Catholic Pilgrimages

Catholic Pilgrimage Tours and World Youth Day 2011

2010-12-06T21:46:00.000-08:00

There are many moments and events come in your life that can fill up your heart with bliss, peace and gratitude. You can embark upon spiritual tours to some of the most sacred places in the word. Find out the most reliable cultural and Catholic Pilgrimage tour operators for going on spiritual tours.

Do you know where and how World Youth Day 2011 is going to be held this time? It is a Catholic event which is expected to be held over six days from August 16-21 2011 in Madrid, Spain. This event is more focused on youths. This beautiful event will cost something around €50 million. It will be a great time for you to attend this grand festive event.

There are many young people in the world who have their curious eyes fixed on this beautiful city, with the excitements of being able to witness this grand event World Youth Day 2011. This is the inspiring event which will inspire you and help you share your faith for God.

As you know, you can attend World Youth Day in Madrid with pleasure. You should think in anticipation that Jesus Christ wishes to make you firm in faith through the Church. You know that your desire to believe in Jesus Christ and to follow Him is not an easy task. But do not get discouraged, and look for the support from the Christian community and the supporter of the Church. This great event will help you deepen your Christian faith. Your Christian Pilgrimage tours and this event will be of great inspiring thing in your life. If you wish to learn more about this world youth day and catholic tours, visit Unitours.com

Catholic Pilgrimage Tours – Making Your Spiritual Journey Memorable.

2010-09-06T21:40:00.000-07:00

If you are spiritual by temperament and always wish to keep your spiritual perspectives in the right motion, then you should go for Catholic pilgrimage tours on regular basis. Enhance your spiritual awareness by going on pilgrimages.

Nobody can force you that you should go for pilgrimages. The urge should come from within. You are not supposed to go for spiritual journey only because others are going. Your heart should be full of devotions and emotions for God which may inspire you to go on pilgrimages. Once there is an inner urge that you should embark upon a spiritual journey, then you should find out how you can make it possible.

It does not mean that you should be pure at heart when you appear in front of God. All human beings have committed sins somewhere unknowingly but the thing is you should repent for that. You can pray to God for forgiveness. As you visit the holy place and shrines with great devotion, your heart may become lighter. Your worries will disappear and you will become more contented. Plan out for Catholic tours if you wish to experience all these things on your own.

It is not a must to find out a companion when you desire to go for pilgrimages. It is completely a personal thing and what you have to experience is also very much personal. But still most people prefer going in group which is also good thing. You can share your ideas and emotions you think of and experience. You can pray God together which creates a sense of deep humanity and unity in you. If you wish for going on Catholic pilgrimage in group, then you can find out a pilgrimage tour operator.

The best way to find out pilgrimage tour operators is to explore the internet and you will come across many alternatives. As you make your search over the internet, you will see many spiritual tour operators offering various travel packages. One of the leading Pilgrimage tours and Cultural tour operators you can rely on is unitours.com. For more than years, they have been specializing in group travel to many places covering Europe and the Middle East. Whether you wish for going on pilgrimage or planning for Cultural Heritage Tour to Italy and other parts of Europe or the Holy Land, Unitours can be the best option you ever find these days.

Christian Tours – It’s Time to Go On Pilgrimages

2010-07-30T02:41:00.000-07:00

Those who are in habit of going on pilgrimages hold unshaken faith about the importance of visiting the holy places. You may not see some apparent advantages but there are some hidden miracles involved behind going on Catholic pilgrimages. First and foremost, you cut yourself temporarily from your society while visiting holy places and shrines and keep your faith in the divine with full devotion. You have nothing but remembering the almighty and experiencing very closeness to God. Christian tours are therefore of great importance.

Find out a tour operator that may offer you best spiritual destinations. Choose the best tour operators or agency that may offer you the best travel packages affordable to you. If you have some difficulties in finding out in your locale, you may explore the internet to find out the best one near you. Moreover, if you have confusion regarding where you should go for pilgrimages, you may get information and answers online.

You may come across several websites and online tour agencies providing fair amount of information as to where you may go and how you may turn your spiritual journey or Christian tours into safe and memorable. One of the best tour operators working for years is Unitours. They have been serving as the most efficient and experienced spiritual as well as cultural tour operators. They offer the best travel packages which include the best holy places and sacred shrines that you can afford.

You may consider group travel for fulfilling your spiritual journey or you simply embark upon your journey alone. So, it is your choice how to go on pilgrimages. But for sure reasons, if you intend to make your spiritual pilgrimages to the Middle East, Italy, and some other parts of Europe or the Holy Land, Unitours is the best alternative if you want to make your pilgrimages safe, memorable and within your budget.

Catholic Pilgrimages that Can Make You Feel Closer To God!

2010-06-01T23:56:00.000-07:00

People have been embarking on pilgrimages for the ages to look for peace and solace. Catholic pilgrimages are also such spiritual journey that most people go for to feel closer to God. Pilgrimage is nothing but a temporarily forgetting the worldly obligations and focusing on the God. In the good old day, people were going on pilgrimages in groups and this is how, they enjoyed the company and tried explore the ways to come closer to god.

In present days also, people prefer going on Pilgrimages in groups and you will find many travel agencies offering group travel which are affordable to the average people. You need to just find out the easy and convenient options that can make your dream come true.

There are many locations where you will find holy places and shrines that you can consider for your pilgrimage. Wherever you go, your goal should be pure and spirituality should be at the center. You should not bring to God your worldly desires to get fulfilled. On the other hand, you should seek for forgiveness for the sins unknowingly committed by you. Shake off all your worries at the holy places that you visit and become tension free.

Choose the best travel agency to make your dream come true regarding going for Catholic Pilgrimages. If you explore the vast gamut of internet, you will come across many travel agencies that may take you to the pilgrimages you wish to go for. One of the best travel agencies is Unitours that can offer you affordable travel packages.

