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It's going to be a great year!
First, a huge Bienvenue, Marhaban, Wilkommen, and Welcome to all of our newest newsletter subscribers and Facebook "like-ers"! I am so glad to have you onboard! Also, a huge note of thanks to everyone who stopped by my booth at the Savvy Bridal Fair Jan. 14 and the Oklahoma Catholic Women's Conference this past Saturday, Feb. 18. It was great connecting with old friends and making new ones!
The recent year ended with a busy Fall season full of adventure, new places, new friends, and inspiring faith-filled journeys!
 | | Couples had the chance to renew their wedding vows at the church in Cana where Christ performed his first miracle. |
On our Land of Emmanuel pilgrimage to Israel, Palestine, and Jordan with Rev. Bill Pruett (St. James, OKC) and Rev. Don Wolf (St. Bernard, Shawnee, OK) our group of 26 pilgrims experienced many things, including dinners in the homes of local Christians, a meeting with the grandson of the man who brought the Dead Sea Scrolls from Qumran to the world's attention, carrying the cross along the Via Dolorosa, folk dancing on a boat on the Sea of Galilee, riding camels and horses at Petra (Indiana Jones, anyone?), and so much more as we traced our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christs's life from Bethlehem to Nazareth to Jerusalem. Of course, an overnight stay at the Dead Sea and standing where Moses stood atop Mt. Nebo for a view into the Promised Land were just two of the many highlights we enjoyed.
I hope you are remembering to download any photos from the trip DVD from the group video website. They will only be online a short time.
 | | Fr. Rick and Fr. Jim blessing pilgrims with St. Padre Pio's glove during our visit to San Giovanni Rotunda, Italy |
It was wonderful reuniting with many of the 41 pilgrims who travelled with us on Rev. Goin's (St. Thomas More, Norman, OK)and Rev. Stansberry's (Christ the King, OKC) Rome and Southern Italy Pilgrimage. Mass at St. Peter's was a moving experience, and we had front-row seats to the driving corridor and were so close to Pope Benedict XVI as he drove by we could have touched him! And who can forget the beauty of Assisi, the Perugia landscape, Sorrento, the entire Amalfi coast, and more! By now, everyone should have received the DVD of the trip. Remember to visit the video site and enter the password (shown on the video's start screen on your DVD) and download any of the photos from the trip. They will only remain for a few months, so go and get them, soon!
 | | After Mass in St. Helen's Chapel, Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem |
Our Steps of Paul Cruise and Macedonia land tour with Rev. McCool (St. Gregory's Abbey & University, Shawnee, OK) covered a lot of territory in Greece, Turkey, and Israel. Athens, Corinth, Phillipi, Thessaloniki, Ephesus, Istanbul, Rhodes, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Capernaum, and more. Riding a donkey up to a medieval fortress, Mass at Mary's House, climbing Mars Hill and the Acropolis, visiting the Hagia Sophia, touring the Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, learning about Turkish rugs, sipping Turkish coffee and nibbling Turkish candy. It was incredible standing where the Apostle Paul preached, meeting the locals, and the scenery was breathtaking! Not to mention how nice the ship Celebrity Constellation is! I only have four prepaid orders for the trip DVD, so if you want one, please send in your $15, soon.
I know that I am hearing the weekly scripture readings at Mass from an entirely new perspective after visiting all of these places. How about you?
 | | The Keeter Center - College of the Ozarks |
We ushered in the Christmas season with a Catholic group from St. John the Baptist (Edmond, OK) and others from area parishes for a fun-filled three-day trip to Branson, Mo! In addition to seeing three outstanding shows - Shanghai Circus, Brett Family Christmas Show, and the all new Hollywood Christmas Spectaular, we dined on specially-prepared gourmet fare at the Keeter Center for the Culinary Arts at the renowned College of the Ozarks, and toured the campus as well. Naturally, Christmas gift shopping in Old Town and the Branson Craft Mall was included and we even stopped for lunch at Lambert's, home of the famous Tossed Rolls before enjoying the Christmas lights display in Sapulpa! What fun!
* * * *What's Coming Up in 2012!* * * *
Fr. Jim Goin is again our Spiritual Advisor for a late spring pilgrimage to Catholic Ireland! This trip includes an opportunity to Golf Option ($129 + $60 for clubs) or tour the Waterford Crystal Factory option ($13). The dates are June 18-28, 2012. St. Patrick's Cathedral, the Book of Kells, Blarney Castle, "Mass Rocks", Clonmacnoise Monastery, Our Lady of Knock shrine, and more!
"To Pray Where Jesus Prayed" Spiritual Retreat in the Holy Land with Rev. Bill Pruett and Rev. Don Wolf. Walk part of the Gospel Trail (the path Jesus walked with his disciples from Nazareth to Capernaum); Masada; dinners with local families; Dead Sea swim, Qumran, convent stays, sacred sites in Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and more. September 6-17, 2012.
WOMEN of the BIBLE "women only" pilgrimage to the Holy Land! Visit the sites linked with the Woman at the Well, Rachel, Deborah, Mary, and others as well as enjoying cooking classes, spiritual retreat, luxury spa and Dead Sea swim, a stay at an Israeli Kibbutz, time with the Catholic Sisters, local women's organizations, desert lunch, Bedouin visit, Druze village women, with Rev. Price Oswalt (National Shrine of the Infant of Prague, Prague, OK) and Rachel Fontanez (Young Adult Ministries, St. Charles Borromeo, OKC). October 29-Nov. 9. Includes sacred sites and more!
Save $50 per person if you reserve your spot before March 1
and mention code "occw218"!
