H RVESTER. Christmas. very Holy THE 03. Wishing you a. Are you ready to Set out on A pilgrimage journey in 2011? issue

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1 THE 03 H RVESTER SUMMER 2010 issue U p c o m i n g P i l g r i m a g e s N e w s P i l g r i m s S t o r i e s a n d m u c h m o r e Wishing you a very Holy Christmas Are you ready to Set out on A pilgrimage journey in 2011? Salt mine sculptures at Krakow Included in the Graces of Eastern Europe Pilgrimage Departing 16 June & 27 August 2011 In this Issue: New Pilgrimages in 2011 Testimonies Miraculous Journey True Pilgrim Stories and much more!

2 T h e H a r v e s t e r Healing from Lourdes This letter will inform you of the miracle which happened to me in Lourdes on 27 of May this year. Our visit to Lourdes was part of our Marian tour in Europe. In going to Lourdes we had no intention of bathing in the water there but rather to engage in the ceremonies taking place. On the suggestion of my wife I decided to bathe in the bath which was available to any pilgrim who had some particular physical, mental or spiritual need. In the afternoon I entered the dressing room adjoining the room containing the bath having undressed beforehand. When I stepped into the bath one of the attendants asked me if I wanted to say a prayer. On the back wall facing me was a small statue of our Lady of Lourdes. I placed my hands on either side of the statue and prayed as follows: Mary, my Holy Mother, if it is your will that My face be cured it would be wonderful, but if I am not then I accept whatever is the answer to my prayer. Hi Harvest Team I prayed that Mother Mary would be instrumental in having the skin cancers on my forehead, just under my left eye and along my left cheekbone cured. Upon the completion of my prayer the two attendants lowered me into the water briefly. I had forgotten to bathe my face. Providentially one of the attendants noticed that I had not bathed my face. He poured water into my cupped hands and I washed my face. I dressed without drying my body and went outside. There was not any feeling of being wet. This in itself was truly amazing. It was not until next morning that when I looked into the mirror I realized my face was clean and restored to normality. Considering that I had been taking tablets and using medicated creams for the previous three months without any observable change the change in my faced was indeed a miracle. I do not know the reason for my being given such a gift but on reflection perhaps it was a reward for my having a strong faith. This happening not only increased my faith but deepened it. Vernon Turner. Absolutely wonderful reading this - is there any chance I could have the first edition sent to me - great stuff. I have just returned from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and understand exactly where everyone is coming from. I too had many wonderful and spiritually filled experiences in many of the sites we visited. Perhaps the ones that really stand out for me was sitting on a log on the side of the Sea of Galilee and feeling very peaceful and at peace - the other time was actually walking in the Garden of Gethsamane (at night time) this was so powerful - I really wanted to stay there for much longer than the allocated time we had. Also celebrating Mass on the Mount of the Beatitudes and can you believe it the altar was set up between two gum trees - how cool was that for us Aussies. All in all I would recommend everyone at least once in their lifetime do a Pilgrimage - if not the Holy Land then one of the others as all are very inspiring and life changing. Keep up the good work and may God bless you all Santina Cross Letter to the editor One of our Chaplains We have chosen leaders who can provide the pastoral and spiritual guidance so central to your pilgrimage experience. Introducing Fr Albert Wasniowski, OSPPE Father is the Provincial Superior of the Pauline Fathers in Australia. After his ordination 16 years ago, he worked in the Mother Shrine of Our Lady of Jasna Gora (Bright Mountain) in Czestochowa, Poland, acting as Master of Ceremonies. Fr Albert is the current Vocations Director for the Order in Australia. He has worked extensively with the youth both in Poland and in Australia, most notably being a school chaplain, but also teaching Catechism to High School students and active involvement in youth groups in various parishes. In 1991 he was on the organising committee for WYD in Poland and has attended other European WYD gatherings as chaplain. He has been in Australia for 13 years and has worked in the Marian Shrines in Canungra QLD, Marian Valley, and is currently located at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy at Berrima, Penrose Park, NSW. He has participated in a number of pilgrimages including walking pilgrimages in Poland and most recently was with Harvest Pilgrimages to Eastern Europe and Italy in Fr. Albert is Chaplain for the Visitations of Mary departing on 9 June

3 I s s u e 03 S u m m e r 2010 Postcards from pilgrims 3