Unitours is a leading tour operator satisfying the people of the globe by offering the best travel packages at affordable rates. Whether you visit to make your trip to Europe, the Middle East or Mexico, you can consider them for making your spiritual pilgrimage safe and comfortable. Basically, North American pilgrims expect to have quality and best services and therefore, Unitours aim at offering the best possible services to the travelers. They also help you manage and customize your tours that you choose to have.

So, decide where you wish to go for catholic pilgrimages to intensify your spiritual faith. Visit the unitours.com website to learn more about how catholic pilgrimages and plan your pilgrimages affordable to you.

Catholic Pilgrimages And Christian pilgrimages

2010-02-05T01:24:00.000-08:00

A Pilgrimage tour is a long journey towards spirituality. Religious mind craves to visit the holy sites and understand the in dept beauty of faith and belief. An individual of any religion can underwent a religious trip and there is no barrier in between him and his Almighty. The world is marked with a number of pilgrimage centers and a trip into anyone of them, helps devotees receive enlightenment during their life time.

Catholic Pilgrimages: Best Catholic Pilgrimages is dedicated to providing the Best pilgrimages at affordable prices. Our spiritual and cultural group trips always include a priest or bishop as a spiritual leader. Best Catholic Pilgrimages is dedicated to our Blessed Mother, Mary.

Christian Pilgrimages: Christian pilgrimage groups, both Protestant and Catholic have long benefited from Unitours’ attention to detail and high quality services. Whether your group wishes to travel to Italy, other parts of Europe or the Holy Land, Unitours’ specially trained U.S. and overseas staff is uniquely qualified to design and deliver the perfect trip to meet the budget and needs of your group. Our specialized “One Pack” tours to Italy feature the entire trip in one great hotel to avoid packing and unpacking.

World Youth Day 2011 – The Most Exciting Event for the Catholics

2010-01-08T08:26:00.000-08:00

Religion and celebration are two sides of the same coin – where there is religion, there are celebrations. One of such world’s biggest and the most exciting celebration for the Catholics known as World Youth Day is going to be hosted in Madrid, Spain from August 15-21, 2011. You can just imagine how wonderful it would be because it is going to be hosted and celebrated in city which is one of the most beautiful cities in the world!

If you wish to be a part of this beautiful and memorable world youth day 2011 event, you need to find a travel agency that can make your travel easier, safe and comfortable and nothing can give you better option and opportunity than Unitours which is a world leader in Catholic travel. You can take advantage of their wide experience of Catholic pilgrimage. They have been offering the best services and become one of the leading pilgrimage tour operators.

You can consider joining Unitours for this memorable event because they were remarkable for their services for the past six WYD held at several places like Manila, Paris, Rome, Toronto, Cologne, and Sydney. One of the most noteworthy aspects of Unitours is that they offer flexibility regarding planning out your program as to where you wish to go and how much you want to include in your tour. Visit the website unitours.com, and plan out your program according to your convenience if you do not want to miss this wonderful World Youth Day 2011!

Catholic Pilgrimages to Deepen Your Catholic Faith

2009-12-08T05:51:00.000-08:00

Pilgrimage is an essential part of the life of many Christians. It is a spiritual journey that puts a desire in you to return to God. Getting detached from the everyday concerns of the world and to spend a peaceful time in the presence of God is the central aim of the Catholic pilgrimages. By visiting holy places and shrines around the world, you can deepen your Catholic faith and explore the local culture and history.

Pilgrimages have their own spiritual significance. Most Christians choose to visit the places where Jesus lived, especially during the Christian festivals (Bethlehem at Christmas, Jerusalem at Easter), ascend the Mount of Olives to be in awe at the amazing view of the Holy City of Jerusalem. When you visit the holy places, your pilgrimages become your cultural heritage tours because holy sites and shrines are the part of cultural tradition and heritage.

Walsingham, Iona, Canterbury, and other essential medieval pilgrimage sites during the first half of the 20th century started to fascinate large numbers of pilgrims. Some English cathedrals revived the medieval custom of issuing pilgrim badges in the 1920s. Catholic pilgrimage sustained - to Rome, Fatima, Lourdes, and other Marian shrines - and in the decades just after the Second World War, the strict divisions between Catholic and Protestant spirituality began to vanish. Christians of all denominations started visiting the Holy Land and other major pilgrimage sites.

The great continent of North America has several shrines and devotional sites which have played a significant role in fostering the Catholic Faith in the New World. You can typically think of making pilgrimages to Rome, Jerusalem and the several shrines as well as holy sites throughout Europe. You can plan your pilgrimage to the Shrines of North America and get the opportunity to discover the history and miraculous interactions between God and humanity on a local level.
With Unitours, the most prestigious name for over 45 years in Protestant Christian pilgrimages worldwide, you can plan your Catholic pilgrimages tour to all of Europe, the Middle East the Holy Land, Turkey, Mexico, Croatia. You can experience bliss and deepen your relationships with God by visiting the holy sites!

The First Crusaders and Jerusalem the Holy Land

2009-11-11T03:57:00.000-08:00

After a long, dangerous and hard journey, the First Crusaders finally reached Jerusalem in the summer of 1099 and took it. The final result of the First Crusade was the establishment of four Latin "states" or "kingdoms" in the Middle East: the County of Edessa, the Principality of Antioch, the County of Tripoli and the Kingdom of Jerusalem. These first crusaders took on the symbol of the cross Oberammergau Passion Play 2010.

"The Art of the Crusaders in the Holy Land, 1098-1187" examines the art and architecture produced for the Crusaders in Syria-Palestine during the first century of their quest to recapture Jerusalem. It was the innovation of Pope Urban 11 to provide penitential warfare with the charismatic penance of the pilgrimage to Jerusalem. According to Fulcher of Chartres, Pope Urban promised the first crusaders that 'all who die by the way, whether by land or by sea, or in battle against the pagans, shall have immediate remission of sins. The canons of the council summarized the offer made by Urban II as he launched the First Crusade. Whoever, for devotion alone, not to gain honor or money, goes to Jerusalem to liberate the Church of God can substitute this journey for all penance. Thus, apparently they were making an expedition to Jerusalem; in reality, however, they wanted to divest the Emperor of his kingdom and take Constantinople.

