Mother Teresa of Kolkata

Transcription

1 TheSouthernu t h e r Cross Pilgrimage to the Canonisation of Mother Teresa of Kolkata Rome & Assisi 2-11 September 2016 Spiritual Director: Fr Emil Blaser OP Contact Gail at info@fowlertours.co.za or or

2 Friday, September 2: We meet at Johannesburg International Airport to depart on our flight at 21:45. Saturday, September 3: We arrive at Fiumicino Airport and transfer to our accommodation where we will enjoy some leisure time. Sunday, September 4: Today is the big event: the canonisation ceremony of Blessed Mother Teresa of Kolkata, the founder of the Missionary Sisters of Charity. Born on 26 August 1910 in Skopje, present-macedonia, Mother Teresa became known as an Angel of Mercy for her care for the ill poor on the streets of Calcutta (as it was called then). She died on 5 September Blessed Mother Teresa was beatified by St John Paul II in In December 2015, Pope Francis recognised a second miracle that cleared the way for her sainthood. Pope Francis will preside over the canonisation of one of the most significant and popular Catholic figures of the 20th century. There will be pilgrims from all over the world in St Peter s Square, waving the flags of their countries. Let s proudly fly our South African flag! St Peter s Square and Rome monday, September 5: Today we explore Rome. We visit the basilicas of St John Lateran, the pope s cathedral as Bishop of Rome, St mary major, one of the oldest churches in the world, having originally been built in the 5th century. There we can see the famous Marian icon which Pope Francis prays at whenever he makes a foreign tour. We also visit the church of alphonsus Liguori, the mother church of the Redemptorist order, with the original icon of our Lady of Perpetual Help. After lunch we discover the Rome of the renaissance: the trevi Fountain, Piazza di Spagna with its theatrical staircase of the Trinity of Mounts (also known as the Spanish Steps), navona Square, and so on, as well as the Pantheon, which was built in the second century. Pope Francis greets pilgrims at an audience tuesday, September 6: Today is our Vatican day! We visit St Peter s Basilica with its many religious and artistic treasures, including the tombs of Saints John XXIII and John Paul II. We visit the Vatican museum, which houses the Sistine chapel and some of the most important art collections in the world. We will have reservations to skip the long tourist lines at both St Peter s and the Vatican Museums. In the afternoon we see the Basilica of Santa Sabina, the mother Church of the Dominican order, to which our Fr Emil belongs. From its gardens we have a most beautiful panoramic view of Rome. Michelangelo s dome in St Peter s Basilica

3 Wednesday, September 7: We are going to see the pope again and this time more close up during his weekly general audience in St Peter s Square. Before the audience Pope Francis is driven in the popemobile all around St Peter s Square, so we can get a good look at him. In the afternoon we tour Christian Rome. After the audience we have time for leisure and shopping. We then visit St Paul s outside the Walls, where archaeologists have found the tomb of St Paul and where every pope in history is depicted in mosaic medallions. thursday, September 8: The Basilica of St Paul s Outside the Walls After a morning of leisure, we are going to assisi, in honour of Pope Francis who named himself after the great saint of Assisi. On our drive, take in the beautiful Umbrian countryside. The old city of Assisi has hardly changed in the past few centuries, and is known to be one of Italy s loveliest towns and to us, as Catholics, a source of faith. Inside St mary of the angels, the small church in the meadow that St Francis restored, the Porziuncola, is perfectly preserved. To the side is the cappella del transito, the small room where St Francis died on 3 October Also see the famous rose Garden, the last remains of the ancient wood in which St Francis and his friars lived. Here he talked to the turtle doves, inviting them to praise the Lord. Doves have been nesting since times immemorial in the hands of the statue of St Francis there. Friday, September 9: The Porziuncola, the church which St Francis renovated We visit the Basilica of St Francis, a great symbol of Christianity which recounts the life of the saint through the frescoes by Cimabue and, above all, the celebrated cycle of the life of St Francis by Giotto. The Basilica of St claire houses the crucifix which, according to tradition, spoke to St Francis. We can also see artifacts such as the genuine cloaks worn by St Francis and St Claire. After lunch, we visit the eremo delle carceri, the small hermitage where St Francis went to pray. Nearby at a stone bridge there is an oak that still exists from St Francis time, in the branches of which the birds to whom the saint preached lived. Saturday, September 10: Basilica of St Francis in Assisi We visit a very special area which few English-speaking pilgrims go to: the beautiful rieti Valley in the Lazio region, where St Francis and companions moved to after they left Assisi. Here we visit the Santuario Francescano del Presepio in Greccio, where St Francis invented the nativity Scene, and Fonte colombo with the San Michele Church, where St Francis wrote the Rule for his order and where we can see the rock he used as a bed. From the Rieti Valley we then drive to Fiumicino Airport to catch our flight home at 18:30. Sunday, September 11: We land at OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg, with bags full of great memories especially of the once-in-a-lifetime event of witnessing the canonisation of this much loved saint! Est. Price: R 37,671 (incl. airport taxes ex-jhb; subject to currency and price fluctuations, based on 21 travelling. Calculated at R17,23 to the Euro) St Francis Sanctuary at Geccio Includes: All flights ex-johannesburg (incl. airport taxes), accommodation in 3star hotels or better (sharing) with breakfast and dinner, travel insurance, transfers, travelling on air-conditioned luxury buses, English-speaking tour guides, tour director, entrance fees as per itinerary, preparation material, daily Mass. Excludes: Tips (these are set and mandatory), visas, personal expenses, travel to and from O.R. Tambo Airport/Jhb Fonte Colombo The Canonisation pilgrimage will be led by Fr Emil Blaser OP, director of South Africa s only Catholic radio station. The Dominican priest knows Rome very well, and plans to relay recordings from this pilgrimage to the listeners of Radio Veritas. sion since He has led four Fowler Tours pilgrimages in the past

