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P.O. Box 53419 Atlanta, GA 30355
(404) 467-8041 |
Celebrating our 32nd Year Providing Superior Catholic Pilgrimages
Celebrating our 32nd Year Providing Superior Catholic Pilgrimages |
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Providing Superior Catholic Pilgrimages to Rome, Italy, Fatima, Lourdes, Medjugorje, Pope John Paul II, Steps of Paul, the Holy Land, World Youth Day, the Passion Play & more! The Catholic Pilgrim Office operates tours for pre-formed groups of 15 or more from U.S. departure cities. Call us about details and generous host benefits! The Catholic Pilgrim Office and The Quest Travel Group
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Dublin: June 10-17, 2011 In the Roman Catholic church, a Eucharistic Congress is a gathering of clergy, religious, and laity to bear witness to the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, which is an important Roman Catholic doctrine. Congresses bring together people from a wide area, and typically involve large open-air Masses, adoration of the Eucharist (Blessed Sacrament), and other devotional ceremonies held over several days. There are National and International Eucharistic Congresses. Every four years, somewhere in the world, the International Eucharistic Congress is celebrated. The purpose of the Congress is:
The last International Eucharistic Congress took place in Quebec City in 2008. During his homily at the closing Mass, Pope Benedict XVI announced the venue for the next congress in 2012. Dear friends, as this significant event in the life of the Church draws to a conclusion, I invite you all to join with me in praying for the success of the next International Eucharistic Congress, which will take place in 2012 in the city of Dublin! I take the opportunity to greet warmly the people of Ireland, as they prepare to host this ecclesial gathering. I am confident that they, together with all the participants at the next Congress, will find it a source of lasting spiritual renewal. - Pope Benedict XVI, Quebec, 22 June 2008 Day 1: USA - IRELAND. We begin our journey with an overnight transatlantic flight to Dublin. Enjoy in-flight entertainment and meal service as you travel to start your pilgrimage. Mass is included daily. Day 2: DUBLIN. This morning, we land in Dublin, where your tour driver/guide will welcome you to Ireland. Upon arrival, enjoy a hearty Irish breakfast in Dublin before embarking on an orientation drive around the city center. Dublin is one of the liveliest capitals in Europe, retaining plenty of historical sites. See the main thoroughfares of O’Connell Street and Nassau Street, the shopping streets and some lovely public parks. Stop along the way to visit the Trinity College Old Library to view the 8th century Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript of the Gospels, with its exquisite illustrations and learn about its origins and monastic traditions. Then drive to your hotel and check in. After you settle into your room you may like to rest or explore some of the city on your own before dinner and overnight
Day 4: GLENDOUGH - WATERFORD. Drive south from Dublin and through the mountains to visit the scenic valley where Glendalough is located. Glendalough was an important monastic settlement, founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century, which became one of the most important centers of learning in Europe. Today, the well-preserved round tower and church ruins are interesting to explore and the Visitor Center explains the history of the settlement. Visit the Waterford Crystal Factory to see a demonstration of the blowing and cutting of this popular crystal. In the showrooms you can see a wide range of tableware and special trophies and you will have an opportunity to buy. After your tour, check into your hotel where you are free to explore the city or relax before dinner with your group. Day 5: WATERFORD - ROCK OF CASHEL - BLARNEY - CORK. Today drive west via Clonmel and on to Cashel where you stop to visit the Rock of Cashel. This was the seat of the high kings of Munster before its transfer to the church in the 12th century. Today you can visit the impressive grouping of ecclesiastical ruins, especially Cormac’s Chapel which is an excellent example of 12th century Hiberno-Romanesque architecture. Continue southwest through County Tipperary and County Cork to Blarney. Walk through the grounds and climb the steps of the fabled Blarney Castle to see the famous “Stone of Eloquence”, in the ramparts of the castle. Take some time to walk through the gardens, around the village green or shop at the Blarney Woollen Mills, renowned for their quality Irish merchandise. Motor a short distance into Cork city and check into your hotel before joining your group for dinner & overnight.