Serious problems faced the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem catholic pilgrimages after the First Crusade and before Saladin's victory at Hattin. A good concise account of the First Crusade from Pope Urban II's call at the "Council of Clermont" in 1095 to the Crusaders' capture of Jerusalem in 1099. But the Crusaders cause, to capture and hold Jerusalem for Christendom, was always a dubious one, and the century (almost) of Frankish rule in that city was initiated by a massacre and punctuated by various acts of perfidy, war crimes, and wanton aggression. What distinguishes the Crusades is that they were not fighting for the particular interests of their fatherland or their family, but for a cause, Jerusalem, the True Cross, salvation, with universal significance. The same year, the second crusaders started off and captured Antioch in 1098 and Jerusalem in 1099.

Christianity & Pilgrimage

2009-09-30T21:35:00.000-07:00

Pilgrimages were first made to sites connected with the life, birth and crucifixion of Jesus. Surviving descriptions of Christian pilgrimages to the Holy Land date from the 4th century, when pilgrimage was encouraged by church fathers like Saint Jerome. Pilgrimages also began to be made to Rome and other sites associated with the Apostles, Saints and Christian martyrs, as well as to places where there have been alleged apparitions of the Virgin Mary.

The second largest single pilgrimage in the history of Christendom was to the Funeral of Pope John Paul II after his death on April 2, 2005. An estimated four million people travelled to Vatican City, in addition to the almost three million people already living in Rome, to see the body of Pope John Paul II lie in state.

World Youth Day is a major Catholic Pilgrimage, specifically for people aged 16-35. It is held internationally every 2-3 years. In 2005, young Roman Catholics visited Cologne, Germany. In 1995, the largest gathering of all time was to World Youth Day in Manila, The Philippines, where four million people from all over the world attended.

The major Christian pilgrimages are to:

Jerusalem. Site of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.
On roads such as the Via Francine. Site of the deaths of Saint Peter, Saint Paul and other early martyrs. Headquarters of the Catholic Church.
Santiago de Compostela in Spain on the Way of St James (Spanish: the Camino de Santiago). This famous medieval pilgrimage to the shrine of Saint James is still popular today.

Group Pilgrimage Travel By Unitours

2009-09-01T04:59:00.000-07:00

Pilgrimage is an important part of spiritual life for many Christians. Christians see life itself as a journey, coming from God and returning to God. The pilgrim seeks to separate himself from the everyday concerns of the world, and to spend time in the presence of God as he travels to a place of special meaning. A Pilgrimage is a symbol that is acted out.

1. A journey to sacred place or shrine.
2. A long journey or search, especially one of exalted purpose or moral significance.
Here are some of the best-known places visit on pilgrimage: Holy Lands (Israel / Palestine) Many visit the places where Jesus lived, especially during the Christian festivals (Bethlehem at Christmas, Jerusalem at Easter) Jerusalem: Ascend the Mount of Olives to marvel at the spectacular view of the Holy City of Jerusalem. Walk down the hill the Church of Peter Noster and the Chapel of Ascension.

Olive Wood Crosses of Jerusalem:
Olive Wood Crosses of Jerusalem The olive tree is traditionally a symbol of health and peace. The Olive Wood of Jerusalem is the symbol of Eternal Life and it is well known since ancient time. According to Christian religion believe Jesus prayed in Gethsemane, near Jerusalem near an olive tree, some says that this tree still exists today. The Olive Tree grows in the Holy Land and can survive for up to 2000 years. In the Bible, Noah sent out a dove from the ark to find dry land and the dove returned with an Olive branch. It is said that the Dove is the symbol of the Holy Spirit. The Olive tree has been highly admired since old times and it is considered as a blessed tree. The people planted olive trees in various parts of the Holy Land to spread its cultivation. The oil from the olives was used to anoint priests, prophets and kings to empower them as well as to pray for their healing.

Passion Play 2010 in Oberammergau : Germany

2009-08-04T02:50:00.000-07:00

Part-I:

The passion play is a Biblical performance performed every ten years in Oberammergau, a city in Germany. The play tells the story of the Life and Death of Jesus and is performed outdoors where the sky and the mountains act as a natural backdrop. This pageantry is an amazing demonstration of splendid costumes and enchanting music. Over two thousand citizens of Germany participate in this exciting drama as actors, singers, instrumentalists and stage technicians, with a common objective of breathing life into the celebrated story through a six hour performance. This play is enacted in German and the performance begins in the afternoon at 2:30 PM, and the first half lasts till 5:00 PM. It continues from 8:00PM to 10:30 PM after a break for refreshment.
The passion play came into existence during the famous Thirty Years War. In the year 1633, the entire population of Oberammergau vowed to perform a “Play of the Suffering, Dying and Resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ”. They pledged to carry out the performance every ten years, if the Lord saved them from Bubonic Plague. All the inhabitants of the city survived this menace due to the grace of the Lord.
Wilcox Travel has been organizing tours to the Passion Play in Oberammergau since 1960. For the 2010 performance, we have several escorted tour packages which will take you through historic parts of Europe on the way to Oberammergau for a performance of the Play. For those who prefer to make their own travel plans or don’t wish to join a tour, we also have ticket-only packages that include hotel accommodations within walking distance to theater.