4 reservation Form (one form per person, photocopies of form are permitted): Enclosed is my NON-REFUNDABLE deposit of R3,800 per person to secure my booking on the pilgrimage specified below. Payment is to be made to: account name: Fowler Tours Bank: Standard Bank account no: Branch code: name of trip: Mother Teresa Canonisation Pilgrimage Rome & Assisi: Led by Father Emil Blaser Duration: 2-11 September ex-jhb cost: Estimated: R37,671 (subject to fluctuations) How did you hear about this pilgrimage? Fowler Tours SA Southern Cross Radio Veritas Other 1.) RESERVATION FORM Title: Name (as it appears on your passport) Address: Code: Date of Birth: ID Number: Home Phone ( ) Work Phone: ( ) Cell: ( ) Fax: ( ) Passport Number: Expiry Date: Medical Conditions: Preferred Name for Name Badge: Sharing with (if applicable):

5 Reservation form - Page 2 Emergency Contact Person Name: Cell number: Relationship: 2.) PASSPORT (required to travel) Photocopy of passport inside page showing name and photo is enclosed / clear scan attached I am applying for a passport and understand that I must supply a copy to Fowler Tours at least three months before the departure date.. N.B.: Passports must be valid SIX months following the return date of the trip. 3.) PAYMENT TERMS & SCHEDULE: Deposit R3,800 to book. The deposit is non-refundable. A final invoice, reflecting the final price, will be issued 60 days prior to departure. Final Payment must be made within five days of invoicing. BANK DETAILS AS ABOVE. N.B.: Bank charges for cash deposits will be charged to you. 4.) TERMS AND CONDITIONS: I have received, read and agree to the TERMS & CONDITIONS and the Liability clause below, pricing terms, and payment terms outlined on this side of the form. I understand that the cancellation terms and penalties cannot be waived for any reason. If I decline to purchase travel insurance, I understand that there is no monetary recourse for any flight cancellations or delays by the airlines and I agree to the cancellation terms and penalties. Signature (required to confirm reservation): Liability: Fowler Tours, The Southern Cross, Radio Veritas or their owners (herafter referred to as The Organisers ) do not own or operate any entity which is to or does provide goods or services for your trip, including, for example, lodging facilities, transportation companies, local ground operators, including, without limitation, various entities which may utilize the The Organisers names, guides, sightseeing companies, entertainment, food or drink service providers, equipment suppliers, etc. As a result, Fowler Tours is not responsible for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any person or entity. In addition, The Organisers are not responsible for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any person or entity they do not own or control, nor for any act or inaction of any other third party not under their control. Without limitations The Organisers are not liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, or incidental damage, injury, death, loss, accident, delay, inconvenience or irregularity of any kind which may be occasioned by reason of any act or omission beyond their control, including, without limitation any willful or negligent act, failure to act, breach of contract or violation of local law or regulation of any third party such as an airline, train, hotel, bus, taxi, van, local ground handler or guide, whether or not it uses the The Organisers name, financial default or insolvency of any supplier which is to, or does supply any goods or services for this trip. Similarly, The Organisers are not responsible for any loss, injury, death or inconvenience due to delay or changes in schedule, overbooking of accommodation, default of any third party, attacks by animals, injury or death while on activities sponsored by lodging facilities or by other third parties, sickness, the lack of appropriate medical care, evacuation to same, if necessary, weather, strikes, acts of God or government, acts of terrorism, or the threat thereof, force majeure, war, quarantine, epidemics, or the threat thereof, criminal activity, or any other cause beyond its control. Should the advertised spiritual director be unable to participate in this event, every effort will be made to secure a substitute. Regardless of the participation of the advertised spiritual director the pilgrimage tour will proceed as scheduled on the dates listed. By signing this form to participate in this pilgrimage tour, you agree that the terms of the cancellation penalty will be binding upon you regardless of whether the advertised spiritual director is able to participate. The Organisers will not be responsible for any loss incurred by traveller, including lost days of the scheduled tour, due to a cancelled flight or other means and modes of transportation. For full terms & conditions see

