Lisbon, Fatima, & Medjugorje

October 17—28, 2010

$3,094 from New York - $3,359 from Phoenix

with Spiritual Director: Fr. Jack Spaulding

YOUR TRIP INCLUDES:

Round-trip air from New York, Phoenix (or any other gateway special Add-on Airfares  from all other US gateways) to Lisbon from Lisbon to Split or Dubrovnik and v.v.

Airport Taxes ( included up to $466 per person)
10 nights in accommodations as follows: (or similar)
            1 night  : Lisbon: Hotel Mundial ****

            3 nights: Fatima: Hotel Santa Maria ****

            6 nights:  Medjugorje: in a modern home/hotel with private baths in Medjugorje

Breakfast and dinner daily

Wine and mineral water included
Transportation by air-conditioned motor coach
Guided tours and admission fees
Hotel taxes and service charges

Mass daily
Baggage handling
Flight bag & portfolio of all travel documents

Not Included:

Lunches,  Travel Insurance optional at $165 -$225. Tips to your guide & driver  (Euro 6-8 per day).

Sample Day By Day Itinerary:

Oct 17 Depart from your hometown for Lisbon

Depart from New York, Phoenix, or your hometown for flights to Lisbon.

Oct 18 Lisbon airport - Lisbon

Arrive Lisbon. Meet your Priest, tour guide and fellow pilgrims. After an orientation drive through Lisbon, we stop and visit St. Anthony's Church. Despite what might be assumed from his name, Saint Anthony was born and grew up in Lisbon. Traditionally, the invocation of his name is considered the best means of locating lost objects. Dinner and overnight in Lisbon.

Oct 19 Lisbon - Santarem - Fatima

After breakfast depart Lisbon for Santarem, where one of the oldest cities in the world is located. We will walk through its narrow streets to the Church of St Stephen, containing the oldest recorded Eucharistic miracle. This miracle has been on continuous display since 1269. We then continue on to Fatima, the place where the Blessed Mother appeared in 1917 to three simple shepherd children and exhorted mankind to pray for world peace. Dinner and overnight in Fatima

Oct 20 Fatima

Six times, from the May 13 to Oct 13, 1917, the Virgin Mary appeared to three shepherd children in the diocese of Leiria. A new church is under construction, however just as beautiful, an older church was constructed here in 1928, and millions of pilgrims visit each year. Fatima is one of the most visited holy places for Catholics from around the world. The atmosphere of intense spirituality and the importance of Fatima have been attested to by the visits of two Popes: Paul VI and John Paul II.  Touring Fatima, see the Little Chapel of the Apparitions, Basilica, the site of Francesco and Jacinta's graves, the Hamlet of Aljustrel, where the children lived, and Valinhos, the site of Our Lady's appearance after the children's return from prison. Follow the Stations of the Cross along the Via Sacra (The Sacred Way) culminating in the Chapel of Calvary, which overlooks all of Fatima. Join pilgrims from around the world in an evening candlelight procession to pray the rosary. Dinner and overnight in Fatima.

Oct 21 Fatima

Spend a free day in Fatima today for prayer and reflection.  Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Oct 22 Fatima – Lisbon – Frankfurt - Split

Depart from Lisbon Airport for flights to Split.

Upon arrival, you'll be greeted by a tour guide and/or driver who will then take you on the 2 1/2 hour drive by private coach to the village of Medjugorje. Guide will be with your throughout your stay. Once there, you'll meet your fellow pilgrims and your spiritual leader and be introduced to your host family in whose comfortable yet modest house.

Oct 23—27 Medjugorje

Experience the beauty and peace of this simple village. During your stay in Medjugorje you will have the opportunity to share faith with pilgrims from all over the world.  Here are some of the activities we'll be sharing with our fellow pilgrims: Each morning at 10am we assemble at St James Church for the English-language Mass (Feast days and Sundays English Mass is at Noon). Follow the path up Apparition Hill where the visionaries first encountered Our Lady. Touch and pray before the cross that commemorates the spot where Mary first appeared to the visionaries.   Each evening at 5pm or 6pm daylight savings time, we will join the villagers and pilgrims to pray the rosary. The apparition takes place at 5:40pm or 6:40 daylight savings time, and then stay on for Croatian Mass. Don't miss on Thursdays and Saturdays Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and on Fridays Veneration of the Cross in the Church. Each evening during Croatian Mass, there is the Blessing of the Sick and blessing of the items you have with you. Our guide will arrange meetings with the visionaries at their own homes provided that they are in Medjugorje during your trip, and pending their availability. We will have the opportunity to climb Krizevac Mountain, where in 1933 the villagers built a 30' high cross on the anniversary of Jesus' crucifixion. Visit and pray at "Blue Cross", which is a place of great healings and graces- a very special place at the base of Apparition Hill.  We will visit the community of Cenacolo.

Oct 28 Split – USA  

After an early breakfast and heartfelt farewells, we leave by motor coach for Split Airport  for return flights home.