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Understanding the Importance of Catholic Pilgrimage
 Since 1979 Catholic Pilgrimages have formed a major portion of the Church group travel services offered by Casterbridge Church Tours. We have 30 years of experience in custom-designing Catholic Tours to shrines and places of retreat and devotion around the world. These pilgrimage tours can include Catholic Shrines or places of Marian apparition, such as Lourdes, Fatima, Knock, Santiago de Compostela, Medjugorje, or Zaragoza. Many of our pilgrimage tours are also combined with days of retreat and reflection.
Pilgrimage Tours provide a special opportunity for people to grow in their faith and deepen their knowledge of key places of devotion. True Catholic Pilgrimages journey with the giants of faith and our Catholic Tours bring groups to places once traveled by important Bible personalities. These spiritual pilgrimages allow you to walk with Christ on the road to Calvary, to stand in some of the very places where Peter and Paul proclaimed the truth of the resurrection. You are able to relive the Pentecost experience in the Upper Room or join with John the Baptist as he baptized Jesus in the River Jordan. Paul on your custom-designed Catholic Tour. Experience the unique benefits and fellowship of church group travel and design your spiritual pilgrimage today.
Catholic Pilgrimages are a golden opportunity to appreciate the traditions of the past, as well as the work of the Holy Spirit active in the Church of today. Catholic tours allow participants to feel the presence of St. Francis as you walk the hills of Assisi, experience the life and sacrifice of St. Catherine in Siena, or honor the legacy of St. Peter, which is alive in the person of the Pope in the Vatican. Make your Catholic Pilgrimage a true spiritual pilgrimage by participating in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome or in one of the other major basilicas or churches found in Italy and throughout the world. Our Catholic tours and itineraries can ignite your heart with the same missionary zeal that moved saints like Ignatius of Loyola, Vincent de Paul, Francis de Sales, Francis Xavier, Joan of Arc, Bridget, Faustina, and St. Therese of Lisieux. Few experiences provide you with such life-changing opportunities as a Catholic Pilgrimage. These are a feast for the eyes, a challenge for the heart, and a means of true spiritual nourishment for your soul. With Casterbridge, every Catholic Pilgrimage is specifically designed to cater to the needs and spiritual objectives of your group. For over 30 years, Casterbridge Church Tours has been helping groups create truly spiritual Catholic pilgrimages that are suited to the unique needs of their particular parish. Maybe you would like to take a spiritual pilgrimage to learn more about a religious community that services your church. Catholic tours can celebrate milestone anniversaries or allow your church members to participate in a worldwide event that will enable you to meet with Catholics from across the globe. Whatever the event, your Catholic pilgrimage will include all the elements necessary for an incredible spiritual journey. Labels: Catholic Pilgrimage, Catholic Pilgrimage tours, Catholic Pilgrimages
Oberammergau Passion Play 2010
 History of the Oberammergau Passion Play
The history of the Oberammergau Passion Play dates back to the middle of the Thirty Years War. In 1633, after months of suffering from the Bubonic Plague, the people of Oberammergau took a vow to perform the "Play of the Suffering, Dying and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ" every ten years if they were spared. Miraculously from that point on they all survived and true to their promise, the first performance was in 1634. This simple performance was held in a meadow and acted by the villagers. After 1674 they decided to change the date, so as to fall every ten years beginning in 1680. The only time it was not performed, was during World War II. This time the play will open on May 15, 2010 and ends on October 3, 2010.
Who takes part?
The entire cast consists of villagers who have lived in Oberammergau for at least 20 years. They must also be amateurs and people of high moral and ethical principles. Villagers also make the outstanding costumes. As no wigs are used, participants must grow their hair and beards for several months prior to the performances, beginning on Ash Wednesday 2009 according to the "Hair Decree."  By glorifying the Lord for saving their village during the plague, they are fulfilling Psalm 145:4-6 "One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds." The producer of the 2010 play is Christian Stuckl. The conductors are Markus Zwink and Michael Bocklet. The designer is Stefan Hageneier. Why see a Passion Play?