Part-II:
An important aspect related to the Passion Play is the cast of the play, who should be villagers that have resided in Oberammergau for at least twenty years. They need to be amateurs possessing superior ethical and moral principles. Great care is taken while selecting the costumes of the play. Since there is no custom of using wigs; the participants are required to grow their hair and beards several months ahead of the play. This is followed in accordance with the ‘Hair Decree’, counted from Ash Wednesday.
If you want to have a real feel of the life of Jesus from the four Gospels, you simply must attend this spectacular drama. Usually a once in a lifetime opportunity, visitors travel from all over the world to watch this age old tradition that has continued since the Middle Ages , and which is an indelible part of the Christian faith.
A visit to the city of Oberammergau, an interaction with the Passion Play performers, hearing their account on how it feels to be a part of this spiritual extravaganza is really a unique experience. You can also enjoy the Bavarian hospitality, their music, folk dancing along with their classical local cuisine. The city is also considered to be an ideal location if you want to tour Europe. You can plan out a schedule involving other parts

Catholic Mass - A True Sacrifice

2009-07-09T03:24:00.000-07:00

A Catholic Mass, which is a liturgical function, can only be held in a church or an oratory which had been consecrated or at least blessed. An oratory is a structure other than a church, set aside by ecclesiastical authority for prayer and the celebration of Catholic Mass.
Catholic Mass: Rituals and Traditions
The Catholic Mass is a religious service of the Roman Catholic Church in a consecrated place by an authorized minister.Its central act is the performance of the sacrament of the Eucharist. It is based on the ancient Latin liturgy of the city of Rome, now used in most but not all, Roman Catholic churches.
The Mass is the complex of prayers and ceremonies that make up the service of the Eucharist in the Latin rites. The Holy Eucharist is celebrated as Christ hadinstituted it at the Last Supper, according to His command, in memory of Him.
Normally, Mass must be celebrated in a consecrated or blessed Church (private oratories or even rooms are allowed for special reasons at a consecrated altar (or at least on a consecrated altar-stone).Mass may be celebrated on any day in the year except Good Friday at any time between dawn and midday. There are restrictions against private celebrations on Holy Saturday and in the case of private oratories for certain great feasts.
A Catholic pilgrimage priest may say only one Mass each day, except that on Christmas Day when he may say three, and the first said immediately after midnight.In some countries (Spain and Portugal) a priest may also celebrate three times on All Souls' Day (2 November). Bishops may give leave to a priest to celebrate twice on Sundays and feasts of obligation. In cathedral and collegiate churches, as well as in those of religious orders who are bound to say the Canonical Hours every day publicly, there is a daily Mass corresponding to the Office and forming with it the complete cycle of the public worship of God.Two Main Types
A High (or sung) Mass requires a priest, deacon and choir. Low Mass, much more common, is the same service said by one priest.

Normally at Low Mass a server or acolyte helps the celebrant. Most of the text is invariable or ordinary,but certain parts, called proper, change with the catholic pilgrimages's occasion or day.

Understanding the Importance of Catholic Pilgrimage

2009-07-02T23:24:00.000-07:00

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.

Oberammergau Passion Play 2010

2009-06-16T23:42:00.000-07:00

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.

World Youth Day 2011 Madrid

2009-03-06T03:04:00.000-08:00

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.

Greece Pilgrimage

2009-01-09T20:53:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-06T00:16:00.000-08:00

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.

Catholic Pilgrimages, Protestant Christian Pilgrimages

2008-11-03T03:25:00.000-08:00

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!

Feeding the masses at World Youth Day

2008-10-13T22:14:00.000-07:00

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!

The Center is the Wilderness - A Journey of Faith

2008-09-01T00:30:00.001-07:00

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

2008-08-01T00:28:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-17T21:28:00.000-07:00

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.

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Catholic Church

2008-06-09T02:56:00.000-07:00

The Catholic Church has been in existence on the earth longer than any other Christian denomination. The Catholics can trace the Pope’s and the Catholic Church’s authority back to Peter at the time of Jesus Christ. Most other Christian churches broke away from the Catholic Church at one point in time or another. But, they still retain many of the traditions and beliefs of the Catholic Church.

The Catholic Church defines its mission as spreading the message of Jesus Christ, found in the four Gospels, administering sacraments that aid the spiritual growth of its members and the exercise of charity. To further its mission, the Church operates social programs and institutions throughout the world. These include schools, universities, hospitals, missions and shelters, as well as Catholic Relief Services, Caritas Internationalism and Catholic Charities that help the poor, families, the elderly and the sick.

The Catholic Church rests on a foundation of four basic beliefs or tenets. These beliefs are: One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic. Here are brief definitions of the beliefs to make them clearer:

One: One stands for the one true gospel of Jesus Christ. Although there are many principles within the gospel, there is only one true gospel and one true Church as Jesus Christ set it up. It also stands for the one body of Jesus Christ.

Holy: Holy means that the Catholic Church is perfect, pure and sanctified. Although the members and even the leadership are not perfect the church itself is perfect.

Catholic: The word Catholic can be traced back to the Greek word “katas” which means universal or whole. If you were to look at the statement of beliefs for some Protestant religions not just the Catholic Church, you would find the term “catholic” in them as well. When Jesus Christ was on the earth, he commanded his followers to take the gospel to the whole earth so that in theory all people would share one belief and faith.

Apostolic: Just as when Christ was on the earth, the Catholics set up a Church with apostles.

The Catholics in the world today number over 1 billion. The church is concerned that it is not growing as fast as some of the Protestant and other religions.

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Catholic Religious Jewelry

2008-05-07T04:24:00.000-07:00

Catholic jewelry has a long and rich history. It has taken on many forms and many meanings over the millennia. From the hidden meanings of anchors and Ichthys, to the development of the crucifix in the 5th century A.D., Catholic jewelry has played a large part in the faith of millions. The cross is one of the earliest and most widely recognized Christian symbols. The use of the cross as a Christian symbol starts with Christ Himself. Since, through His death, Christ sanctified the very implement of His torture, the cross has come to signify His victory over death and sin.