Day 7: DINGLE PENINSULA - GALLARUS ORATORY. Discover the beauties of the Dingle Peninsula, made famous by David Lean’s movie, “Ryan’s Daughter.” Drive along the south shore of the peninsula for plenty of vistas of heathery mountains, sandy stretches of beach and rocky headlands. There will be frequent stops at strategic locations to admire the views and take photos. Stop in Dingle before continuing to the western tip of the peninsula. Visit the Blasket Centre in Dunquin to learn about the Blasket Islands, inhabited until 1953 by hardy families who eked out a living by farming and fishing. Attend Mass in Ballyferriter before driving a short distance to visit, the Gallarus Oratory, built in the 6th century of unmortared stone and watertight after 14 centuries. Travel into Barna, and enjoy a labyrinth which is an ancient symbol usually circular in shape that contains one path leading from the outside to the centre. The labyrinth represents our journey to our centre and back out again. Travel back via Tralee and enjoy some free time before heading back to Killarney for independent activities and dinner with your group. Day 8: ST. BRIDGETS HOLY WELL - CLIFFS OF MOHER - GALWAY. Head out of Killarney and travel north through the village of Listowel to Tarbert. Take a 20-minute ferry ride across the River Shannon estuary and drive along the coastline of County Clare to view the Cliffs of Moher, one of the country’s most magnificent rock formations that rise to heights of almost 700 feet above the churning Atlantic swells. Pass through the Burren Country, an area of rocky limestone hills where a number of unique flowers thrive. It is within this area we will stop for prayer at Saint Bridget’s Holy Well. This region also contains many dolmens, prehistoric monuments formed by large limestone slabs. Drive around Galway Bay before arriving at your hotel in Galway. After checking in, you are free to rest or explore the city before dinner in the hotel restaurant, Galway.
Day 10: ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH - CLONMACNOIS - DUBLIN After the sun peeks in and out of the clouds, celebrate Mass, then set off on a city tour of Galway. The drive around will take you to the large modern cathedral set on an island on the River Corrib. See the Spanish Arch in the Claddagh area, formerly a fishing village, the City Museum, National University of Galway. Visit the Church of St. Nicholas, the largest medieval church in use in Ireland today. The early sections of the church date from 1320, although tradition tells us that St. Nicholas was built upon the ruins of an older structure, and part of the chancel's south wall may incorporate some of this earlier material. The Church is dedicated to St. Nicholas, the 4th century Archbishop of Myra. St. Nicholas is the patron saint of children, merchants, sailors, scholars and virgins. According to recent research, Christopher Columbus prayed here before he set sail for America in 1492. After your visit, travel from Galway to the center of Ireland to visit Clonmacnoise. This monastic settlement was founded in 545 AD by St. Ciaran and is delightfully set on the banks of the River Shannon. Learn about the history of the site through an audiovisual presentation and take a walk around to see the ancient monuments and the entire area. Then journey across the rolling pastures of Ireland’s heartland to the greater metropolitan area of Dublin. Check into your hotel and enjoy some free time to relax or do some sightseeing on your own before dinner. Day 11: DUBLIN - USA. Alas, today your Ireland Pilgrimage has come to its final day. Transfer to the Dublin airport in good time to check in for your flight. You may do some last minute shopping at the duty free stores. Then clear U.S. Immigration before boarding your aircraft and flying across the Atlantic Ocean back to the United States. |
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Copyright © 2010 The Catholic Pilgrim Office |
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3: DUBLIN. This morning visit St. Talbot’s Church and celebrate Mass.
After Mass, take an orientation drive around Dublin city center. Dublin is one
of the liveliest capitals in Europe but there are plenty of historical places
also. See the main thoroughfares of O’Connell Street and Nassau Street, the
shopping streets and some lovely public parks. Tour St. Patrick's Cathedral,
almost as old as the city itself and famous for its connections with the
brilliantly eccentric Dean Jonathan Swift. Visit the Guinness Storehouse to see
how this famous brewery was established and how the popular black brew is
created. Finish your tour with a creamy pint at the rooftop bar. The afternoon
and evening is at leisure for independent activities, sightseeing, shopping,
dining, pubs and much more. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.
Day
6: WEST CORK - GUÁGAN BARRA - CAHA MTNS - KILLARNEY.
After breakfast, visit St. Finbarr’s Cathedral which one of the oldest Catholic
churches in Cork built in 1766. Travel west to the peaceful yet magnificent
Guágan Barra which derives from St. Finbarr, who according to tradition built
his monastery on the island here in the 6th century. Continue through the lovely
mountain scenery via Glengarriff and Bantry Bay where the mild climate allows
sub-tropical vegetation to thrive. Motor across the Caha Mountains to the
delightful town of Kenmare and stop to explore a little before arriving in
Killarney to check into your hotel. Enjoy the balance of day at leisure before
dinner in the hotel restaurant.
Day
9: KNOCK SHRINE - BALLINTUBBER ABBEY. Today travel through Claremorris
to Knock. Knock Shrine is one of the world's leading shrines where the Virgin
Mary appeared to 15 people on August 21, 1879. Then drive to Castlebar and to
Ballintubber Abbey. This magnificent Abbey has been in continuous use for almost
eight centuries and has been restored to emphasize its simple shape and plain
construction. Drive along the steep shores of Killary Harbour and past the
pilgrimage mountain of Croagh Patrick, south through the Connemara region known
for its constantly-changing skies and subtle colors to Galway before dinner with
your group in Galway.
