Amsterdam & Germany Pilgrimage
Spiritual Director: Fr. Jerry Daigle
Group Coordinator: Bettie Nolin
September 13 - 22, 2019
*Optional Post Tour to Krakow - Sep 22 - 26, 2019
BN091319
Your trip includes
- Round-trip airfare from Shreveport
- All airport taxes and fuel surcharges
- Centrally located first class hotels as follows: (or similar)
- ~ 2 nights: Sep 14 - 16: Mercure Amsterdam City, Amsterdam
- ~ 2 nights: Sep 16 - 18: Hotel Navarra, Bruges
- ~ 2 nights: Sep 18 - 20: Hotel Novotel Aachen City, Aachen
- ~ 2 nights: Sep 20 - 22: Qube Heidelberg, Heidelberg
- Optional Post tour to Krakow:
- ~ 4 nights: Sep 22 - 26: Vienna House Andel's, Krakow
- Transfers as per itinerary
- Breakfast and dinner daily
- Wine with dinners
- Tour Escort throughout
- Assistance of a professional local Christian guide(s)
- Sightseeing and admissions fees as per itinerary
- Mass daily & Spiritual activities
- Luggage handling (1 piece per person)
Not included:
- Lunches, Beverages not mentioned. Tips to your guide and driver.
Itinerary
Friday, September 13: Depart to Amsterdam
Make your way to your local airport where you will board your overnight flight. Your meals will be served on board.
Saturday, September 14: Arrive Amsterdam
Upon landing into Amsterdam Airport, make your way to the baggage claim area and collect your luggage. Proceed to the arrival's hall where you will be greeted by your tour guide and/or driver. Transfer to your hotel for check in and some refreshment. Welcome dinner and overnight at hotel.
Sunday, September 15: Amsterdam
Breakfast at the hotel. Begin the day with celebrating the Holy Mass at the Chapel of Our Lady of All Nations. Depart from hotel for Chapel of Our Lady of All Nations, one of the Virgin Mary's apparition sites. From 1945 until 1959, Our Lady appeared to Ida Peerdeman with the continuous message of love, repentance and the prayer for Nations. Later, we will visit the site of an Eucharistic Miracle. In 1345, as a result of a man's illness, a Sacred Host was found preserved in his house after it was moved numerous times and after having experienced a fire that left the city in ruins. Lunch on your own. Enjoy a guided tour of Amsterdam where you will experience its 17th century historical and picturesque atmosphere amidst its canals and squares. During your walking tour you will view the Royal Place, Vrijheidsbeeld (National Monument), the Flower Markets, Opera House, City Hall and Begijnenhof. Additionally you will experience a glimpse from the outside of the many cultural highlights Amsterdam has to offer, such as: Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank House, Rembrandt House and the Rijksmuseum. (exterior views). Dinner and overnight at Hotel.
Monday, September 16: Amsterdam - Ghent - Bruges
Breakfast at the hotel and check-out. Board your coach and transfer to Ghent, Belgium. Visit famous St. Bavo's Cathedral, housing an impressive number of art treasures and "Adoration of the Mystic Lamb", painted by Jan and Hubert van Eyck in 1432. Celebrate the Holy Mass at St. Bavo Cathedral. Lunch on your own. Continue to Bruges for check-in. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Bruges.
Tuesday, September 17: Bruges
Breakfast at the hotel. Celebrate Mass at the Church of Our Lady. At the Church you will inevitably notice the preserved culture of the Middle Ages that is still present. You will have the opportunity to view the magnificent marble statue of Madonna and Her Child sculpted by Michelangelo. Next, enjoy guided visit of the canal city of Bruges. The Zeebrugge, port of Bruges, is an important center for European trade. You will also visit the Basilica of the Holy Blood. Most interestingly, this Basilica also holds a venerated relic of Jesus Christ that was collected by Joseph of Arimathea. Lunch on your own. This afternoon is at leisure to enjoy this enchanting city. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Bruges.
Wednesday, September 18: Bruges - Beauraing - Banneux - Aachen
Breakfast at the hotel and check-out. Following breakfast, you will board the bus and head Beauraing. Visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Beauraing, also known as the "Virgin of the Golden Heart". In 1932, the Blessed Mother appeared to a group of young children thirty-three times. She was described as being dressed in white with a golden crown on her head with hair of gold. Our Lady came to these children during the Great Depression and advised them to sacrifice themselves to Her. Lunch on your own. Continue on to Banneux - Notre Dame, also known as the "Belgian Lourdes". Celebrate Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Banneux. After Mass, you will visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Banneux. In 1933, the Blessed Mother appeared to twelve-year-old Mariette Boco as the "Virgin of the Poor". Our Lady appeared to little Mariette a few times and informed her that She (Our Lady) has come to relieve the suffering of the ill and the conflicts of all nations. Drive to Aachen for check-in. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Aachen.
Thursday, September 19: Aachen - Kevelaer - Echt - Aachen
Breakfast at the hotel. Take off to Kevelaer, another site of Our Lady's apparitions. In 1641, Hendrick Busman (a merchant) was walking and heard a mysterious call that said: "Build a little Chapel for Me here". He heard the call three consecutive nights. Simultaneously his wife, Mechel, had a vision of Our Lady and recalled a previous event of an itinerate soldier attempting to sell her a photo of the Madonna that she had seen in her vision. Eventually, Mechel bought the photo and was enShrined in the Shrine of Kevelaer. Pilgrims who visited this Shrine have reported miraculous cures to the blind, paralyzed, deaf and mute. Celebrate Holy Mass. Lunch on your own. Following this prayerful experience we will proceed to Echt. Have a guided tour of Echt. This is where Edith Stein entered the Carmelite Order as a Jewish nun. She spent time with the order for four short years until being arrested by the Gestapo during World War II. Edith was sent to Auschwitz where she died as a martyr. She was canonized a Saint in 1998 as St.Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. Return to Aachen. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Aachen.
Friday, September 20: Aachen - Cologne - Mainz - Heidelberg
Breakfast at the hotel and check-out. Celebrate Holy Mass at a local Church. Depart for Cologne that has been the center of influence since the Roman times. Its importance as a center of pilgrimage grew after its acquisition in 1194 of the relics of the Three Magi, the wise men who brought gifts to the infant Jesus. For a time it was a pilgrimage destination second only to Rome. Visit the Kolner Dom, the Gothic Cathedral worthy of the huge reliquary, worked in silver and gold in which the gifts were originally displayed. Continue with guided tour of Cologne. Lunch on your own. Continue to Mainz where we'll have a brief local walking tour to see the main city attractions such as Mainz Cathedral and St. Stephan Church among others. Continue to Heidelberg. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Heidelberg.
Saturday, September 21: Heidelberg
Breakfast at the hotel and check-out. Celebrate Holy Mass and continue to guided tour of Heidelberg. The main attraction for all visitors is, of course, Heidelberg Castle, perched on the slopes of Mount Konigstuhl some 70 meters above the Neckar. It's easy to see why, too. Together with the Old Bridge across the river, the castle and its neighboring buildings are among the most impressive sights anywhere in Germany. Lunch on your own. Free time at leisure. Farewell dinner at a local Church. Overnight at the hotel in Heidelberg.
Sunday, September 22: Heidelberg - Return back to the USA
Breakfast at the hotel and check-out. Drive to Frankfurt Airport for your return flights home.