Early Catholic Jewelry
While the cross has always been the most important Christian symbol, it was not openly used as such until the 4th century A.D. Early Christians feared persecution for their faith, and so developed several symbols that were not easily recognized as Catholic jewelry in order to recognize each other. The two most prevalent of these symbols were the anchor and the Ichthys. The Ichthys, two intersecting arcs resembling the profile of a fish, was probably used in Catholic jewelry as a reference to Christ as “the fisher of men”. The anchor, or mariners cross, was used in Catholic jewelry as a symbol of hope based in the faith in Christ. By using these forms of Catholic jewelry early Christians were able to avoid persecution.

The cross did not become openly used in Catholic religious jewelry until around the 3rd century A.D., when the emperor Constantine made Christianity the official religion of Rome. Since then the cross has become the most significant of Christian symbols, and has been widely used in art and Catholic religious jewelry.

The Cross and The Crucifix
It was not until the Emperor Constantine’s conversion to Christianity in the 4th century A.D. that the cross became openly and widely used in Catholic jewelry. More than fifty variants of the cross would later develop, but the four most important were: The Latin Cross, The Greek Cross, The Tau Cross & The Saint Andrews Cross.

The Latin cross is a cross with a long vertical bar intersected slightly above center by a shorter horizontal bar. The Latin cross with the body of Christ, or crucifix, is used by the Catholic Church as a representation of Christ’s sacrifice, while the Latin cross left blank is used by the Protestants as a representation of Christ’s resurrection; The Greek cross, a cross with equilateral arms; The Tau cross, a cross in the shape of the letter T and The Saint Andrews cross, a cross shaped like the letter X. The crucifix, a Latin cross with the body of Christ (corpus) and the inscription INRI or “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” upon it, did not become prevalent in Catholic jewelry until the 5th century A.D. Whereas the Protestant churches use a Latin cross left blank to symbolize the Resurrection, the Catholic Church uses the crucifix to symbolize the sacrifice of Jesus.

Catholic Charities & Catholic Medals

2008-04-05T14:10:00.000-07:00

Traditionally, a charitable trust is any kind of a private, non-profit, philanthropic, human health and welfare organization. They are mostly found in the fields of education, religion, health, wealth, government or any other areas that benefit communities. Nonprofit organizations work for the benefit of human welfare, and do not make a personal profit.

Catholic charities are charitable trusts run mainly by the Catholic church. These charities work to improve the living conditions of the poor people. Needy people are treated with equal love and care, irrespective of their religion, sex, age, race, color, or origin. These charities try to provide steady employment with good wages for people who need the jobs. They try to protect the people from racial discriminations and prejudices. Since these issues have an intergenerational impact, Catholic charities try to protect the families across the age groups.

Catholic charities usually depend on donations from affluent citizens. This money is used to provide a better life to the poor and the needy of the country. Catholic charities try and ensure that all people in the community are cared for. They do the best they can with the income that they get through donations. Catholic charities strive to unite and mobilize a growing number of Catholic institutions, individuals and persons of good faith. Their goal is to maximize the church's influence on issues of poverty, drug abuse, unemployment and women and child welfare. Most Catholic charities are affiliated with Catholic Charities USA, the largest private human service network in the United States.

Medals are metal emblems representing a particular feature. Archeologists substantiate that the medals were used during the ancient periods in history. Catholic medals are used to symbolize the faith and devotion to God. They are the medals which represent unique beliefs and practices of the Catholics. The medals have gained much popularity among both Catholics and non-Catholics. However, the medals do not advocate any superstitions. The Catholic teaching preaches that the medals have no inbuilt magical power but instead it only inspires the need of devotion.

Catholic medals are generally used to remind the divinity of God. The medals include several categories according to the purpose of their use. Some medals are just souvenirs, which include memorial of certain persons, important events, places, etc.

The various categories of the medals can be stated as follows: Jubilee medals, papal medals, special occasion medals, etc. are included in the commemorative medals. Certain medals are expressions of religious prayers for blessings and protection. This group includes Jesus Christ medals, Virgin Mary medals, Eucharistic medals, etc. Patron saint medals are another category of catholic medals which characterize saints, the mediators for communication with God. Some other medals feature biblical events. The angel medals and crucifixes are also included as Catholic medals.

These medals may be used as religious jewelry. These valuable possessions can be pendants on chains worn around the necks or pinned to the dress. Most of the believers give an important position to the medals in their home, vehicle or office since the medals are a sign of God. They are considered as suitable gift choices which bring good luck and for adding to a collection. The value of a Catholic medal increases with age. Vintage medals are very costly.

Catholic Pilgrimages

2008-03-08T01:53:00.000-08:00

A pilgrimage is any religiously motivated trip to some site which is regarded as sacred or otherwise religiously significant. Common sites for pilgrimages are those associated with saints, their relics, or other important religious figures. The term "pilgrimage" comes from the Latin peregrinus, which means "foreigner."

Catholic Pilgrimages were first made to sites connected with the birth, life, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Surviving descriptions of Christian pilgrimages to the Holy Land date from the 4th century, when pilgrimage was encouraged by church fathers like Saint Jerome. Pilgrimages also began to be made to Rome and other sites associated with the Apostles, Saints and Christian martyrs, as well as to places where there have been apparitions of the Virgin Mary.

The second largest single pilgrimage in the history of Christendom was to the Funeral of Pope John Paul II after his death on April 2, 2005. An estimated four million people traveled to Vatican City, in addition to the almost three million people already living in Rome, to see the body of Pope John Paul II lie in state.

World Youth Day is a major Catholic Pilgrimage, specifically for people aged 16-35. It is held internationally every 2-3 years. In 2005, young Catholics visited Cologne, Germany. In 1995, the largest gathering of all time was to World Youth Day in Manila, Philippines, where four million people from all over the world attended.

The major Catholic pilgrimages are to:

The Holy Land, location of many events in the Old Testament and New Testament:

Jerusalem, site of the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus.
Bethlehem, birthplace of Jesus and King David.
Nazareth, hometown of Jesus.

