Post Pilgrimage Updates

Carolyn & George Hoffman’s photos albums are hosted at Snapfish, enjoy!

Nancy Nowak’s pictures hosted at York Photo, click here for a simple registration to see the photos…they’re worth it.

Gail Buckley’s Letter from Athens to the Catholic Scripture Study Members
Group Picture

Our Spiritual Director, Fr. Scott Courtney made it to the EWTN’s “Life on The Rock” top ten for 2010. (below)

Virtual Pilgrimage Videos

All Have Arrived in Athens

All arrived in Athens Greece tired but excited to walk and sail in the footprints of St. Paul. Great dinner, reverent Mass and to bed. Enjoy the short video.

Tomorrow to Corinth for Mass, exploring and lunch. I will read Acts 18 to the group. We will spend the night in Patras where St. Andrew was crucified on an X shaped cross and where the Battle of Lepanto was fought. More on all this tomorrow.

To Corinth

Everyone kept saying, “Let me pinch myself; I am really here?” Praying Mass where St. Paul did 2,000 ago? Seeing the shops where Corinthians bought meat sacrificed to idols and the Temple of Apollo where they worshiped the pagan gods that were really demons?

We had an outdoor Mass near the Bema where Paul was dragged for questioning because he opposed these idols and spoke the truth of one God and his Son Jesus Christ. It is always amazing being in Corinth, standing on the Lecheon Road, and looking up at the massive pillars of the ancient temples.

But my favorite is down below near the old theater, in an area with no path and where tourists never go. They don’t know it is there. But it is my favorite thing in Corinth. There is a stone in the ground which is part of the road to the theater. One the stone is deeply engraved the name ERASTUS who was a city official and the sign says so.

In Romans 16:23, written from Corinth, Paul says, “Erastus the city treasurer greets you.” How cool is that?

Anyway, we had a great day and ended up in Patras where St. Andrew was crucified on the X shaped cross and where the Battle of Lepanto was fough in 1571 pushing the Muslims back out of Europe. If they had not done this we would all be speaking Arabic today!

Boarding the Ship to Patmos

It appears I have no Internet access in my cabin. That could be a problem :-). I will try to figure out a workaround. More soon. Running out now for life boat drill.
UPDATE: Great first day on ship centriole seems thrilled. Great lunch and sumptuous dinner. Andie gave expert talk on sites we will see. Private Mass on ship at 3:00 followed by my Intro to St. Paul. Lots of free time. Perfect weather.
I have today’s video prepared and only need Internet to upload. Working on it.
Tomorrow to Patmos and Ephesus, part I.
Got internet after a week so here is the Boarding of the Ship!

Visit to Island of Patmos

We pulled into port this morning to the Island of Patmos where the Apostle St. John received his revelation which became the last book of the Bible. The pictures in video are from the Cave of St. John where he received his revelation around AD 95.
We’re now back on the ship for Sunday Mass and we’ll disembark again at 2:00 at Ephesus. More soon.

Our Visit to Ephesus

Since I’ve had no Internet service while on the ship I have to use the iMovie application on my iPhone for video updates.

Mass at Mary’s House and St. John’s Tomb

Today we had an outdoor Mass at the House of Mary in the hills above Ephesus, then I gave a talk on the Apostle St. John at his tomb.
Join us on a virtual pilgrimage.
I made this short 2.5 minute movie on my iPhone on the bus while driving to Pergamum.

Today in Istanbul

Today we got to sleep in but I got up early to run. It is hard to run on a treadmill it’s hard to do that when the ship is bobbing and swaying.

We had Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, then everyone scattered for lunch in cages and restaurants before walking thru the wild Spice Market.

Then to the Hagia Sofia and the Blue Mosque where we learned about Islam. I gave my comments to — you’ll see my thumbs down comment.
We’re back on board having dinner and a free evening. Stay tuned for more.

Philippi

On Wednesday we landed back in Greece at the port of Kavala which is ancient Neapolis. This is where St. Paul first set foot on European soil.

We toured the ancient site of Philippi, was addressed by St. Paul and had Mass at the river where Paul baptized Lydia, his first European convert to Jesus Christ.