4 On arrival at Rome airport, Friday 16 th October we met our group (79B), and what a wonderful group, our Chaplain, Fr Thomas Casanova and our Italian guide, Ambre. This was the beginning of an experience of a lifetime. All that Rome is, the Eternal City, we saw and loved. Add to that our Mary s Canonisation an unbelievable 5days. The Saturday Vigil Celebration of Mary s Life at the Concilliazione Auditorium certainly set the mood for what was to follow the following day. A wonderful personal insight to Mary s life with superb music and acting thanks to The Sisters of St Joseph, Australian Catholic University staff, students and associates. On Sunday 17th October we were among the thousands of Australians to attend Blessed Mary MacKillop s Canonisation. Our very first Saint and what an event it was. Excellent seats, thanks to our guide who had us all there by 7a.m. and when the Pope drove past us within touching distance some 3 hours later we were so glad to be early. We were lucky to share this day with 5 other Saints but when Pope Benedict XVI declared Mary of the Cross (Mary Helen) MacKillop a Saint, the feeling of belonging was incredible. Personally, T h e H a r v e s t e r OUR CANONISATION JOURNEY a prayerful feeling of thanksgiving, collectively an expected Aussie response. All of St Peter s Square echoed!!. The Official Mass of Thanksgiving at the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls the following morning, celebrated by Cardinal Pell, Bishops and priests was a true rejoicing that our very own St. Mary of the Cross Mackillop was finally a reality. There was such a deep spiritual awareness that we were all one family sharing this very special celebration. The next day were we walked the walk of Mary s time in Rome. From the Hotel Americano where she spent her first night to the Conitto Internazionale San Tommaso, the convent where Mary lived for a short time. We briefly prayed in her chapel, then to the Church of Sant Agata dei Goti where she so often visited. Her memoirs were continually read by Fr Thomas during our walk which certainly made the tracing of her time there so personal. Thank you Harvest for arranging our itinerary to include the Papal Audience on Wednesday 20 th October. An unexpected and wonderful finale to Roma. We felt reluctant to leave Rome we did not want to let go of this city. How could we not realize our spirits were to be further nourished?. We said goodbye to our guide, Ambre at Rome and a big hello (2m above sea level!!) to Murad at Tel Aviv Airport who said welcome home and home it was for the next 10days. To actually touch where Jesus was born, see the cave which is firmly believed Mary and Joseph lived for a short time after Jesus was born, to pray in the Church of Gethsemane with the rock Jesus wept on right there at the base of altar. To get water from Mary s well which is still flowing beautifully, to vist Cana where four of our married couples renewed their vows during Mass, to visit the Mount of the Transfiguration, to be on a replica wooden boat of Jesus s time and hear Mass in the middle of the Sea of Gallilee, then to walk the way of the Cross to Calvary, touch the marble stone which Jesus was laid on when taken down from the Cross, then walk into the tomb where He was buried. It just goes on and on. The most unbelievable experience. Fr Thomas Casanova truly is an inspirational chaplain, whose sharing of the Gospel, his sincere celebration of his Mass every day and spiritual guidance has enriched our faith and lives forever. And he was a friend to us all with a wonderful sense of humour. Harvest really are very expert in Pilgrimages and we would not hesitate to ever go with them again. We certainly were not tourists we definitely were pilgrims, (which is why we went of course!) no real time to shop, which we did have to remind ourselves some mornings when the 5.30a.m. call came through to be on the bus by But in order to see everything that was the only way. Pauline and I feel we have walked so many miles and climbed so many stairs we should almost be up to Heaven.!! Can we be so lucky. Thank you Harvest, firstly to Arielle McGuinness for your organizational skills and getting us there, to our Tour Director Chris for your expertise and knowledge of what is needed for a fruitful and fulfilling pilgrimage to the Holy Land and your friendship. What we have seen, learned and felt will be with us always. We are sure our group would agree. Speaking of our group, we started as a group at Rome airport, but by the time we said our farewells at Amman we were one great family with all that we had shared. Not only spiritually but personally. A great balance. There were many fun times like when at the Dead Sea, smeared in rejuvenating mud trying to swim to get rid of it. Coooc iri cooo Is it our Holy Land rooster? Could have done with that wake-up call to help with the jet-lag, muscle-lag, after we arrived home. A good reminder we were pilgrims and not tourists!! Very lucky pilgrims. Thank you and love to everyone. We must keep in touch. Margaret Carr and Pauline Perrin. NEW IN 2011 SAINTS & MARTYRS OF ENGLAND! Join Fr Paul Stenhouse on this wonderful new pilgrimage London Canterbury Aylesford Chatham Walsingham King s Lynn York Osbaldwick Durham Birmingham Bath Glastonbury Stonehenge London Departing 11th July