Rome on roads such as the Via Francigena. Site of the deaths of Saint Peter, Saint Paul and other early martyrs.

Lourdes, France. Apparition of the Virgin Mary. The second most visited Christian pilgrimage site after Rome.

Istanbul, Turkey, Former capital of the Byzantine Empire and the see of one of the five ancient Patriarchates.

Pilgrimages

2008-02-06T02:08:00.000-08:00

Unitours - The Leader in Christian tours and pilgrimages worldwide The Holy Land, Israel, Greece, Italy, Central Europe and England.

Unitours is an international tour operator in continuous operation and under the same management since 1957. Headquartered in Purchase, NY, USA. We maintain our offices and staffs in Tel Aviv; Lucerne; London; Athens; plus a large experienced staff in the United States.

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.

Catholic Life

2008-01-07T03:21:00.000-08:00

Catholic life

The word "catholic" without its religious context, means universal, concerning all humanity, free from prejudice, liberal. According to this definition, I am definitely catholic.

It is proven that Catholics are true follower of Jesus. They follow all teaching lesion of Jesus They seek forgiveness of their sins and follow the example and teaching of Jesus. They believe that Jesus has provided seven sacraments which give Grace from God to the believer.

If a person dies in unrepeated mortal sin, It means he loses god’s promise and deserve to Hell. But if follower regrets his seen and bad action and scarify for that before a death then he find purification and get Heaven.

Catholic believe that god always take care for entire world. Catholics always take part in church through prayers and doing spiritual disciplines such as fasting and pilgrimage.

Catholic differentiates prayers in four different way.
1) Adoration,
2) Thanksgiving,
3) Contrition,
4) Supplication
Catholic believes that Prayer for everyone, even for enemies and persecutors is a Christian duty. Mother of Jesus, the Virgin Mary is also considered to be the spiritual mother of all Catholics.

Olive Wood Crosses of Jerusalem

2007-10-05T21:45:00.000-07:00

Olive Wood Crosses of Jerusalem

The olive tree is traditionally a symbol of health and peace. The Olive Wood of Jerusalem is the symbol of Eternal Life and it is well known since ancient time. According to religion believe Jesus prayed in Gethsemane, near Jerusalem near an olive tree, some says that this tree still exists today.

The Olive Tree grows in the Holy Land and can survive for up to 2000 years.
In the Bible, Noah sent out a dove from the ark to find dry land and the dove returned with an Olive branch.

It is said that the Dove is the symbol of the Holy Spirit. The Olive tree has been highly admired since old times and it is considered as a blessed tree. The people planted olive trees in various parts of the Holy Land to spread its cultivation. The oil from the olives was used to anoint priests, prophets and kings to empower them as well as to pray for their healing. While known for its sturdiness, it is a beautiful wood with grains of colors from pink to black; The older the wood the darker the colors.

Jerusalem cross and what it represents

The Jerusalem cross was the emblem of Templar Crusaders, and may have been the personal arms of Templar Godfrey de Bouillon.

The Jerusalem cross has four arms at equal distances, symbolizing the four directions, and the belief that Jerusalem was the spiritual center of the earth.

The more complex version of the symbol represented the spread of Christ's message through the four evangelists (Mathew, mark, Luke, and John), who are represented by the four additional "crosslets."

Are you Catholic or Protestant

2007-09-17T02:41:00.000-07:00

From the following you can decide that are you catholic or protestant on the basic of concept for justification. So choose your justification reply for all 10 queries.

First
Catholic: God gives a man right standing with Himself by actually making him innocent and virtuous.
Protestant: God gives a man right standing with Himself by mercifully accounting him innocent and virtuous.

Second
Catholic: God gives a man right standing with Himself by putting Christ's goodness and virtue into his heart.
Protestant: God gives a man right standing with Himself by placing Christ's goodness and virtue to his credit.

Third
Catholic: God makes the believer acceptable by infusing Christ's moral excellence into his life.
Protestant: God accepts the believer because of the moral excellence found in Jesus Christ.

Four
Catholic: If a Christian is "born again" (regenerate, transformed in character), he will achieve right standing with God.
Protestant: If the sinner accepts right standing with God by faith, he will then experience transformation in character.

Five
Catholic: We receive right standing with God by faith which has become active by love.
Protestant: We receive right standing with God by faith alone.

Six
Catholic: We achieve right standing with God by having Christ live out His life of obedience in us.
Protestant: We achieve right standing with God by accepting the fact that He obeyed the law perfectly for us.

Seven
Catholic: We achieve right standing with God by following Christ's example with the help of His enabling grace.
Protestant: We follow Christ's example because His life has given us right standing with God.

Eight
Catholic: God sends His Spirit to make us good, and then He will pronounce us good.
Protestant: God first pronounces us good in His sight, and then gives us His Spirit to make us good.

Nine
Catholic: The indwelling Christ gives us favor in God's sight.
Protestant: Christ's intercession at God's right hand gives us favor in the sight of God.

Ten
Catholic: By the power of the Holy Spirit living in us, we can fully satisfy the claims of the Ten Commandments.

Protestant: Only by faith in the doing and dying of Christ can we fully satisfy the claims of the Ten Commandments.

Unitours provide excellent tour package for Christian Pilgrimages.

Brief History of Jesus Christ

2007-08-15T01:33:00.000-07:00

Jesus Christ, born in Bethlehem, Christians regard Jesus as a Son of God, and as having been divinely conceived by Marry the wife of Joseph - a carpenter in Nazareth. We know very less about Jesus' life.

He is : a Savior, a prophet, a healer, and a teacher, whose life and teachings formed the foundation of Christianity. Everyone believed that Jesus had been the Messiah. Many Jews during his lifetime, believed that he was the Messiah who came to Jerusalem in triumph and was glorified. Only few days later, he was put to death by the cruel Roman execution of crucifixion.

