July 4, 2012 Ref. 12-54
MEMO:
FOR : The CFC Global Family
FROM: Joe Yamamoto IC Overseer, CFC Pilgrimage
RE : CFC Pilgrimage to the Holy Land and Marian Sites ------
Greetings of peace and love! We are pleased to announce that CFC is embarking not just on one, but two pilgrimages, this year – to the Holy Land in November and to Marian sites in Europe in October.
The Holy Land pilgrimage (called CFC Pearlgrimage because it was one of the highlights of our 30th or pearl anniversary last year) was highly successful, gathering more than 200 pilgrims coming from many parts of the world. As one, the pilgrims reported being deeply touched by the tour. This pilgrimage visited all the holy sites in Jordan, Egypt and Israel, including the site of the manger where Jesus was born, Elizabeth’s house where Mary proclaimed her Magnificat, Jesus’ home in Nazareth, the route of his Passion and Death and even the sycamore tree which Zacchaeus climbed to get a better glimpse of Jesus. This year, the pilgrimage will concentrate on the sites in Israel but this time, the pilgrimage will be not simply a tour but a retreat, a time to reflect and meditate on our faith. The pilgrimage will be from November 27 up to December 6, 2012. The tour participants will have the opportunity to celebrate the first Sunday of Advent in the place where our salvation history started.
The Marian pilgrimage will be from October 1 to 20, with the option to extend for an additional three days to attend the canonization rites for our second Filipino saint, Blessed Pedro Calungsod, in Rome. The sites to be visited include Banneux in Brussels, Belgium, Lourdes in France, Fatima in Portugal, Barcelona, Montserrat, Madrid and Avila in Spain, Monte Carlo in Monaco and Pisa, Assisi and Rome in Italy.
Attached are the brochures for the pilgrimages, for your reference re travel requirements, costs and other details. We invite you all to consider joining us on these pilgrimages so that, as one family, we can all experience the deep spiritual benefits of walking in the very steps of our Lord and of our Blessed Mother.
God bless us all
JOE YAMAMOTO