Passion Plays recount the life and ministry of Jesus Christ from the four gospels in a dramatic form. This tradition began in the Middle Ages and are often performed in churches during Easter week. By watching a Passion Play we have a chance to reflect on the events most central to our faith, that Jesus died, was buried and rose again from the dead. Labels: Oberammergau Passion Play, Oberammergau Passion Play 2010, Passion Play
World Youth Day 2011 Madrid
World Youth Day 2011 is a Catholic youth festival expected to be held over seven days from August 15 – 21, 2011 in Madrid, Spain. More than 125,000 visitors — more than the number of those who came to Sydney for the Olympic Games in 2000 — were estimated to have arrived in Sydney for World Youth Day 2008. The six-day celebrations began on July 15, local time, and came to a close on the actual World Youth Day itself on July 20. Organised by the Catholic Church, World Youth Day brought together young people from around the world to celebrate their faith. World Youth Day 2008 culminated in a final Mass celebrated by the Pope on July 20 at Sydney's Royal Randwick Racecourse. The Mass is typically the largest event of World Youth Day celebrations and, overseas, had drawn millions of people. The most recent World Youth Days on the international level, prior to the Sydney event, were held in Cologne, Germany, in 2005 and in Toronto, Canada, in 2002. Madrid, Spain, and Rio de Janeiro or Belo Horizante, Brazil, were among the cities vying to hold the next international World Youth Day, possibly in 2011. World Youth Day was begun by Pope John Paul II in 1986 and has already been held in Rome, Argentina, Spain, Poland, the United States, the Philippines, France and, more recently, Canada and Germany. The influx of large numbers of visitors to Sydney, and the need for security measures, caused congestion in various Sydney areas and affected traffic movements. Labels: pilgrimages, World Youth Day 2011, World Youth Day 2011 Madrid, WYD 2011, WYD 2011 Madrid
Greece Pilgrimage
A pilgrim is one who undertakes a pilgrimage, literally 'far afield'. This is traditionally a visit to a place of some religious or historic significance; often a considerable distance is traveled. Examples include a Christian or Jew visiting Jerusalem or a Muslim visiting Mecca. No religion has laid greater stress on the duty of a pilgrim than Islam in the Hajj. In the United States the word "Pilgrims" usually refers to the European settlers of New England, who celebrated the "First Thanksgiving" with the Native Americans in 1621 Greece is the true amalgamation of cultures, colors and civilizations that are not only diverse in nature but rich in history and heritage. Much before most of the world was still trying to break out of its cocoon Greece was known to have already developed its birthright through the elements of chaos, drama, tragedy and democracy. Combined with its deep respect for its ancient traditions, it still believes in the proclivity to partying, an inheritance that has been brought down from the Dionysos. This pilgrimage, just like previous ones, will be a wonderful and spiritual experience of the roots of Christianity as we stand and pray at the Biblical sites. Inspired by the True Life in God Messages, we welcome the opportunity to live and worship in unity with all Christians, as well as other faiths, irrespective of denominations, nationalities or "man-made" dividers. Tinos, part of the Cycladic archipelago some 120 km (75 miles) from Athens, attracts around 1 million visitors a year to its church of the Virgin Mary, whose icon is revered in Greece's Orthodox Church for its reputed healing powers. Many pilgrims, especially at the August 15 height of the pilgrimage, crawl nearly a kilometer from the ferry wharf to the church on their hands and knees as a sign of devotion. Many fulfill a pledge to light a candle as tall as themselves.
Christian Pilgrimages
A pilgrimage is a journey made by a religious person to a holy site. Its a log journey especially one made to a shrine or sacred place. The term pilgrimage primarily used in religion and spirituality of a long journey. Sometimes, it is a journey to a sacred place or shrine or importance to a person's beliefs and faith. Anyone of any religion can have right to participate in pilgrimages. The person who conducts such journey called pilgrim.
In the kingdoms of Israel and Judah the visitation of certain ancient cult-centers was repressed in the 7th century BC, when the worship was restricted to Jahweh at the temple in Jerusalem. In Syria, the shrine of Astarte at the headwater spring of the river Adonis survived until it was destroyed by order of Emperor Constantine in the 4th century AD.
Although a pilgrimage is normally viewed in the context of religion, the personality cults cultivated by communist leaders ironically gave birth to pilgrimages of their own. Prior to the demise of the USSR in 1991, a visit to Lenin's Mausoleum in Red Square, Moscow can be said to have had all the characteristics exhibiting a pilgrimage — for atheists and communists. Labels: Christian Pilgrimages, pilgrimages
Catholic Pilgrimages, Protestant Christian Pilgrimages
In religion and spirituality, a pilgrimage is a long journey or search of great moral significance. Sometimes, it is a journey to a sacred place or shrine of importance to a person's beliefs and faith. Members of every major religion participate in pilgrimages. A person who makes such a journey is called a pilgrim. Pilgrimages may be defined as journeys made to some place with the purpose of venerating it, or in order to ask there for supernatural aid, or to discharge some religious obligation.
As specialist in Christian group travel, we are uniquely qualified to provide you and your group with a wonderful pilgrimage to Europe and the Middle East. We use only specially selected and conveniently located hotels with private baths. Our tour managers and guides escort your group from arrival in their countries until you return to the airport. They are all highly qualified, specially trained professionals familiar with both the temporal and spiritual needs of North American Christian pilgrims.
As specialist in Catholic group travel, we are uniquely qualified to provide you and your group with a wonderful pilgrimage to Europe, the Middle East or Mexico. While our prices are competitive because of the buying power of our worldwide network and generous discounts extended by our preferred air carriers, we do not offer "bare bones" bargain tours. We have learned that North American pilgrims expect a certain quality, attention to detail and service when they travel. Thus, we offer a higher quality pilgrimage. Unitours’ prices are all inclusive and any extra are clearly detailed on our brochures. You and your pilgrims, will not experience unexpected extras and options when you travel with us, as we hate surprises as much as you do!
