We will have some free time in the late afternoon. Evening is free/overnight Lisbon. The Monastery of the Jeronimos was built on the site of a former hermitage. It was begun in 1502 and benefitted from the vast wealth streaming into Lisbon from overseas expeditions. The complex is a large monumental Gothic-style building with rich ornamentation (in the Manueline style). It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Church of Santa Maria is also a beautiful Gothic-style church with some phenomenal interior stonework that accentuates the vaulted lines. The Archaeological Museum inside the Monastery and Cloisters contains a vast collection of Roman, Moorish and Christian artifacts from across the historical spectrum of Portuguese history. Thursday, September 20 th After breakfast this morning we travel to Fatima. Upon arrival we will have an orientation to the shrine/sanctuary at Fatima with a private group Mass and then an opportunity to participate in public or private devotions. Dinner and overnight in Fatima. Fatima is located in the heart of Portugal, about thirty miles east of the Atlantic Ocean. Once a remote village, it is now home to one of the most famous Marian shrines in the world. Each year on May 13 the feast of Our Lady of Fatima takes place, millions of pilgrims gather for this event. Each pilgrim includes in his pilgrimage the praying of the Rosary, the candlelight procession, Mass, the blessing of the sick, and the farewell Adeus procession. On May 13, 1917, in the desolate landscape near the small village of Fatima, three shepherd children saw a light shining from just above the branches of a holm oak. The Blessed Virgin appeared, and asked them to pray for world peace. All three children, Lucia dos Santos, and her cousins Jacinta and Francisco saw the figure standing on a cloud just above the tree. Lucia and Jacinta heard her speak. The lady asked the children to return to the same spot on the 13th of each month and said that in October she would reveal her identity and what she desired. Every month they went to the same place and each time more and more pilgrims accompanied them although only the children could see her. The Virgin always asked the children to encourage people to pray a great deal and make many sacrifices and if her requests were fulfilled than the result would be the salvation of many souls, the conversion of Russia, and world peace. Friday, September 21 st Breakfast. Today we will journey from Fatima to Santiago de Compostela. This is a long drive (approximately 250 miles). En route we will visit the Bucaco Forest. (In the 6th century, the Benedictine s built a hermitage here. In the 1600s, the Carmelites took over the site and surrounded the forest with a

3 wall. Today it is a national park with a nice Palace built by King Carlos (late 1800s). There s a Sacred Way with stations of the cross here.) We will visit the Palace and Sacred Way and the old convent. There will be a short break for lunch before we continue our travels. We will stop at a vineyard in or around Bravaes and see the Romanesque Church there. We continue on to Santiago for dinner and overnight. Saturday, September 22 nd Breakfast. This morning we will complete the final walk along the Camino de Santiago into the city (a symbolic participation in the age-old tradition of making pilgrimage to Santiago along the Way of St. James). Mass will be celebrated at the Cathedral. We will have a guided visit to the Old Quarter of town including visits to the Monastery of St. Martin and the Museum of Pilgrims. The afternoon is free. Evening free/overnight in Santiago. Santiago de Compostela, in northwestern Spain, where the remains of Apostle James are said to be enshrined, came to prominence as a pilgrimage destination in the Middle Ages. For centuries it was surpassed in importance only by Jerusalem and Rome. In medieval times making the arduous journey along the Camino de Santiago was believed to be an assurance of a place in heaven. Pilgrims obtained a compostellana, a document that not only certified that the holder had completed the pilgrimage but also served as a plenary indulgence, offering remission from purgatory. Legend has it that Apostle James the Greater traveled from the Holy Land to convert Spain to Christianity and remained there for seven years before returning to Judea, where he fell victim to King Herod in A.D. 44 and was beheaded. His disciples are said to have returned to Spain with his remains. The Cathedral's first sanctuary was built over the tomb of the Apostle Sunday, September 23 rd After breakfast this morning we will travel from Santiago to Porto, visiting some of the scenic coastal areas just south of Santiago en route. We continue to the Porto region visiting one or two of the vineyards along the Douro River near Porto. After checking into our hotel we will have a walking tour of the Old City. Dinner and overnight in Porto. Porto is the second-largest city in Portugal. It is strategically located along the Douro River near the ocean. It is famous for its busy port, magnificent panoramas, and for the famous wines that grow in the valleys along the Douro River including Port wine. Monday, September 24 th Breakfast. Today we visit the Old Convent of Nossa Senhora de Serra do Pilar the Cathedral, and other sites in the Old City. We will have some free time before we continue to Nazare. If time and interest permits, we may stop at Conimbriga seeing the ancient Roman archaeological site with an early Christian basilica. Overnight/dinner in Nazare. Nazare is one of the picturesque seaside resorts of Portugal a city that combines both a broad and long beach with an historic town center and dramatic cliff just to the north of the town. The harbor includes picturesque fishing boats, cafe s and restaurants. Tuesday, September 25 th Breakfast. This morning we will visit Alcobaca (celebrating Mass here). Then we return to Nazare to enjoy the beach and pool this afternoon and/or explore the town. Overnight in Nazare. Alcobaca is a beautiful Cisterian Abbey built in the middle ages. It is the largest church in Portugal and includes beautiful cloisters and chapter house and refectory. It is set in a beautiful area of Portugal known for vineyards, orchards and pottery. Wednesday, September 26 th After breakfast this morning we will visit Batalha and Leiria. Then we return to Nazare to enjoy the beach and pool this afternoon and/or explore the town. A farewell dinner is scheduled this evening at a local restaurant. Overnight in Nazare. Batalha is a beautiful Gothic-style monastery built as the result of a vow Joao I of Avis made during a battle. It is a beautiful complex that rises up out of the verdant countryside. Leiria is a medieval village of narrow streets, arched passageways and a large castle that dominates the town from a high hillside. This is one of the great picturesque villages of central Portugal where local artisans display pottery and other works of art. Thursday, September 27 th Breakfast. Transfer to the airport for our return flight to Washington Dulles.

