Loras College Anniversary Pilgrimage to France May 29-June 8, 2014

Transcription

1 Loras College Anniversary Pilgrimage to France May 29-June 8, 2014 Join President James Collins and Father William Joensen and members of the Loras College community for a pilgrimage to France, celebrating 175 years of academic leadership and exploring the heritage of Bishop Mathias Loras who came to Dubuque from France. Our exciting journey includes visits to religious heritage sites in Lyon, Annecy, Geneva, Toulouse, Lourdes and Paris celebrating the visionary men and women of faith such as St. John Vianney, Frances de Chantal and Francis de Sales, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Bernadette of Lourdes, St. Vincent de Paul and St. Catherine Labouré, as well as Dominican roots that eventually produced Fr. Samuel Mazzuchelli, OP. We have incorporated cultural visits throughout the itinerary and enough leisure time to enjoy historical city centers including the ever fascinating cosmopolitan city of Paris. Come join us for a rich and inspiring program! 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 Thursday, May 29 We depart Chicago on an overnight flight to Lyon, France. Dinner and breakfast will be served in flight. Friday, May 30 We arrive in Lyon, France. We will be met by our local tour manager who will assist with clearing customs and transfer to our hotel in the city center. After participants have had a chance to freshen up and adjust to the new time zone, we will enjoy a casual walking orientation to the old city of Lyon - Le Vieux Lyon in and around St. Jean. Afterwards we will have a welcome liturgy at St. Jean. This evening, we will have our welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Lyon. Saturday, May 31 Bishop Loras s French Heritage Lyon: Historical and Cultural Crossroads of the Rhône and Saône Rivers Breakfast. This morning we will visit sites associated with Bishop Loras. We will continue with other major sites in Lyon- especially Notre Dame de Fourviere (pilgrimage site of the Black Virgin). We will include a liturgy and hope to arrange opportunity to meet local Archbishop. There will be free time for participants to get a light bite to eat for lunch. In the afternoon, there will be an excursion to Ars to visit sites associated with St. John Vianney. We return to Lyon for an evening at leisure. Overnight in Lyon. Bishop Mathias Loras was the first Bishop of Dubuque. He was born the tenth child of eleven in 1792 during the French Revolution. His parents were religious and active in protecting priests and other religious. Bishop Loras father was beheaded in the town plaza of Lyon when he was only one-year old. At a later age, Mathias entered the seminary to become a priest. It was here that he met John Vianney the so-called Cure of Ars and became friends. Lyon is one of the great historical centers of Christianity. The site had first been a Celtic settlement and later a Gallic one. The Romans made it the base from which they conquered Gaul. The hill overlooking the confluance of the Saône and Rhône rivers the Fourvière is named after the old forum (Forum Vetus) that occupied the site. Today it is dominated by Notre Dame of Fourvière, a pilgrimage site of the Black Virgin. As a center of Roman military life, Christianity spread there via soldiers and traders. One of the great theologians of early Christianity, Irenaeus, was head of the Church there in the 2 nd century and was martyred for his faith. Irenaeus is noted for his writing, Adversus Haereses. Irenaeus was instrumental in fighting Gnostic movements in early Christianity and, along with others, helped foster respect for the office of the Bishop and the primacy of the Bishop of Rome. He was one of the important influences in the adoption of the four Gospels that are now canonical Gospels of the Bible. St. John Vianney was born in Like Bishop Loras, his family was active in protecting priests during the French Revolution. After the Revolution, Vianney entered the seminary and, after ordination, was assigned to a small town, Ars. He quickly noted the lack of religious formation in the townsfolk and began a process of evangelizing and catechizing them. He founded charitable institutions and is celebrated as an example of priestly ministry and spirituality. Old Lyon is a charming medieval neighborhood dominated by the Cathedral of St-Jean. The church was begun in 1192 but was preceded by earlier structures including an early Christian baptistry (still part of the structure). The neighborhood benefitted from the trade that flowed through the town leaving impressive late medieval and Renaissance structures, homes, and shops. Sunday, June 1 Catholic Witness in Southeast France Annecy: City of Lakes and Mountains Breakfast. Today is our excursion to Annecy. We will visit sites associated with Frances de Chantal and Francis de Sales as well as explore the beautiful old town with nicely preserved medieval structures right on the water. Later, in the afternoon, we pass through Geneva with a walking tour of the historical center near St. Peter's. Dinner and overnight in Lyon. Annecy is a beautiful medieval town situated on a lake at the edge of the Alps. Its prominence developed when businessmen left Geneva to found a town free of the Calvinist-Catholic disputes.