5 I s s u e 03 S u m m e r 2010 El Camino NEW PILGRIMAGE IN 2011 Featuring Madrid Leon Astorga Ponferrada Villafranca del Bierzo O Cebreiro Triacastela Sarria Portomarin Palas de Rei Arzua Arca do Pino Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage is commonly known as a A journey to a sacred place. What makes a pilgrimage different to a holiday is that the journey itself is as significant as the destination. The pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain is different again to other pilgrimages because we will walk to our destination of Santiago de Compostela in the northwest corner of Spain. The town which hosts the cathedral built over the tomb of St. James the Apostle (Santiago is Spanish for St. James) It is said that St. James remains were carried by boat from Jerusalem to Northern Spain where he was buried in the town of Santiago de Compostela. The Camino or The Way of St. James, is over a thousand years old and was one of the most important Christian pilgrimage destinations in medieval times, ranking third in popularity after Jerusalem and Rome. It is now enjoying a renewed interest. In fact Pope Benedict XV1 just visited Santiago de Compostela on November 6 th During this visit he stated: Compostela from every corner of this peninsula, from throughout Europe and indeed the whole world, in order to kneel at the feet of St James and be transformed by the witness of his faith. I am very pleased to be once again in Spain, which has given the world a constellation of great saints, founders and poets, like Ignatius of Loyola, Teresa of Jesus, John of the Cross, Francis Xavier To go on pilgrimage really means to step out of ourselves in order to encounter God where He has revealed Himself, where His grace has shone with particular splendour and produced rich fruits of conversion and holiness among those who believe. In this Holy Year of Compostela, I too, as the Successor of Peter, wished to come in pilgrimage to the House of St. James, as it prepares to celebrate the eight-hundredth anniversary of its consecration. I have come to confirm your faith, to stir up your hope and to entrust to the Apostle s intercession your aspirations, struggles and labours in the service of the Gospel. As I embraced the venerable statue of the saint, I also prayed for all the children of the Church, which has her origin in the mystery of the communion that is God. In 2011 Harvest Pilgrimages is offering you the opportunity to follow in the ancient tradition of walking the Camino. The motivation for making the journey along the Camino is varied. For some it is purely a religious journey, an opportunity to visit the tomb of St. James; for others it is a physical and mental challenge, while others walk along this ancient path searching for their own path or vocation in life. Those who have returned from the Camino have been known to report that their journey was life changing; many have said that they learnt tolerance and found an inner peace. Others have said that they learnt to live in the present and that they found their purpose. No-one can predict what you will find or experience on the Camino but it will definitely leave its mark on you. You are invited to join us as we prepare to take on this challenge of walking approximately 5 hours per day exploring Spain on foot, sharing the road with others from all walks of life and all parts of the globe. We will be accompanied by our own priest, allowing us the gift of celebrating daily Mass as we travel along our path until we arrive at our ultimate destination where we will join with the hundreds of other pilgrims in the traditional pilgrim s Mass in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. I have come as a pilgrim in this Holy Year of Compostela and I bring in my heart the same love of Christ which led the Apostle James to embark upon his journeys, with a desire also to come to Spain. I wish to join the great host of men and women who down the centuries have come to 5

6 airlines. 6 throughout the tour. required. fees as required. wallet, backpack and hat. Important notes: scheduling restrictions. 