About Michael Ripple:
From an early age, Michael Ripple felt called to one day become an ordained Roman Catholic priest. He fulfilled that calling at a young age, only to discover in the following years of service disillusionment and disenchantment with the Church he pledged to serve. Five years after ordination, Michael Ripple left the priesthood, married and began a new life as a husband and a father. After leaving the Catholic Church, Michael worked as a therapist for a short time. Longing for a stable faith  life, he and his young family joined the Episcopal Church. Still feeling the call to serve God in ministry, Michael became an Episcopal priest and rector. Life as a married priest with a loving wife and beautiful son seemed to be the solution of finally achieving his childhood dream of serving God in ministry; yet, something was missing. In 2005, with his wife Wendy and six-year-old son Isaac, Michael made a pilgrimage to Medjugorje in thanksgiving for Wendy's healing from cancer. While in Medjugorje, he strongly felt called by the Blessed Virgin Mary to reconcile with the Roman Catholic church---a Church from which he had been ex-communicated. In a near-miraculous short span of time, Michael and his family returned to the Catholic Church. Michael is currently involved in parish faith formation for youth with an emphasis on sharing the messages of Medjugorje. Together with his wife, he leads pilgrimages to Medjugorje and gives talks and retreats on a variety of spiritual topics. He reaches a broad audience because of the wealth of his experiences as a husband, father, priest, therapist, Protestant minister, author and even ex-communicant. |
Michael & Isaac Ripple |
Your Trip Includes:
† Round Trip Airfare from Pittsburgh
† All Airport Taxes & Fuel Surcharges!
† 7 nights in a modern Home/Hotel with private baths in Medjugorje
† Breakfast and Dinner daily
† Wine with dinners
† Assistance of a professional local Christian guide(s)
† Transfers as per itinerary
† Sightseeing and admissions fees as per itinerary
† Catholic Priest available for Spiritual Direction
† Mass daily & Spiritual activities (English at 10:00am, and Croatian at 6:00pm)
† Visit to Community Cenacolo
† Luggage handling (1 piece per person)
† Flight bag & portfolio of all travel documents
Not Included:
Lunches, Travel Insurance optional (www.206tours.com/insurance), Extended Cancellation Protection Plan @ $299 (www.206tours.com/cancellationprotection), Tips to your guide, driver, & Host Family, Items of a personal nature.
 Sample Day-by-Day Itinerary:
Day 1, May 22 - Depart USA
Board your overnight transatlantic flights from your home town. Meals are served on board.
Day 2, May 23 - Arrive Medjugorje
Early morning arrival in Europe where you will board your flights(s) to Dubrovnik, Split, or Sarajevo. Upon arrival you will find your luggage and exit the baggage claim into the arrivals hall where you will be greeted by a tour guide and/or driver. You will be escorted to the vehicle which will then take you on the 2 1/2 hour drive to the village of Medjugorje. Once there you will meet your fellow pilgrims and your spiritual leader. You will also be introduced to your host family in whose comfortable, yet modest inn you will be staying for the next seven nights. Enjoy a delicious dinner before retiring for the evening.
Days 3 to 8, May 24 to 30 - 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. Our local guide will accompany us throughout your stay.
Here are some of the activities you'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 Tuesdays 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.
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 also visit the community of Cenacolo.
Day 9, May 31 - Medjugorje - USA
After an early breakfast and heartfelt farewells, we leave by motor coach for Dubrovnik Airport (Split or Sarajevo) for return flights home.
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*Physical Assistance:
With so many traveling to Medjugorje for spiritual healing, let us not forget all those looking for physical healing. Visiting Apparition Hill is a vital part of your pilgrimage to Medjugorje, and we are happy to make arrangements for all those who are not physically able to climb.
Community Cenacolo contributes to Medjugorje in so many ways, and one of them, is that the men there are available to help anyone up Apparition Hill that needs it. With a minimum of three week’s notice, and provided that Apparition Hill is not crowded. Please feel free to contact us upon registration, up until 3 weeks before departure, so that we can make arrangements for you.
*Not available for Cross Mountain |
Additional Information & Travel Tips: Medjugorje
Any Questions? For more information or to register, please contact: Liz tel: 1-800-206-TOUR (8687) or email: [email protected]
For general information please contact: Wendy Ripple email: [email protected]
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| DATES |
SELECT AIRPORT |
REGISTER |
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| Pilgrimage Upgrades: |
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| Single Supplement / Solo Traveler |
$199 |
| Business Class Trans-Atlantic Upgrade (one-way) |
$1,750 |
| Business Class Trans-Atlantic Upgrade (round trip) |
$3,500 |
| First Class available |
upon request |
| Children's discounts for children under 12 |
upon request |
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About Medjugorje:
On June 25, 1981, in the mountain village of Medjugorje in Herzegovina, Our Lady appeared to six children. She identified herself as the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, and continues to appear to several of the visionaries. Her mission is to promote peace with God and mankind, through her Son, Jesus. Mary's own words to the children explained, "I have come to tell the world that God exists."
206 Tours has been arranging pilgrimages to Medjugorje since 1985. We have assisted over 250,000 people many claiming to be at such peace and to have experienced spirituality like they have never felt before. For those who have never been, if you hear the "calling" - please call us.
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| Confession,
Medjugorje |
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Prayer Service, Apparition Hill,
Medjugorje |
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Cross Mountain,
Medjugorje
333 Marcus Blvd 
