A Word from Your Pastor - May 3 & May 10

Dear Parishioners:

Today, our Josephinum Seminarians and our Parish Evangelization Committee conclude this year’s efforts to take the Gospel to the streets of our parish territory.  They had a fruitful day April 19 and their effort today is promising.  They remind us of two important facts about our life in the Church: First, we are disciples, not consumers.  Our duty is to share the Faith concretely and to find ways to allow others to know our joy in it.  Second, we are charged with the responsibility of bringing Christ to those in our parish territory.  The boundaries of St. Timothy are not boundaries that keep others out (many of you live outside our official territory).  Rather, they are an entrustment of all the people who live in our neighborhood to us, whether they are Catholic or not.  We need to let them know we are hear and are holding them and their needs in our prayers.  Will you consider joining the Evangelizers today?  If you cannot walk with them, remember them in your prayers.

As you know, this week and next I will be leading a pilgrimage to several sites in Portugal, Spain, France and Italy.  The bookends of our journey are Fatima and Turin.  Along the way, we will visit locations associated with our Blessed Mother and with many Saints who have taught us about the spiritual journey, as well as places connected with the history of the Church.  It promises to be an enlightening experience.  I have personally never been to most of these shrines and I look forward to learning more about our Faith.

I offer you the itinerary of our pilgrimage day by day so you can follow us along in prayer:

Day 1 – Monday May 4: We depart U.S.A.   Our pilgrimage begins today as we depart on our overnight flight to Portugal.

Day 2 – Tuesday May 5: Arrive Lisbon / Fatima.  After a morning arrival in Lisbon, we will meet our knowledgeable local escort who will be with us throughout our stay.   Begin our drive north stopping in Santarem to visit the Church of St. Stephen, famous for its venerated relic, "the Bleeding Host". Then on to Fatima, one of the world's most important Marian Shrines.

Day 3 – Wednesday May 6: Fatima. Today we will celebrate Mass on the spot where Our Lady appeared at the Chapel of Apparitions. Visit the Basilica to see the site of Francisco and Jacinta's graves and then on to the hamlet of Aljustrel where the three children lived during the Apparitions. Continue to Valinhos, the site where Our Lady appeared following the children's release from prison. This evening participate in the Stations of the Cross along the Via Sacra, site of the first Apparition.

Day 4 – Thursday May 7: Fatima / Salamanca.  This morning we leave Portugal for Spain. En route we will stop in Coimbra, a famous university town, to visit the Convent of Santa Clara La Nova where sister Lucia resided until her death in 2005. We continue on across the Portuguese-Spanish border to Salamanca, one of Spain's foremost cultural centers, a great university city and a showcase of intricately sculpted Renaissance architecture in golden stone. Visit the Plaza Mayor, which is regarded as one of the most attractive squares in Spain, and the Cathedrals Vieja and Nueva.

Day 5 – Friday May 8: Salamanca / Burgos.  After breakfast depart Salamanca for the walled city of Avila, the birthplace of St. Theresa. Visit the Monastery of the Incarnation where St. Teresa spent many years of her life, then to the Monastery of St. Joseph, herfirst foundation. Continue to Segovia where we will visit the great Gothic Cathedral, the extraordinary Alcazar fortress, the splendid Roman Aqueduct, and the tomb of St. John of the Cross. Drive on to Burgos, the cradle of Castille and the gothic capital of Spain, for overnight.

Day 6 – Saturday May 9: Burgos / Azpeitia.  This morning we will have a guided city tour of Burgos including the famous Burgos Cathedral, the third largest church of  Spain and one of the country's most magnificent for its beautiful Spanish gothic style. Its construction was carried out in stages over three centuries and involved many of the greatest artists and architects of Europe. We will also visit the Arco de Santa Maria, the Old Town, and the Abbey of Santa Maria la Real de Las Huelgas. After Mass at the Abbey we will drive to Azpeitia for overnight.

Day 7 – Sunday May 10: Azpeitia / Lourdes. Following breakfast drive to Oñati to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Aranzazu and after a guided tour proceed to Loyola. Here, in 1491 Iñigo Lopez de Loyola Oñaz was born in the Castle of Loyola. We know him as St. Ignatius of Loyola. Visit and celebrate Mass at San Ignacio Basilica where our Lady appeared with the Christ child to St. Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuit
order. Then drive across the Spanish-French border to Lourdes, one of the great pilgrimage shrines in the world. It was here where Our Lady appeared to Bernadette in 1858 proclaiming herself the "Immaculate Conception".

Happy Mother’s Day to all Mothers, Grandmother and Godmothers!

Day 8 – Monday May 11: Lourdes. We have all day to experience the special atmosphere of this beautiful town. Attend Mass at the Grotto of Massabielle, visit the Basilica of St. Pius X, see the house where Bernadette lived during the Apparitions, and visit several of the sites where miraculous cures have taken place. After dinner, join the candlelight procession.

Day 9 – Tuesday May 12: Lourdes / Avignon. After Mass depart Lourdes for Avignon which is often referred to as the "City of Popes" because it was the seat of the Papacy during the Catholic Schism from 1309 to 1377 instead of Rome. Upon arrival we will visit the impressive Palais des Papes (Papal Palace) before checking into our hotel.

Day 10 – Wednesday May 13: Avignon / Turin.  After Mass this morning we will depart Avignon and drive along the French Riviera to Nice for a panoramic view of this
beautiful resort. Continue on to the Principality of Monaco and enjoy a visit of Monte Carlo. Then continue our drive across the French-Italian border to Turin for overnight.

Day 11 – Thursday May 14: Turin / Milan. Today we will view the Shroud of Turin in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. The Shroud is said to be the burial cloth of Christ and it bears the distinct image of a crucified man. We will have what is perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view the Shroud. After viewing the Shroud we will enjoy a tour of the city including visits to the Palazzo Real, Palazzo Madama, and Mole Antonelliana. Then depart Turin and drive to Milan for overnight.

Day 12 – Friday May 15: Milan / U.S.A. This morning we will transfer to the airport to catch our return flight home.