PILGRIMAGE TO Guadalupe, Mexico City
October 1-10th, 2010
Only $2100.00CAD
PRICE BASED ON 15 - 20 PASSENGERS & DOUBLE OCCUPANCY (subject to changes: see details***)
Accompanied by:
Fr. Haffey , Princeton B.C
Fr. Ray Guimond, Edmonton, AB
Tour leader: Christine Foisy-Erickson, Lethbridge AB cferickson@shaw.ca ph- 403 524 1878
In 1531 Our Blessed Mother appeared to an Indian, Juan Diego. Mary requested that the Bishop establish a temple where she could give all her love, compassion, help and protection to her children. As a sign of the apparition’s veracity, she directed Juan Diego to climb Tepeyac Hill where he found roses blooming in December. The Blessed Mother told Juan to take them to the Bishop. He gathered them in his cloak which when unfolded in the presence of the Bishop, revealed the miraculous picture of herself, now venerated in the new Basilica. Ten million Pilgrims visit Guadalupe each year making it the most popular Catholic pilgrimage site in the world, after the Vatican. Juan Diego was canonized in 2002 by Pope John Paul II.
Our Lady of Guadalupe is the Patroness of America (the entire continent), Patroness of the Unborn and the Star of the new evangelization (JPII)
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Day 1 CANADA-MEXICO CITY Departure from Canada for Mexico City, upon arrival transfer to the hotel, dinner. Time to unpack and get settled.
Day 2 MEXICO CITY-BASILICA OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE Breakfast in hotel and transfer to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Mass in an upper chapel. Guided tour of the Basilica and view the sacred Tilma on which is impressed the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Climb Tepeyac Hill where Mary appeared to Saint Juan Diego and where the miracle of the roses took place. On the way, visit the Chapel of the Well, Chapel of the Indians, the Offering Garden. Return to the hotel for dinner.
Day 3 After breakfast we will visit the city of CUAUTITLAN, the birthplace of Saint Juan Diego, and the parish church of Juan Bernardino. Cuautitlán began as a Chichimeca village around the 14th century. It was dominated by Tlacopan before being conquered by the Mexicans and made part of the Aztec Empire. After the Conquest, Cuautitlán was evangelized by the Franciscans. Saint Juan Diego (1474-1548) reputedly lived there with his wife Maria Lucia up to the time of her death in 1529. The house still survives in a good state of preservation. Return to Mexico City to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe for the afternoon. Mass at one of the churches. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 4 Day trip to TAXCO Early breakfast at hotel. Visit to the city of Taxco. It is a charming colonial town nestled in the mountains of Guerrero state between Mexico City and Acapulco. The city's winding cobblestone streets and whitewashed houses with red tile roofs, all combine to make Taxco a lovely and picturesque town. Visit to Santa Prisca. This church is one of the religious constructions prototypes of the Mexican baroque style. It was built in 1751 with sumptuous decorations inside. Visit to the San Bernardino Convent. Its construction dates back to 1592, through the years it has suffered mutilations, and modifications. Today you can still admire its elegant and simple neoclassic style along with the steeple. Taxco is Mexico's silver capital. Those interested in purchasing silver will find the greatest selection here. Time for shopping. Return to Mexico City.
Day 5 MEXICO CITY Time to rest up a little this morning. We will have a leisurely breakfast with the group and then we will visit the Church of St. James in Tlatelolco where Juan Diego was baptized. Then we visit the Church of the Holy Family, where the remains of the Beatified Miguel Pro are located. He is one of the martyrs of the Christian wars in Mexico during the early XX century. We will have Mass in one of the churches. We will ride to visit the Temple and Museum of El Carmen, former Convent of the Carmelite brothers. Return to the hotel for dinner.
Day 6 TULPETLAC AND TEOTIHUACAN “Let nothing anguish you…let your uncle’s sickness give you no distress. Rest assured he will be healed.” We will start the day with breakfast and then ride to Tulpetlac for a Mass at the Church of the Fifth Apparition, where St. Juan Diego’s uncle was miraculously healed. From here, we will go to Teotihuacán, one of the most important archaeological centers of Pre-Hispanic America. Visit the pyramids of the Moon, the Sun and the temples of the Jaguar and Quetzalcoatl. We will have lunch upon arrival and then we will have a guided tour of the site. Time to shop. Return to Mexico City for an evening dinner.
Day 7 Feast of the Holy Rosary, DAY TRIP to PUEBLA- City of the angels. Visit the Church of Santo Domingo and view the stunning Chapel of the Rosary.
Off to TLAXCALA- the “Lourdes of Mexico”. Visit to the church at OCOTLAN where a statue of Our Lady is kept. The statue is said to have appeared in a burning tree. Here Our Lady designated a healing well where people walk down the hill to collect the water.
Mass in one of the sanctuaries. Back to Mexico City for dinner.