The story about Jesus is- An angel visited Mary and told her that she will bear a child who was conceived by the Holy Spirit. There was an ancient belief that a new star will appear in the sky when a new ruler is born. Three wise men saw the star in the east and came to Bethlehem to pay tribute and worship Jesus.
The announcement that a new king was born was troublesome for King Herod. He ordered all children under two years old in the Bethlehem area to be killed.
Joseph was instructed in a dream to take Jesus and Mary and flee to Egypt. According to Matthew, they came back to their home in Nazareth when they heard that King Herod was dead.

At the age of about thirty Jesus went to the Jordan River to be baptized by his cousin, John the Baptist, the Prophet who was conducting baptism according to the Jewish practice, in preparation for the Kingdom to come. After that he withdrew to the mountains of the Judean desert for 40 days where he was tempted three times by the devil. When he came back he worked for a while with John the Baptist.

Jesus’ public ministry began after the jailing of John the Baptist and lasts about one year. He moved to Capernaum and made it his headquarters of ministry; He selected twelve disciples to work with, to model the twelve tribes of Israel. From there he traveled to neighboring towns, preaching and teaching the good news of the Kingdom of God. He performed miracles such as: Turning water into wine; Healing the sick; Restoring the dead to life; Walking on water; Casting demons out of the possessed and turning a few loaves of bread and fish into enough food to feed a crowd of thousands.

His followers increased in number, He promised forgiveness and eternal life in heaven to the most sinful, provided their repentance was sincere. This induced the hatred of the Jewish Pharisees, who feared that his teachings might lead to disregard for the authority of the Torah.
Despite the Jewish Authorities opposition, Jesus’ popularity increased. He was devoted to the Torah. The main thing Jesus taught which was different from his teachers was not only love the neighbor as yourself but love the enemy, forgiveness is the supreme expression of love.

He taught the rules of the Kingdom and the new covenant, ethical teaching with a series of demands for conduct of oneself in relationship to each other and to God.

Jesus now was a labeled man, as his followers grew, his enemies grew too. The Sanhedrin - the Jewish Rabbinical Authority in Jerusalem challenged him on specific issues seeking to question him into self-discrimination.

On the Sunday before Passover, Jesus entered Jerusalem. He sent two of his disciples to get a donkey that had never been ridden before on which he would ride to Jerusalem. They brought the donkey and laid their garments on it and Jesus rode into the city. He was welcomed uponentering the city by crowds singing and rejoicing following Him to the Temple. In less then a week the same crowd would be demanding His death on a cross.

In the course of it he spoke of his looming betrayal and impending death as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity. He assured His Disciples of the coming of the Kingdom of God. Later this evening, the Temple police and Roman soldiers arrested Him. Jesus was taken to a meeting of the supreme council of the Jewish authorities. They found sufficient ground to warrant an accusation of high faithlessness and brought Him before Pontius Pilate. There, Jesus was condemned to death as a messianic pretender. Pilate ultimately left the decision to the people, and they insisted on Jesus’ death. Jesus was executed by crucifixion with two other criminals guilty of rebellion.

Later in the day before sunset, his body was taken down and buried in a tomb by followers. Early on the following Sunday, his disciples found the tomb empty. Later the same day, Jesus appeared at various locations in and near Jerusalem.

After His death, His followers decided that Jesus had been divine. This did not happen immediately; the development of Christian belief in the Incarnation, was gradual and the doctrine that Jesus had been God in human form was finalized in the fourth century.

What Is A Pilgrimage?

2007-07-16T22:52:00.000-07:00

Many time we make few steps to back or forward we may take steps to the left or sometime to the right, But when we plan for pilgrimage we are making steps towards god .We got to god with lusts of problems, sickness faith doubts crisis and we ask for favors.

"Pilgrimage means focusing on an intention, focusing on a desire, or focusing on resolution of a situation.”

History of a Pilgrimage:
A Pilgrimage is a personal invitation from God it is differs from a tour in several important ways. It comprised of god offer and depends upon your acceptance. God's call many ways but the purpose remains consistent: It is an individual summons to know God more fully. it is a spiritual journey for spiritual purpose. and an opportunity to get closer to God.

Definition of a pilgrimage is "A long journey or search, especially one of exalted purpose or moral significance." So, a religious pilgrimage is generally a long, arduous journey. Hardly the kinds of leisure modern people tend to seek when vacationing.

America has a balanced government, but we are not balanced in our personal lives. This is exact opposite of China. This is an interesting observation. The Chinese place great importance on this concept of balance, or "yin and yang". Who could disagree that in our industrialized society there is far too much emphasis on money, career, advancement, success; and not enough attention paid to our relationships with our family and friends, with God, and with nature?

Pilgrimages - journeys to sacred places -
Christian pilgrims, from early in the second century, traveled great distances to venerate places in the Holy Land sanctified by the presence of Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, or the Apostles. The number of pilgrimages increased greatly in the fourth century, after Emperor Constantine I converted to Christianity and legalized the faith throughout the Roman Empire. He and his mother, Helena, were themselves the most influential of pilgrims. The historian Eusebius of Caesarea attributed to Constantine the discovery of Christ’s tomb, the Holy Sepulcher; other accounts credit his mother with finding the True Cross.

Rome, as it became the center of the Christian faith, became a frequent pilgrimage destination, as did Greece and Egypt, where the faithful could follow the footsteps of the Apostles.