Labels: Catholic Pilgrimages, Protestant Christian Pilgrimages
Feeding the masses at World Youth Day
Sydney, July 15, World Youth Day, the Catholic Church's youth pilgrimage has officially opened. The event's organizers have the task of feeding over 150,000 international and Australian pilgrims. And what's on the menu for this feeding of the masses? Why, Vegemite, of course! "We want to provide pilgrims with a good feed and a little bit of an Australian taste," Geoff Morris, the World Youth Day director of services, said. "A good feed" is Australian for "a good meal".
Pilgrims will also be treated to such Aussie classics as meat pies, lamingtons and baked beans. The organizers have also planned a barbie of biblical proportions.
Reactions to Vegemite amongst the pilgrims has been varied, to say the least. With some enjoying the revelatory rush of vitamins, while others made the mistake of spreading it on too thickly. My advice to the pilgrims would be: like all of life's little pleasures, Vegemite should be enjoyed in moderation!
Labels: World Youth Day
The Center is the Wilderness - A Journey of Faith
When something really big happens, you need time to make sense of it - to put it in perspective. When the event is trauma or grief, we call this stage denial. The same dynamic is in play with something unexpectedly joyful. Suppose you were to win the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes? It's the reason people don't remember much of the events of their wedding day.
St. Paul, as recounted in the book of Acts, had a mystical experience on the road to Damascus that turned his life around. It changed him from a persecutor of the young Christian movement to one of its chief representatives. He was blinded by the light -- literally blinded as the result of a mystical encounter with the risen Christ. Paul was then befriended by one of the very Christians he was on his way to arrest. He was healed of physical and spiritual blindness, baptized as a follower of Jesus, then went home to Tarsus where he worked as a tentmaker for many years. He needed time to make sense of his experience and stayed there until God, in the person of a man named Barnabas, came to get him to begin his ministry.
Jesus had mystical experiences. His intimate relationship with God and his knowledge of God's nature is indicative of mystical experience. When he came up out the baptismal waters, from John the Baptist, Jesus experienced a clarification of his identity. The Gospels describe this experience by saying that the heavens opened up and Jesus heard God say, "This is my son, the beloved."
Jesus found in the baptismal waters, and even more deeply in his wilderness struggle, that he was a person of incredible value with the power, potential, and presence of the Spirit enabling us to change the world in partnership with God. What Jesus did is exactly what God invites us to do. Bring your questions, what challenges or may confuse you. Bring your wisdom and all of who you are. We are on a journey into the wilderness to discover who we are, who we can be, and what we can do.
Grandpa Jerry and St. Paul - Down Home Story
Grandpa Jerry Williams was a great admirer of Saint Paul and would not have invoked the name of the revered apostle deliberately to frighten the wits out of a St. Louis drummer. Besides, Grandpa had to replace the church-yard gate and repair the steeple.
"What did Paul say?"
What Paul said on the subject usually took a solid hour, or a bit more, to relate. Grandpa didn't get many opportunities to atone for his youthful disobedience to God's call, so he made the most of every one.
Despite Grandpa Jerry's scriptural verbosity, he was an imposing figure in the pulpit. He was a large man, tall, with a wild crop of bushy white hair. When he got wound up about Paul, he commanded attention. He voice boomed, and he emphasized his words with thumps on the pulpit.
Folks allowed as how the regular-ordained pastors were easier to take, week-end-week-out. Still, a good dose of Saint Paul now and then purged the soul.
The spiritual home for that little country congregation was about five miles from town. As was the custom, it was left unlocked so passersby could enter for mediation or shelter.
Grandpa Jerry's farm was nearby, and he often went there in the evening, after chores, to look after the church. After mending a window pane, or mowing the grass in the graveyard out front, he would commune with God in the empty sanctuary.
It was on such an occasion during Lent that Grandpa Jerry and the St. Louis salesman encountered each other briefly. Grandpa went to the church that evening to sweep the floor and make sure the hymnals were evenly distributed for Easter Sunday. This done, he lingered to think and pray.
Catholic Social Teaching
What is Catholic Social Teaching?
Catholic Social Teaching (also known as Catholic Social Doctrine) sums up the teachings of the Church on social justice issues. It promotes a vision of a just society that is grounded in the Bible and in the wisdom gathered from experience by the Christian community as it has responded to social justice issues through history. Three Elements:The social teachings are made up of three different elements: principles for reflection; criteria for judgment; and guidelines for action. The principles for reflection apply across many different times and places, but the guidelines for action can change for different societies or times. Uniform guidelines for action wouldn’t work because societies are so different from one another, and they are always changing over time creating new situations with different problems and possibilities. The criteria for judgment may be thought of as ‘middle axioms’ mediating between the highly authoritative but necessarily general and abstract principles for reflection, and the details of the concrete social reality. They are less authoritative than the principles for reflection but more so than the guidelines for action. Guidelines for action are always dependant on contingent judgments and the information available through human knowledge. There is frequently scope for legitimate differences of opinion among believers on a range of social justice issues. For Catholic Pilgrimages, Protestant Pilgrimages, Cultural Heritage Tours - Click Here
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