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Catholic Apostolate Center Newsletter
Greetings!
Summer is an ideal time to spend moments catching up with family and friends, while often taking vacations from daily stresses and crazy schedules. No doubt we all need a break every so often! However, have you ever considered incorporating a pilgrimage into an upcoming family trip or excursion with friends? While pilgrimages are often thought of as long and arduous expeditions, a pilgrimage doesn't have to be a trip around the world. Simply a trip to a nearby church or other holy site, which gives you the opportunity to break away from your usual routine is just as much a pilgrimage. A key aspect of these trips is that they provide the chance to have quiet prayer and reflection.
We encourage you to read our suggestions below and consider embarking on a pilgrimage, particularly in this Year of Faith. Take the time to reflect on the importance of faith in daily life and how to best live out that faith in encounters with others.
If you have suggestions of some great places to visit on a pilgrimage (small or large) feel free to reach out to us so that we can share these with others! Happy pilgrimaging!
In God, the Infinite Love,
The Catholic Apostolate Center Team
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5. Make a Pilgrimage
 Whether it's walking the Camino in Northern Spain, traveling in the footsteps of St. Peter in the Eternal City or simply visiting a local Shrine or Cathedral, a pilgrimage provides an opportunity for us to break out of our daily routine and devote time to prayer and reflection. Often the sites visited and the people with whom we visit these sacred spots are what truly inspire a pilgrim!
 What if you're short on time or funds? No problem! Perhaps search for a nearby shrine or holy site, or make a visit to the cathedral for your diocese. Invite some friends or family to come along with you too! Plan your visit so that you can take a tour of the site, have some quiet time for reflection, and even share a meal with your fellow pilgrims.
Looking for something more adventurous? Consider some of these possible pilgrimages:
- A trip to the Rome to visit the relics of St. Peter and attend an audience with the Holy Father
- Follow the path, known as the Camino, that St. James trod to bring the gospel to the Iberian peninsula
- Plan a trip to join thousands of other young adults and Pope Francis in Rio de Janeiro for World Youth Day 2013!
Whether large or small, consider embarking on a pilgrimage of your own! Invite friends or family to join you and see what God has in store.
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Unity in Christ
...To live the faith means to share in Christ's life. In Jesus we can discover our true nature and fully appreciate our personal dignity. Proclaiming Christ so that the image of God may be restored to each person in all its fullness is the ultimate goal of the "new evangelization". You, called in a particular way by your charism to revive faith and rekindle love in every situation, should be very clearly aware of the preferential option for the "image of God" that is waiting to be revealed in the life of every brother and sister. Recognize Christ's face in everyone, appreciating every human being regardless of his condition or status.
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The United Stated Conference of Catholic Bishops is once again sponsoring a "Fortnight for Freedom" to encourage Catholics to share their voice in the public square. On June 21st Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore celebrated the event's opening mass and on July 4th, Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington D.C. will celebrate the closing mass at the Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. Click on the resources below for more information about the Fortnight:
Be sure to tune in to EWTN for coverage of the closing mass on July 4th from Washington D.C. or make a pilgrimage to be there in person!
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