3 Abundant water from mountain streams provided the power for manufacturing. The town of Annecy particularly the old city center stands on the banks of the Thiou River. The waterways and buildings that line them give the impression of a French-style Venice. St. Francis de Sales was born into a noble family of Savoy during the 16 th century. He was educated in Paris and Padua and influenced by early Jesuit scholars. St. Francis was active in efforts to resist Calvinists in Geneva. He was a popular preacher and managed to convert many back to Catholicism. He was active in founding many institutions to revive Catholicism. He was elevated to Bishop of Geneva before the Catholics moved the seat of the Diocese to Annecy. With St. Jane Fraces de Chantal, he founded the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary. St. Francis de Sales wrote the influential spiritual book Introduction to the Devout Life a manual inteded for lay spirituality. He and St. Frances de Chantal are buried in Annecy. Monday, June 2 St. Dominic and the Albigensians Albi: Majestic City of Rose Hues Travel to Toulouse. The distance is considerable 540 KM. Depending on time/interest we will stop in either Le Puy-En- Velay or Albi. We arrive later in Toulouse for dinner and overnight. Le Puy-En-Velay is a town set within a unique geological formation and is dominated by the breathtaking Cathedral-fortress which was one of the destinations along the historic Camino de Santiago where pilgrims passed en route to Spain. Albi is a beautiful town centered around the 13 th century Cathedral Ste-Cécile. Its exterior has a fortress-like appearance, softened by the Rose-hued stone. The simplicity and grace of the interior nave is impressive. Albi was one of the centers of the Albigensian or Cathar community of Christians who St. Dominic and other early Dominicans sought to convert. Papal forces unleased military action against the Cathars in such places as Béziers, Carcassonne, and Montségur. Tuesday, June 3 The Heritage of the Dominicans in Southern France Carcassonne: Fortified Medieval City Nestled in Wine Country Breakfast. We will visit sites in the historical center of Toulouse this morning including Les Jacobins the great Dominican structure and tomb of St. Thomas Aquinas. We will celebrate Mass at Les Jacobins, and visit the Basilica of St. Sernin. We may arrange a special event in Toulouse to honor the connection between Bishop Loras and the Dominicans. In the afternoon we travel to Carcassonne for a guided walking tour to central sites and then free time to enjoy the city at leisure. Overnight in Toulouse. The Church of Les Jacobins was the first major church of the Dominicans begun in the 13th century. It has been enlarged over the centuries but retains much of its original historical feel and spiritual atmosphere. In the early 13th century, St. Dominic came to this region from Spain to preach and persuade those who had adopted Albigensian views to return to orthodox Christian views. His strategy combined theology and inspired preaching rather than force. His work formed the origins of the Dominican order known as the Order of Preachers. St. Thomas Aquinas one of the greatest theologians of the Church was a Dominican and was buried here at Les Jacobins. The Cathedral of St. Sernin is a magnificent Romanesque church that was a significant stop for pilgrims making their way to Santiago in Spain. The beautiful medieval town of Carcassone was put under siege in the 13th century for its Albigensian beliefs. The Dominicans were central in the fight against the community - attempting to convert the Albigensians back to orthodox Catholicism. Parts of this enchanting medieval fortress are over 1400 years old, though much of it was restored a century ago. Carcassonne is a beautiful example of military architecture and offers attractive views of the surrounding plains and nearby mountains. Behind the double walls and innumerable towers is an entire village with a wellfortified castle and the lovely St-Nazaire Church. La Cité, as the fortress is called locally, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