Why need To Book A Pilgrimage?
Most important reason is Increase Faith in god, Practice Fasting, Learn to Let Go , Practice Prayer for God and how to give our problem to God, Pray for Healing, Hear what the Holy Spirit may say, In thankfulness, In Joy and Rejoicing, To Pray for others, To Visit Holy Places, Experience diverse cultures, To escort a family member or a loved one, to travel with their prayer group/church/youth group/leader, and/or for Unity so we can be with people like ourselves. Often we go on a pilgrimage when seeking change, and often, change takes place

Pilgrimages

2007-06-27T21:41:00.000-07:00

Pilgrims contributed an important element to long-distance trade before the modern era, and brought prosperity to successful pilgrimage sites, an economic phenomenon unequalled until the tourist trade of the 20th century. Encouraging pilgrims was a motivation for assembling (and sometimes fabricating) relics and for writing hagiographies of local saints, filled with inspiring accounts of miracle cures. Lourdes and other modern pilgrimage sites keep this spirit alive.

Until recent centuries, pilgrimage has been a fairly difficult and arduous adventure. But now, Jews from many countries make periodic pilgrimages to the holy sites of their religion. The western retaining wall of the original temple, known as the Wailing Wall, or Western Wall remains in the Old City of Jerusalem and this has been the most sacred site for Zionist Jews. Pilgrimage to this area was off-limits from 1948 to 1967, when East Jerusalem was controlled by Jordan.

World Youth Day is a major Catholic Pilgrimage, specifically for people aged 16-35. It is held internationally every 2-3 years. In 2005, young Catholics visited Cologne, Germany. In 1995, the largest gathering of all time was to World Youth Day in Manila, Philippines, where four million people from all over the world attended.

About Protestant Pilgrimages

2007-05-14T23:40:00.000-07:00

Evangelicals go essentially to visit the sites of biblical significance on what are primarily educational tours. These in themselves will only perpetuate and reinforce a pietistic faith rooted in the 1st Century, without addressing either the present Middle East conflict or necessarily engaging in theological praxis. The presence of an ancient and Oriental Christianity is either ignored, misunderstood or even criticized for desecrating the archaeological sites with what are often regarded as pagan shrines.

Fundamentalist pilgrims visit the Holy Land for similar reasons but with the added schatological dimension, believing themselves to be witnessing and indeed participating in the purposes of God, at work within Israel in these 'Last Days'. They believe they have a divine mandate to support the state of Israel.

The third, most recent and smallest category of pilgrimage to emerge is associated with the term 'Living Stones'. These pilgrimages in contradistinction seek to counter the ignorance of many Evangelicals and the harm caused by Fundamentalists, by engaging in acts of solidarity with the Palestinian church. These pilgrimages include opportunities to meet, worship with, listen to and learn from the spirituality and experience of the indigenous Christians.

HolyLand of Christians

2007-05-02T22:47:00.001-07:00

Holy Land of Christians
The Holy Land is significant in Christianity, mainly because it is the place of birth, Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus , the Saviour or Messiah to christianity.

Holy Cities:
Bethlehem, Israel birthplace of Jesus
This city has great significance for all Christians as it was the birthplace of Jesus . The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem is one of the oldest continuously operating churches in the world.

Nazareth, Israel:
is Jesus's hometown where Jesus lived and the site of many of his acts and miracles.Nazareth is also holy place for Christians because it throws light on the holy family, especially Mary, the mother of Jesus. This is the place where a Christian believer can consider Mary's qualities. Her character as a noble woman, a woman of purity, simplicity, sensitivity and pureness of heart. Mary is portrayed as a mother who devotes herself to the education of her son and remains devoted to him in the most trying of circumstances.According to the new testament, the parents of Jesus, Joseph and raise, resided in Nazereth, and there studied Jesus, from girls until adulthood. The Nazereth name is from beam of the word " Christianity ".

Jerusalem, Israel where the early Church was startedJerusalem is believed to be the site of some of Jesus's teaching, the Last Supper, the subsequent institution of the Holy Eucharist as well as His entombment; Christians believe he was crucified on a nearby hill, Golgotha (sometimes called Calvary). It contains the Church of the Holy Sepulchre {The ground on which the church rests is venerated by most Christians as Golgotha, the Hill of Calvary, where the New Testament describes that Jesus was crucified. It also is said to contain the place where Jesus was reportedly buried (the sepulchre)}. The church has been an important pilgrimage destination.
Jerusalem is the capital city of Israel, the biggest city in the holy land (Israel), Jerusalem is city with history of thousand of years, city of holiness for three of the monotheistic religions, the holy city for Jewish, Christians and Muslims.

Group Pilgrimage Travel By Unitours

2007-05-02T22:43:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the best-known places visit on pilgrimage:
Holy Lands (Israel / Palestine)Many visit the places where Jesus lived, especially during the Christian festivals (Bethlehem at Christmas, Jerusalem at Easter)

Jerusalem : Ascend the Mount of Olives to marvel at the spectacular view of the Holy City of Jerusalem. Walk down the hill the Church of Peter Noster and the Chapel of Ascension. On to the church of Dominus Flevit and the Church of All Nations in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus endured his agony.Descend across the Valley of Kidron.

St. Peter's Basilica, Rome, Italy : St. Peter, disciple of Jesus, was martyred and believed to be buried here. It is the centre of the Roman Catholic church, and home of the Pope.

Lourdes, France : In 1858, a young girl called Bernadette Soubivous had a vision of Jesus' mother, Mary. The spring waters that flow from the fountains are believed tobring miraculous healing from God.

Santiago de Compostela, Spain : Saint James, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus, is believed to be buried here.

Canterbury : Thomas Becket , Archbishop of Canterbury, was martyred here.

Walsingham, England : In 1061 Richeldis de Faverches had a vision of Jesus' mother Mary, and built a replica of the humble house where Jesus was born. An Augustine Priorywas built there, and today there are Roman Catholic and Anglican shrines.

Iona, Scotland : In 530 AD St. Columba travelled from Ireland and landed at Iona to convert the people to Christianity. He started a monastery here.

Knock, Ireland : On 21st August 1879 a group of people standing outside the church saw a heavenly vision there.

St. David's, Wales : Dewi Sant (St. David) lived here and helped spread the Christian faith in Wales.