Today’s Catholic announces pilgrimage travel Today’s Catholic has announced an exciting new partnership that has been formed between Collette Travel and the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend with Today’s Catholic Travel. The travel initia- tive offers pilgrimage opportunities to local priests, parishioners and the Catholic community. The inaugural pilgrimage will be the “Shrines of Italy” tour that includes 11 days and 15 meals. According to Tracy Edwards, dis- trict sales manager at Collette, tour pilgrims will experience Rome, Assisi, San Giovani Rotondo, the ruins of Pompeii, and much more, including opportunities for Mass and taking part in the papal audi- ence while in Vatican City. Two groups will depart on Nov. 10, 2015, with provisions for air out of Chicago for those in South Bend and air out of Detroit for those in the Fort Wayne area. Additionally, transportation to and from the air- port will be included from a single pick up point in each city. Edwards notes, “Other gate- ways are available upon request for those friends and family members outside of this region that wish to travel with you.” Each Today’s Catholic Travel pilgrimage will include a local priest from each city to act as host. Father Terry Coonan, paro- chial vicar of St. Pius X Parish in Granger, will be the travel host for the South Bend departure for the upcoming “Shrines of Italy” tour and Father Andrew Budzinski, director of vocations and parochi- al vicar of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Fort Wayne, will host the Fort Wayne departure of the trip. Fathers Coonan and Budzinski will serve as spiritual hosts allowing for additional insight as the groups experience the roots of Catholicism. Each priest will have the opportu- nity to celebrate Mass in historical basilicas on the tour as well. Sean McBride, Secretariat of Communications for the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend says of the new venture, “We’re very excited to offer this program to the faithful of the diocese. We’ve partnered with a very reputable company that offers travel pro- grams specific to Catholics, and we are hopeful that this inaugural trip will be a great way to begin a long-standing tradition of Today’s Catholic pilgrimages. We look for- ward to offering two trips per year to many destinations around the world, with many of our diocesan priests acting as travel hosts.” Informational meet- ings about the tour will be held in Fort Wayne and South Bend for those interested in learning more. In Fort Wayne, the informational meeting will be held at St. Vincent de Paul Parish, 1502 E. Wallen Rd., Fort Wayne, on Thursday, Nov. 13, at 6:30 p.m. In South Bend, the informational meeting will be held at St. Pius X Parish, 52553 Fir Rd., Granger, on Tuesday, Nov. 25, at 6:30 p.m.
Posted on: Thu, 30 Oct 2014 10:59:36 +0000