Day 8 MEXICO CITY Breakfast in hotel. Mass in one of these churches. Walking tour of downtown Mexico City including possible visits (sometimes a church is closed for no apparent reason) to the following churches: St. Francis (the first Franciscan Church built in Mexico City), the church of St. Philip Neri, the church of the Professal (the first Jesuit church built in Mexico City), the church of La Ensenanza , a contemplative convent that has a copy of Our Lady of the Pillar from Zarogoza, Spain- Patroness to whom Columbus consecrated America. Visit to the Metropolitan Cathedral, seat of the Bishop of Mexico since Juan de Zummaraga, first Bishop of Mexico. It was who received the roses and the tilma as a sign that Our Lady wanted a church built on Tepeyac in her honor. Visit to and the Anthropological Museum where the cult of the feared god Huitzilopochtli is well exhibited and the practice of human sacrifice performed by the Aztecs is explained. Return to the hotel for dinner.
Day 9 Leisurely breakfast at hotel. Return to Tepeyac Hill and to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Mass Last day for prayer on the hill, shopping and relaxing near the Offering Garden. Farewell procession. Return to hotel for dinner. Packing for departure tomorrow.
Day 10 Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to the airport. Return flight to Canada.
Included:
Return economy air
Airport transfers upon arrival and departure
Hotel accommodations based on double occupancy
Transportation in an air-conditioned coach
Service of an English speaking guide on all touring days
Arrangements for daily Mass
Breakfast and evening dinner
Coffee/tea with breakfast and evening dinner
Not included:
Cost of your lunch
Bottled water
Beverages like juices, pops, etc
Medical/Travel insurance
Possible optional night out to the Mexican Ballet
Tips to your tour guides, bus drivers over a 10 day period (budget about $100.00)
Flights:
Two departure and arrival cities:
VANCOUVER/MEXICO CITY RETURN OCTOBER 1 – 10, 2010
MX981 VANCOUER/MEXICO CITY 12:40PM 08:00PM
MX980 MEXICO CITY/VANCOUVER 07:15AM 11:10AM
CALGARY/MEXICO CITY RETURN OCTOBER 1 – 10, 2010
MX871 CALGARY/MEXICO CITY 07:30AM 01:45PM
MX870 MEXICO CITY/CALGARY 03:25PM 08:00PM
Pricing: $$ All prices include all taxes and fees
A deposit of $300.00 holds your space on this pilgrimage. Final price will depend on group number. Final payment is due by August 16th, 2010.
PRICES BASED ON 10- 15 PASSENGERS
SINGLE: $3045.00CAD
DOUBLE: $2598.00CAD
PRICE BASED ON 15 - 20 PASSENGERS
SINGLE: $2440.00CAD
DOUBLE: $2100.00CAD
***(This is the tour price as of June 8, 2010. However if the group is less than 15 paying customers the price will be increased accordingly. If the group exceeds 20 customers, the price will be decreased accordingly. So encourage your friends to join us! Then, we all benefit from the best price possible.)
PRICES BASED ON 21 – 25 PASSENGERS
SINGLE: $2196.00CAD
DOUBLE: $2005.00CAD
Details***IMPORTANT*** THIS DOCUMENT IS A FARE QUOTE ONLY. ALL INFORMATION FOUND HEREIN CANNOT BE GUARANTEED AND MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. DO NOT CONSIDER THIS DOCUMENT AS FINAL. NO SEATS ARE BEING HELD AND THE FARE CANNOT BE GUARANTEED UNTIL DEPOSITS ARE PAID.
Insurance: MUST be purchased when making your initial deposit.
DELUXE PACKAGE INSURANCE: includes medical, cancellation, baggage, accident and trip interruption.
PKG COST AGES 0-59YEARS 60-64 YEARS 65-69YEARS 70-74YEARS
2100.00 159.00 191.00 233.00 333.00
2200.00 168.00 198.00 239.00 344.00
2500.00 183.00 223.00 268.00 374.00
2600.00 187.00 228.00 274.00 381.00
***Those 75 years or older msut fill in a medical questionaire to determine what medical coverage for which they qualify.
NON MEDICAL PACKAGE INSURANCE: includes all above WITHOUT any medical insurance
PKG COST AGES 0-59 60-64YEARS 65-69YEARS 70-74YEARS
2100.00 127.00 138.00 148.00 166.00
2200.00 131.00 145.00 154.00 174.00
2500.00 148.00 161.00 176.00 198.00
2600.00 152.00 166.00 182.00 205.00
3100.00 172.00 191.00 212.00 240.00
Contact: Flair Travel Planners
812 4th Ave South
Lethbridge. AB T1J 0P2
1-800-463-5409 or 403 329-1030.
pat@flairtravelplanners.ca
Pat Johnson CTC
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Tour leader: Christine Foisy-Erickson, Lethbridge AB cferickson@shaw.ca