4 . Inclusive Features Roundtrip air transportation via regularly scheduled flights between Washington Dulles and Lisbon. Four- star hotel accommodations in twin-bedded rooms with private baths as follows: o Lisbon ~ 2 nights o Fatima ~ 1 night o Santiago ~ 2 nights o Porto ~ 1 night o Nazare ~ 3 nights Continental buffet breakfast served daily in the hotels. One welcome dinner at a local restaurant in Lisbon including beverages. 4 three-course dinners are included in the hotels. One farewell dinner a local restaurant in Lisbon including beverages. One wine tasting at a vineyard in Bravaes. One wine tasting at a vineyard near Porto. Services of a professional English-speaking tour manager throughout Portugal and Spain. Transportation via private deluxe motorcoach with English speaking assistance. Privately guided sightseeing visits with governmentlicensed local expert guides as per the itinerary. Luggage, porterage, road and local taxes. Gratuities to tour manager/guide and driver.. Program Prices $ per person based on double occupancy. (This includes $494 estimated fuel surcharges and airline taxes as of September, Fuel surcharges/airline taxes will be calculated at time of final invoicing and could reduce or raise overall cost slightly.) $ supplement for single room occupancy Please note: Single rooms for single use are limited to 10% of the total number of rooms reserved. Thereafter, double rooms for single use will be secured at a supplemental cost of approximately 150%. Alternatively, if you have selected double occupancy but no roommate is available due to uneven numbers or if your roommate should cancel you will be in a single room and responsible for the single room supplement. Land Only Program Prices: (excludes all air transportation and airport transfers) $ per person based on double occupancy $ supplement for single room occupancy All prices listed are discounted for payment by check. When paying with a credit card you will be charged the standard base price which is 5% higher. Travel Insurance Premiums: $ Deluxe Group Travel Insurance Plan $ Deluxe Plan with Cancel for Any Reason The Group Deluxe Insurance plan is optional. If you wish to purchase the plan, the premium must be paid with your deposit due on January 15 th, The policy can be found on the Travel Resource Center for your program under the Group Deluxe Insurance Plan link. Illume recommends that you purchase travel insurance to cover the cost of the investment you will make. Travel insurance provides peace of mind and protection against the unexpected. Please read the illume Conditions and Clauses attached to the Program Registration Application to review the charges that will apply in the event that you cancel your program participation. Illume offers several options to travel insurance. To learn more click on the Travel Insurance link provided on the Travel Resource Center for your program: The prices are based on availability of services at the time registration material is received; currency exchange rates in effect September 12, 2011 and on 2011 land and air tariffs and are subject to change. All services are provided subject to Illume s Conditions and Clauses. The program prices will be reviewed before the invoices for the final payment are mailed, and will reflect the prices current in Program Registration: Complete the Registration Application.

5 Forward with your $ space holder deposit per person (check made out to Illume) no later than November 1 st, 2011 to: Kathryn Swartz St. Elizabeth Parish 917 Montrose Rd. Rockville, MD k2000swartz@hotmail.com saint.elizabeth@verizon.net A firm deposit of an additional $600 per person will be due (along with insurance premiums if applicable) on: January 15 th, 2012 Checks can be made payable to illume. Balance of payment due not later than: June 17 th, 2012 Note: Any changes to the program will be outlined in the final documents which you will receive one month prior to departure. If changes are made that effect the program price, you will receive an invoice or a credit accordingly. Please contact Katherine Swartz with any questions. Program No