Dr. Bob and Anita Rice of In His Omnipotent Presence (IHOP) Ministries asked Kathleen and Keith Werner to coordinate a pilgrimage to Medjugorje via Rome for their ministries. Due to lack of pilgrims this pilgrimage had to be cancelled.
Father Michael Culkin the Roman Catholic Chaplain in Spiritual Care at Lancaster Regional Medical Center, Lancaster, PA was to be the Spiritual Director.
This was to be the first time Dr. Bob and Anita Rice had been to Medjugorje or Rome. We hoped to have many pilgrims assist them with their first pilgrimage experience to the wonderful shrine of Medjugorje with two days before and two days after in Rome, the HOME of the Roman Catholic Church.
An information sheet with reservation forms for 04PPM10 was available for nearly a year. Package cost was $2299 plus $130 to cover air taxes.
Departure was initially from John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport, NY, but was modified to Newark (EWR)International Airport, NJ, using Alitalia on Sunday, 10 October 2004, to Rome, Italy, with a 2 night stopover to attend the Wednesday audience with the Holy Father and then to Split, Croatia, with return on Wednesday, 20 October 2004, for 2 more nights in Rome prior to return to JFK on Friday, 22 October 2004. There would have been visits to Christian Rome, Shrines and Holy Places during the stopovers in Rome. This pilgrimage was planned to include a private, if we got more than 40 pilgrims, visit to the Sistine Chapel as well as small group tours of the Scavi under Saint Peter's Basilica.
Contact Dr. Bob and Anita Rice at In His Omnipotent Presence (IHOP) Ministries, 737 ValVerde Drive S.E., Albuquerque, NM 87108- 3467, (505) 473-7169, or Bob Cell: (505) 270-0580, or Anita Cell: (505) 270-0955, or ihopministries@yahoo.com. if you have interest in their ministry. They travel by motor vehicle so dates are sequenced by geographic area. They will be in Connecticut until 9 October 2004.
If you wish to know more about Dr. Bob and Anita Rice, read "Former Protestant Pastor Speaks Out on the Holy Eucharist" and "Will the Real Apostolic Church Please Stand UP!", both available at or from the PFMC.
All PFMC groups that fly to near their destinations leave from either Philadelphia or Newark unless that is impossible then from JFK.
Every pilgrimage is planned to have a priest spiritual director assigned and offers a full daily spiritual program. A pilgrimage coordinator, usually a volunteer at the PFMC, trained in pilgrimages, rooming lists, and pilgrim needs, etc. will accompany each pilgrimage allowing the priest spiritual director pay attention to the spiritual needs of the group.
We have travel insurance with many options, including medical, available for all pilgrimages. We always recommend that pilgrims carry travel insurance and if a medical problem exists that the PFMC coordinator be made fully aware of that problem in advance and that all medical options in the travel insurance be considered.
A full time English speaking escort or guide will accompany us. Land transportation is in comfortable air-conditioned motor coaches. Unless otherwise noted, breakfast and supper is included so that pilgrims do not have to worry about finding reasonably priced and nutritious meals. Mid-day snacks or meals such as lunch are not included. Stops are made for rest and relaxation at places where snacks or meals are available. Many pilgrims choose to fast from breakfast until supper.
We hope that you will review the above pilgrimage destinations, dates, itineraries, and, especially, our very competitive package costs. We will be using regularly scheduled airlines. The only catch is that you are asked to sign up no later than 45 days ahead. Click on the underlined links where available to view a more detailed information sheet and registration form.
Airlines try to recoup their seats at 60 days and ask for advance payments on all named pilgrims. We indicate that full payment is due at the 60 day point in order to cover these payments to the airlines and the travel agents who are booking the hotels. The agents, airlines, and hotel managers become very aggressive about the advance payments at 45 days. Seats and rooms without names generally have to be surrendered. Reservations after 45 days will be taken with full payment and attempts will be made to find seats and rooms with the pilgrimage group. It is very important that pilgrims sign up as soon as the spark of your prayer leads you to go on a specific pilgrimage. Only the deposit, usually $500, is needed prior to 60 days before the departure date. Travel or pilgrimage interruption insurance will greatly assist in recovering costs if there is a problem that arises after initial sign-up. Click on underlined links where available to view a more detailed information sheet and registration form.