1 Prices now include all airline taxes, fees & levies Cairo (3) Mt. Sinai (1) Red Sea (1) Aqaba Petra (2) Dead Sea (1) Nazareth our eyes. or egypt israel jordan Cairo overnight (D) T h e H a r v e s t e r 2011 HARVEST PILGRIMAGES Graces of Eastern Europe A 16 day pilgrimage journey Departing 16 June 2011 Features Prague Czestochowa Auschwitz Wadowice Krakow Budapest Zagreb Also Departing: 27 August 2011 Visitations of Mary A 16 day pilgrimage journey Departing 9 May 2011 Features Lisbon Fatima Avila Segovia Zaragoza Barcelona Montserrat Manresa Lourdes Also Departing: 9 Jun 9 Sep 9 Oct 2011 Graces of Italy A 14 day pilgrimage journey Departing 28 May 2011 Venice Padua Florence Siena Assisi San Giovanni Rotondo Monte Sant Agnelo Pietrelcina Pompeii Montecassino Rome Also Departing: 28 Jun 8 Sep 6 Oct 28 Oct 2011 GRACES OF FRANCE A 14 day pilgrimage journey Departing 18 May 2011 Features Lourdes Rocamadour Paray-Le-Monial Taize Nevers Chartres Lisieux Mont Sant-Michel Paris Also Departing: 18 Sep 18 Oct 2011 NEW IN 2011 THE ST PAUL EXPEDITION A 20 day pilgrimage journey Departing 18 May 2011 Features Athens Corinth Delphi Meteora Philippi Kavala Thessaloniki Kos Patmos Ephesus Pergamum Canakkale Assos Alexander Troas Troy Anzac Cove Gallipoli Istanbul Cappadocia Also Departing: 21 September 2011 Journey to Easter A 14 day pilgrimage journey Departing 16 April 2011 Features Dead Sea Sea of Galilee Bethlehem Jerusalem Also Departing: 15 Feb 27 May 27 Jun 11 Sep 5 Oct 11 Nov 2011 Also available as EXODUS JOURNEY A 21 day pilgrimage journey with Cairo, Mt Sinai Red Sea Petra Jerusalem Departing 9 April 2011 Also Departing: 8 Feb 20 May 4 Sep 28 Sep NEW IN 2011 SPANISH ENCOUNTERS A 18 day pilgrimage journey Departing 4 May 2011 Features Madrid Santo Domingo de Silos El Camino Santiago De Compostela Salamanca Granada Toledo Also Departing: 4 October 2011 WORLD YOUTH DAY 2011 Madrid The Journey Continues AUGUST 2011 Official WYD 2011 Madrid Tour Operator Registrations, bookings & more details at The Harvest Team wishes all pilgrims a Holy Christmas & an adventurous 2011! More pilgrimage details at or request your FREE full colour 2011 brochure O u r A i r l i n e o f c h o i c e Introducing Emirates, with its excellent reputation for service and reliability. Emirates stunning onboard facilities include a state-of-the-art entertainment system with up to 1200 channels on demand, gourmet food and wine service for all passengers, generous baggage allowances including 30kg in Economy Class and in select aircraft, lie-flat beds in Business Class as well as Private Suites in First Class. Operating one of the youngest fleets in the sky, including the ultra-modern Emirates A380 on selected departures, Emirates is considered one of the world s best and technologically-advanced Fly Emirates from Australia and New Zealand to over 100 destinations worldwide in 60 countries. With direct access into the Holy Land, Rome and beyond, Emirates is fast becoming the pilgrim s first choice in air travel I m p o rta n t I n f o r m at I o n Emirates is the world-renowned International airline of the United Arab Emirates, based in the aweinspiriting city of Dubai. Emirates has won over 250 awards and commendations for excellence since it s conception in 1985 including Airline of the Year. Pilgrimages H A r v e S T ESCORTED JOURNEYS ALONG SACRED PATHS G en era l Pr i c e Inclusions All programmes listed in this brochure feature the following minimum price inclusions, unless otherwise indicated Return economy class airfares throughout from Australia: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth or New Zealand: Auckland & Christchurch. Accommodation with private facilities in reputable 3-4 star hotels or quality religious / family guesthouses. Breakfast & dinner daily or as specified on itinerary as per meal indicator (B L D). Transportation by deluxe air conditioned motor coach Professional local tour escorts and local guides as Fully escorted Priest Chaplain / Tour Co-ordinator. Comprehensive sightseeing throughout with entrance Porterage of one suitcase per person at hotels. Quality Harvest cabin bag, pilgrim s journal, ticket airline and security taxes/fees/fuel levies: These are included in your pilgrimage price for the standard group programme of your choice. Additional fees & levies will apply for those electing to extend their travel arrangements at the completion of the pilgrimage. Pilgrims from other Australian/NZ cities not listed above must prepare for additional domestic add-on flight costs to/from their chosen departure city. Additional hotel nights or flight coupons may be required in certain circumstances due to possible ExchangE RatE notation All costs have been calculated on exchange rates valid at the time of printing. While it is our aim to avoid any increases to the tour prices, such levels must remain subject to possible alteration should a deterioration occur in the Australian or New Zealand dollar and subject to minimum group size contingency. PREPaid tipping Fund After countless requests from our pilgrims, wisdom has shown us the practical necessity to request a prepaid tipping fund for the convenience of pilgrims. Based on destinational influences and trip duration, the standard tipping expectations for each country s guides, drivers and porters have been carefully considered resulting the amounts listed under each tour. Your group co-ordinator will receive the total amount paid and distribute according to our guidelines. The implementation of this scheme immediately removes the otherwise regular interruptions, demands and potential awkwardness on tour with this standard travel practice, while maintaining our control and quality of the important aspects of our service providers. 