Details and Registration forms for all of the above are on my website, http://www.travelovertures.com. Click on Catholic Pilgrimages 2012
* * * SUPER CRUISE DEAL * * *
I am still holding some cabins on the now sold-out inaugural cruise of the Celebrity Reflection, that cruise line's newest Solstice-class luxury ship! The cruise departs Miami on Dec. 5 for the Bahamas. Real grass golf course, spa, superb dining, casino, and more! Great chance at incredible group pricing to get away from winter's cold!
Dec 5, 2012 depart Miami
 | | Lawn bowling on the Celebrity Reflection |
Dec 6, 2012 Nassau
Dec 7, 2012 Cocoa Bay
Dec 8, return Miami
Cat 1B $369 pp - 2 remaining
Cat 1C $359 pp - 3 remaining
Cat 1A $389 pp - 1 remaining
Taxes/Fees $170.52 pp
Insurance $29 pp
Gratuities $36 pp
$75 onboard credit (per cabin)
CALL ME today to reserve your cabin before they are gone!
* * * WORLD YOUTH DAY BRAZIL in 2013! * * *
Three parishes have already inquired about World Youth Day! It is not too early to call me to discuss your youth and young adult groups' needs for attending World Youth Day in Rio. Preparing now will allow us to provide you with the clearest and quickest quotes as soon as is possible!
The next World Youth Day will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil July 23 to 28, 2013!We are excited for Rio 2013! Our partners have already blocked air and hotel space, and are in the process of putting together all of the details. We can provide the most memorable and rewarding experiences of a lifetime. Our partners have sent thousands of young pilgrims to WYD events, including Madrid, Sydney, Cologne, Toronto, Rome, Paris, and the Phillipines. What is World Youth Day?
World Youth Day is a gathering of young folks from all over the world, who come together to celebrate the message of love, peace, and unity as preached Jesus Christ. The event is usually a week long in which young people bond, make friendships and above all, strengthen their faith. A Catholic Church event, World Youth Day extends to all youth regardless of religious convictions. The program consists of catechesis, adoration, celebrations of the Eucharist, lectures, moments of prayer and music. The average age of attendees range from 16 to 35, although all ages are welcome to attend. Please inquire about program details, which will be posted soon on our website!
I would like everyone to understand the very unusual situation regarding World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro next year. The travel industry in Rio has taken the unified position that they will not release any rates for WYD until one year from the event, meaning this July. No one has been given land prices for Rio! No one. While I know there are small firms offering "estimated" prices, these prices are literally guesses and from research I know that some are much too low. It is highly unlikely they will be able to deliver trips at some prices currently being quoted. I and my tour operator partners have elected not to guess at rates simply because experience has proven doing so is risky. I would hate to disappoint anyone. You may recall the horror stories of WYD in Sydney when groups were promised rates for estimated airfares that were not booked and when those companies went to actually secure the seats, they had to increase prices by up to $1,000 per person. If you are willing to make a decision of who will handle your WYD group and pay non-refundable deposits based on someone's guess of what prices might be when released, you could end up very disappointed and in a tight spot on many fronts. I am advising that for budgeting and fund raising purposes, you should plan on the 2013 WYD trip costing about $3,000-$4,000 per person (RT flights, lodging, meals, events, excursions, pre/post stays). Call or email me to sign up for my WYD email updates to be sure you are able to book space.....at real rates.
The best thing at present is to reserve your group's space with the $500 group deposit, and then have your group members commit to WYD with a $200-$300 per person deposit and collect an amount each month or every six-eight weeks which you will hold until pricing is available. People will say they are going, but unless they put money down, they are not committed. In this way, you will at least begin acquiring a head count and that will help you in your fundraising planning and trip pricing. Contact me for a Group Leader Guide offering suggestions for payment schedules, fundraising, publicity, and travel tips.
And two final notes:
(1)There were quite a lot of people Saturday asking for a pilgrimage to Mejugorje. We can certainly put one together for 2013, including sites in Dubrovnik, Split, and Trogir. I actually have a couple priests interested in leading what would be our third pilgrimage to the peaceful town in Bosnia-Herzegovina. If you are interested, please send me an email with "mejugorje" in the subject line and your full contact info in the body of the email so I can keep you updated.
(2) I have also had several requests for a Catholic pilgrimage to Poland and Eastern Europe. If you, too, are interested in such a journey, send an email with Eastern Europe in the subject line and your full contact info in the body of the email. Please also notate whether or not you would want WWII concentration camp visits included.
Blessings to all,
P.S. SHAMELESS PLUG ALERT! Do you sing? If you would like to sing (or travel as a "non-singing supporter") with the Choir of St. Monica Catholic Church (Edmond, OK) in March, 2013 as we participate in the Festival of Peace and Brotherhood in Rome, Italy, let me know! Since I am the Choir Director, I can give you the details! Trip includes singing for Mass at St. Mark's Basilica in Venice and St. Peter's in Rome as well as in smaller churches in the Castelli Romani region and Festival Concert performances. Once you commit with a deposit, if a singer, we will send you the music for your voice part and rehearsal schedules. We'd love to have you sing with us, or just travel with us! We have room for a total of 49 people. Also, as our choir continues to fundraise for the concert tour, we would love to present a concert for your parish in exchange for a goodwill donation. A portion of the donations received would be returned to your parish's music ministry! Give me a call, if you are interested! Travel Overtures is the home of: Joyful Catholic Journeys (Roman Catholic and Byzantine focus) and Joyful Christian Journeys (Protestant and Interdenominational) 
 
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