Walking with St. Paul thru Thessaloniki & Berea

“The Bereans were more noble minded than the Thessalonians for they received Paul’s word with eagerness searching the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”
To we followed Paul’s journeys through Thessaloniki and Berea which can be found in Acts 17.

With St. Paul in Athens

Today we disembarked from the Orient Queen and drove into Athens. It’s always hard to pack and leave your cabin but we must move on.

We arrived at the famous Acropolis upon which still stands the Parthenon. We started first with Mass on top of the rocky hilltop called Mars Hill or the Areopagus where St. Paul some to the judges of the Areopagites.
We then scrambled up the Acropolis in the rain. After that the group split into two groups: 30 going home and 40 going on to Rome.

We took the bus to Patras where we boarded the Ionian Queen, an over night ferry to Pompeii.

Mount Vesuvius & Pompeii

Incredible and expansive ruins of Roman Pompeii near modern Naples Italy. Mount Vesuvius blew it’s top five miles away and dumped over 15 feet of ash and pumice biting Pompeii in AD 79.

It is like stepping back 2,000 years and walking through a Roman city only 12 years after the martyrdom of Sts. Peter and Paul.

On our way to spend the night in Rome. It was another great day with no problems!
Tomorrow at noon we will pray the Angelus with Pope Benedict and receive his blessing.

Pope’s Blessing, Catacombs and More

First full day in Rome. Our group had a great day. I’ve captured it on video so you can share it with us.
Started out with a great breakfast before our tour of the Ancient Roman Forum and the Colosseum.
The highlight was seeing Pope Benedict at St. Peters for his noon Angelus and Papal Blessing.
After a six course lunch at Cecilia Metella Restaurant on the Via Appia we toured the Catacombs of Callixtus and celebrated Mass deep under ground.
Everyone is now back to our hotel and scattering to shop and find a cafe for dinner. Banner day!

Walking with Peter and Paul in Rome

On our last day following St. Paul we finished at his tomb for Mass.
But first we had the best ever private tour of the Sistine Chapel, visited the tomb of Pope John Paul II And enjoyed the glory of St. Peters Basilica.
Then to St. Paul Outside the Walls where the remains of his bones are under the high altar with his chains of imprisonment in clear view.
Enjoy the video and join us for a virtual tour.

Last Day

The final video and Grand Finale for our St. Paul Cruise and Pilgrimage.

Pre-Pilgrimage Letters

Letter #1 click here
Letter # 2 click here

Why Cruise Biblical Lands with us?

First, price! Our price is similar to competitors BUT — unlike competitors — all of our on-shore excursions are INCLUDED in the price! Also included are ALL tips, even on the ship!

Second, we don’t trust just any guides and drivers – those assigned by the cruise ship. I AM YOUR GUIDE and only work with my own people on shore. I want this to be a purely Catholic experience at Catholic sites. An experienced American travel escort and priest will be with you at all times from the USA, through the cruise and back to the USA.

Third, we are only visiting biblical and distinctly Catholic sites (see itinerary). That is the purpose of the cruise — to study the Bible and the history of our Church. Steve will be teaching and personally sharing his favorite places in the world with you.

Fourth, we have private daily Masses at the sacred sites like Mary’s House in Ephesus, outdoors in Corinth, etc. A few Masses may be on the ship.

Fifth, each family will receive a professionally edited 90-minute highlights DVD as a keepsake. — Audio headsets will be provided for all excursions.  Plus, you get a free copy of my DVD PAUL, CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH.

We will take you to Bible places Janet and I know very well. We will personally share them with you: Athens, Corinth, Thessalonica, Philippi, Berea, Istanbul, Pergamum, Greek Island of Patmos, Ephesus, then the optional extension to Pompeii and several days in Rome with Mass in the catacombs, and much more.

We will be aboard the Orient Queen Cruise Ship (pictured). Sign up now because only a few cabin spaces remain. See the brochure below and call 1-800-727-1999, extension 150 and ask for Jeanine Bliss or Sue Bosak. You can also write to Jeanine at jbliss@ctscentral.net or Sue at sbosak@ctscentral.net

Itinerary

Click Here