1 3 $ 6995 Itinerary Sea of Galilee (3) Mount Of Beatitudes Bethlehem Jerusalem (6) Enjoy a well-balanced three night start in Cairo featuring the great Pyramid and the Sphinx at Giza. Walk through the narrow canyon in Petra as the spectacular carved Treasury building opens up dramatically before P i L g R i M age combinations Set out on an exhilarating journey through the desert wilderness along the ancient paths of the prophets. Culminate in the Holy Land of Jesus as we watch the scriptures come alive on this ultimate pilgrimage adventure. harvest highp oints 2 4 g & t RoME Ascend to the summit of Mt Sinai in the footsteps of Moses before being silenced at the breaking of dawn. Consecrate your daily encounter with Jesus in the Holy Land with private Masses in the most amazing sites. Exodus Journey a 2 1 D a Y B I B L I C a L p I L G r I m a G E C a I r o t o J E r U S a L E m DaY 1 DEp a r t for EGYpt DaY 2 arrive CaIro Upon arrival at Cairo airport our local guide will welcome us as we travel to our centrally located hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure before dinner at our hotel. DaY 3 CaIro We begin our journey by visiting the great pyramids at Giza, the 7 wonder of the world and the only one still in existence, before coming eye to eye with the inscrutable Sphinx. We may venture inside a pyramid and have the opportunity to view the ancient burial tomb of the Pharaoh. 6

7 I s s u e 03 S u m m e r 2010 NEW IN 2011 Spanish Encounters! A true Spanish fiesta of shrines, saints and scenic discoveries Join Fr Don Kettle & Chris Hohnen on this wonderful new pilgrimage Featuring Madrid Segovia ( John of the Cross) Santo Domingo De Silos (Gregorian Chant) El Camino Highlights Santiago De Compostela Salamanca Avila Seville Cordoba Granada Toledo Departing 4th May 2011 Youth Testimony Traveling through Italy and Medjugorje was an amazing experience. It was easy to get along with every one in the group, the Holy Spirit was a big part of this journey for me. Every place we visited had its own unique and special feeling. My Highlights were visiting Assisi and Padova, as a young person I found these places spiritually inspiring. So many things to see do and experience. Thanks Harvest. Georgia Dolan. Meet our guiding stars Fadi Haddad, our tour escort in Jordan was born in the northern city of Irbid in Jordan 39 years ago. He has been working as a tour guide for 14 years and escorting Harvest pilgrims for 2 years. An Arab Jordanian Catholic, Fadi became interested in history and Biblical history of the early Church in Jordan through his church youth group and started reading and sharing about it. Some friends suggested he look into tour guiding, through which he could share his passion. Already having completed studies in Industrial Engineering, Fadi worked in this field while undertaking studies in History and Tour Guiding. Being a tour guide was first a part time occupation for him and later became an addiction!! One of his favourite quotes is If God is with us, who is against us! He currently lives in the capital of Jordan, Amman with his wife and 2 children. Phil s Corner Seems an elderly gentleman had serious hearing problems for a number of years. He went to the doctor and the doctor was able to have him fitted for a set of hearing aids that allowed the gentleman to hear 100%. The elderly gentleman went back in a month to the doctor and the doctor said, "Your hearing is perfect. Your family must be really pleased you can hear again." To which the gentleman said, "Oh, I haven't told my family yet. I just sit around and listen to the conversations. I've changed my will five times!" My first time as a Harvest Tour Coordinator I was privileged to be part of the Saints of Italy Pilgrimage in October in my role as a Harvest Coordinator for the first time. My initial feelings of apprehension about what lay ahead soon disappeared when I met my fellow pilgrims and shared in the excitement and anticipation of this spiritual journey. In partnership with our Chaplain and Tour Guide, we looked after the needs of the other 48 pilgrims on the journey which started in Venice and culminated with the canonisation of Mary MacKillop at the Vatican. From our very first meeting in Italy, my fellow pilgrims felt at ease as they knew there was someone from Harvest travelling with them, whose sole responsibility was their welfare. The group was most welcoming and it was an experience of mutual support on every activity we did, every place we visited, and every hotel at which we stayed. The most satisfying aspect of the pilgrimage for me was the knowledge that I could support the pilgrims with their needs and make the pilgrimage a thoroughly spiritual, prayerful and memorable experience for all concerned. Polding Centre, 11th Flr, 133 Liverpool St., Sydney NSW 2000, Australia Free Call: harvest@pilgrimage.net.au Copyright Harvest Australia Pty Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction of these tours/itineraries in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. ACN / TRAVEL AGENT LIC 2TA / HARVEST AUSTRALIA PTY LTD 7