4 Wednesday, June 4 Bernadette s vision and the Healing Power of Faith Lourdes Breakfast. Today is our excursion to Lourdes. We will celebrate mass and then have free time to enjoy the grounds at leisure and/or participate in public devotions. Dinner and overnight in Toulouse. Lourdes is a sacred place that calls to people from around the world. In 1858, at the Grotto of Mabielle, Our Lady appeared to a young peasant girl Bernadette. Our Lady revealed herself at this time as the Immaculate Conception, and asked to have a chapel built on the site of the vision. She also instructed Bernadette to drink from a fountain in the grotto. At the time Bernadette was to do this there was no fountain, but when Bernadette started to dig, a spring began to flow. The water from this spring still flows with its healing power. Thursday, June 5 The Spiritual and Artistic Heritage of Paris Breakfast. This morning we depart Toulouse for a flight to Paris. On arrival, we transfer to Notre Dame for a visit to the Cathedral (and Mass) and the excavations under the front plaza. We continue then to our hotel for check-in. The evening is free. One of the landmarks of Paris, the Cathedral of Notre Dame is one of the most beautiful French Gothic Churches Churches. Built on the Ile de la Cite'- the hart and cradle of Parisian life and site of worship from Gallo-Roman times, the cathedral is one of the first to use flying buttresses and boasts magnificent stained glass. Built on a site where the previous churches burnt down in 743, 858, and 1020 a Romanesque cathedral was begun in 1020, which was destroyed by fire in Only the south tower, west front and crypt remained. Donated by the guilds between 1210 and 1240 the glorious collection of stained glass windows are world famous. Friday, June 6 Ministry to the Poor Vincent de Paul and Catherine Laboure Breakfast. Today we will visit St. Suplice & the shrine of the Miraculous Medal (Rue du Bac). We will celebrate Mass at St. Suplice. We will take a break for lunch, then continue with a group entrance (no guide) to the Louvre. Overnight in Paris. Saint Sulpice Church is one of the largest in Paris. It was begun as a parish church for the peasants by the Abbey of St-Germaindes-Pres. The present church was begun in the 17th century and is dominated by the great murals of Delacroix. This is the historical origins of the Sulpician order founded to help educate priests. The founder, Fr. Jean Jacques Olier, was influenced by St. Vincent de Paul and his advocacy of a simple lifestyle. For centuries, the Louvre was the palace of kings and emperors. It is today one of the greatest art museums in the world boasting masterpieces from ancient times, the middle ages, and the Renaissance. The first building of this complex was erected in 1190 by Philippe Auguste as a defensive fortification. Over the centuries the fortification was enlarged to include residential rooms. In the 16th century, royalty began to take up residence in ever expanding and sumptuous surroundings in the Louvre Palace. In the Palace, the art collections of queens and kings were held. In the 17th century, the fine arts academy began hosting exhibitions here. The period of the Enlightenment witnessed the inspiration for opening the collections to the public. In 1793 the Grand Gallerie was first opened to the public. Napoleon enhanced the collection significantly by bringing back treasures from his conquests. Saturday, June 7 Paris The Ever Enchanting City of Lights Cultural & Artistic Capital Breakfast. Today is at leisure with assistance from our tour manager for information, suggestions and help in making optional arrangements. This evening we will have our Farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Paris. Paris is one of Europe s largest metropolitan areas. A city of world importance and the business, historic, intellectual, diplomatic, religious, educational, artistic, and tourist center of France. This empire manifested the grandeur of state in the architecture of its capital city. No other European city has such a lengthy history of urban planning: the city s wide and elegant boulevards, lined with centuries old chestnut trees; the broad plazas with fountains and art; the many parks and gardens; and the temples of selfimportance all reflect a purposefulness and pomposity that is uniquely French.

5 Sunday, June 8 After breakfast, we transfer to the airport for our return flights to Chicago.. Inclusive Features Air transportation via regularly scheduled flights Chicago~Lyon and Paris~Chicago Three star superior hotel accommodations in twinbedded rooms with private baths as follows: o Lyon ~ 3 nights o Toulouse ~ 3 nights o Paris ~ 3 nights Continental buffet breakfast served daily in the hotels. One welcome dinner at a local restaurant in Lyon including beverages. Three dinners at the hotels. One farewell dinner a local restaurant in Paris including beverages. Services of a professional English-speaking tour manager throughout France. 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.. Program Prices $ per person based on double occupancy + $ additional to Europe- airline taxes, airport fees, security fees, fuel surcharges (estimate as of proposal date) $ 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 (will provide 100% reimbursement if cancellation is for a covered reason, will provide 0% if reason is not covered.) $ Deluxe Plan with Cancel for Any Reason (will provide 100% reimbursement if cancellation is for a covered reason, will provide 75% if reason is not covered.) The Group Deluxe Insurance plan is optional. If you wish to purchase the plan, the premium must be paid with your initial deposit on the same check. 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 December 2012, and on 2012 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 2014.

6 Program Registration: Complete the Registration Application. Forward with your $ deposit per person (and insurance premium if applicable) no later than July 1, 2013 to: Fr. William Joensen Loras College 1450 Alta Vista Dubuque, IA (563) William.Joensen@loras.edu Checks can be made payable to illume. A second non-refundable deposit of $1800 is due not later than: November 15, 2013 Balance of payment due not later than: February 28, 2014 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 affect the program price, you will receive an invoice or a credit accordingly. Please contact Fr. Joensen with any questions. Program No