6 TERMS & CONDITIONS THE PILGRIMAGE PRICE INCLUDES: Roundtrip airfare from Johannesburg return; final amount subject to change Airport taxes Full accommodation as stated in the itinerary Breakfast and dinner Travel insurance (surcharge applies for travelers aged 69+) Roundtrip airport transfers in destinations and luxury coach for all touring Services of a certified local tour director Services of local tour operator Masses All entrance fees as per itinerary THE PILGRIMAGE PRICE EXCLUDES: Mandatory tips, hotel taxes, visa costs, travel to and from Johannesburg, private expenses e- PRICING TERMS: As per booking form PAYMENT TERMS: In order to meet deposit schedules with suppliers for this tour, Fowler Tours charges a non-refundable deposit. Full invoice is issued 60 days before departure; payment of which is due within FIVE DAYS. CANCELLATION POLICY: All cancellations must be received in writing. No refunds of deposits, except at the discretion of Fowler Tours. TRAVEL INSURANCE: Fowler Tours will arrange for travel insurance. Surcharges apply travellers over the age of 69, who may arrange for their own travel insurance. PASSPORT: A valid passport is required of all passengers. Please apply for your passport immediately as passports are taking a long time to process. Make sure to have it in your possession at all times while on tour. It must be valid for 6 months following the return date of the trip or boarding may be denied or entry into the destination may be forbidden. Please provide Fowler Tours with a copy or clear scan of the inside page of your passport (showing your name and photo) at the time of reservation. Fax copies not acceptable. GROUP AIR: Due to the airlines reduced capacity and restrictive group reservation terms, group air reservations are often difficult to coordinate. The number of connections, length of layovers, and all conditions surrounding air travel cannot be guaranteed and may change before departure. Seat Requests: Please note that group seats are assigned at the discretion of the airline, although every effort will be made to fulfill requests. SPECIFIC SEAT ASSIGNMENTS CANNOT AND WILL NOT BE GUARANTEED. Seat numbers will not be advised until check-in at the airport. DOMESTIC TRAVEL TO JOHANNESBURG: You are responsible for your own arrangements to and from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport. ITINERARY: The Itinerary is tentative and represents what we are planning for you, however it is subject to confirmations from many organisations. Because of changes in local schedules, we may need to alter specified events, dates and/or venues to better fit the overall plan. TIPS: Gratuities for your guides and driver, and hotel taxes are excluded. These are mandatory. You will be advised of the total cost of these before departure, and all monies will be collected by the tour leader who will then distribute them to the various recipients. ROOMS: Tour prices are per person sharing. Single rooms at an extra rate are limited and are available first come-first served until the supply is exhausted. LUGGAGE: Baggage is at owner s risk throughout the tour. HEALTH REQUIREMENTS: Travellers must be medically and physically fit for this tour. This tour requires significant walking, as motor coaches are not permitted to pick up and drop off in front of major attractions. The tour is not wheelchair accessible. Any special limiting medical conditions or equipment must be advised in writing, for evaluation of feasibility, at the time of making your reservation. PHOTOGRAPHY: Fowler Tours, The Southern Cross and Radio Veritas may take photographs or film or sound recordings of its trips and trip participants, and participant grants Fowler Tours, The Southern Cross and Radio Veritas express permission to do so and for Fowler Tours, The Southern Cross and Radio Veritas to use such for promotional or commercial use. UNUSED SERVICES: There is no right to a refund for any unused services. Cancellation Policy by request or see