In the Footsteps of Ignatius Loyola & Francis Xavier A Spiritual & Cultural Journey to Spain 11-Days: June 19 to 29, 2017 Under the Leadership of: Rev. Ted Dziak, S.J. & Rev. Robert Gerlich, S.J. Loyola University of New Orleans Land Only Package: $3,399 Discount Price (payment by check) or $3,598 Standard Price (payment by credit card) Plus $165 in tips. For More Information Contact: Rev. Ted Dziak, S.J. Tel: (504) 865-2304 • Email: [email protected] Download a Brochure to Share with a Friend: www.GoCatholicTravel.com/Dziak AN INVITATION TO JOIN US Rev. Ted Dziak, SJ Group photo from our 2015 Ignatian Pilgrimage, taken in Loyola Spain Rev. Bob Gerlich, SJ Dear Friends, We invite you join us on a wonderful spiritual journey to celebrate the life and spirituality of St Ignatius of Loyola. Our trip follows the themes of adventure and story that was Ignatius’ life as we will travel to the places important to him and his first com­ panions. Daily we will have walking tours to the important Ignatian sites. The two Jesuits accompanying our journey will offer talks and materials on the life and spirituality of Ignatius. There will also be private time built into the trip to aid personal reflection, meditation and prayer. It is truly a spiritual journey. Our path follows the path of Ignatius life: • Ignatius was a proud Basque born in the 15th century and we start this journey in Bilbao in the northwest of Spain, where the Loyola Castle is located. It is here where Iñigo (his name at birth) was born. • A cannonball in a military battle at Pamplona changed Ignatius’ life. We go to Loyola and stay several nights at a retreat house built next to Ignatius’ home and birthplace. • After his convalescence and conversion at Loyola, Ignatius left his castle on his search for meaning. We traverse the path Ignatius took, traveling through Pamplona to Xavier, the site of the castle which was home to Francis Xavier, the great Jesuit missionary who was his closest companion. We overnight in Xavier and recall the bravery of Francis Xavier. • We continue through the mountains to the lofty Benedictine monastery of Montserrat, where Ignatius dedicated his life to God before the image of the Black Madonna. We will overnight here as we contemplate the depth of Ignatius’ commitment. • We journey on to Manresa, where Ignatius had his greatest epiphany at the River Cardoner. He lived there for about a year writing the Spiritual Exercises. • Finally, we complete our trip in Barcelona where Ignatius spent time begging for travel money before embarking for the Holy Land. Finding God in all things is one of the maxims of Ignatian spirituality. In this spirit, in addition to the holy places and the spiritually reflec­ tive times, there will be an opportunity on our trip to enjoy the pleasures of Ignatius’ home country: the fabulous Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, the gorgeous countryside, the architectural wonders of the great city of Barcelona, to say nothing of the delicious Spanish culinary and vintage treats we will savor each day in an unhurried, relaxed way. We hope you will be able to join us on what truly promises to be the trip of a lifetime! OUR DAILY ITINERARY MON, JUN 19, DAY 1: ARRIVE BILBAO: As we are each making in the Cas tle of Loyola. We visit the Loyola Castle, originally our own travel arrangements to Bilbao, we look forward to gather­ the stone manor where the Loyola family lived. In 1521 in ing this evening for a welcome dinner at our centrally located hotel. nearby Pamplona, Iñigo was wounded in a battle defending We will be joined by our Catholic Travel Centre tour manager, who Navarre against the French. He was carried from Pamplona will accompany us throughout our time in Spain. (D) to his family home in Loyola to recuperate. It was here that St. Ignatius had profound religious experiences which began TUE, JUN 20, DAY 2: BILBAO: VISIT OF THE GUGGENHEIM his process of conversion. MUSEUM / SAN SEBASTIAN: PANORAMIC TOUR & Our home for the next four nights is the centrally located re­ LEISURE / LOYOLA: We begin today with a visit of the stunning treat accommodations, all with private facilities. Our schedule Guggenheim Museum. Upon its opening in 1997, the museum was in cludes three meals daily. This evening, we enjoy dinner and an immediately hailed as one of the world’s most spectacular buildings. ori entation. (B, D) Designed by Frank O. Gehry, the museum, clad in glass, tita nium and limestone is intended to resemble a ship. The WED, JUN 21, DAY 3: LOYOLA RETREAT: Our museum’s collections usually highlight avant­garde and non­ schedule for these three days at Loyola will consist of a dally traditional art. We continue on to the seaside town of San Eucharist, an Ignatian reflection and discussion on the Sebastian (Donostia in the Basque language) founded around historical Ignatius and his times, along with some personal 1180. The city’s unique geographical situation made it ideal as a quiet time and a pilgrim’s visit each day to sites related military stronghold with a port. The city is surrounded by a wall to Ignatius. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served daily for this very reason. We enjoy a panoramic tour of the city and during these days. some time at leisure. This morning after breakfast we gather at the private chapel We continue on to Loyola, known locally as the town of of our hotel for prayer and reflection. Then we visit the Sanctuary Azpei tia. Here, in 1491 Iñigo Lopez de Loyola Oñaz was born of Loyola for our guided tour. In the afternoon we celebrate our Mass at the Parish Church in Azpeitia. After Mass we walk to the for Ignatius. We celebrate Eucharist in the cave on the banks Hermitage of Mary Magdalen. (B, L, D) of the Car doner River where Ignatius received a vision that provided him with deep insights into the spiritual life and THU, JUN 22, DAY 4: LOYOLA RETREAT: This morning altered the course of his own life. From the initial insights after breakfast we walk to the Olatz Hermitage for our meeting he received here, Ignatius went on to compose the “Spiritual and Ignatian reflection. In the evening we celebrate Mass at the Exercises.” Ignatius remained in Manresa for about a year and Conversion Chapel at the Sanctuary of Loyola. (B, L, D) a half before continuing his journey to Barcelona. We enjoy an audiovisual presentation and a tour of the museum at Manresa. FRI, JUN 23, DAY 5: LOYOLA RETREAT: This morning after We then return to Montserrat for some time for lunch on our breakfast we travel to Aranzazu, a popular shrine to Our Lady at own and have the balance of the day at leisure, with dinner to the time of Ignatius and a place where he began his pilgrimage follow at our hotel. (B, D) journey. Here we have our meeting and Ignatian reflection. After some time on our own and included lunch we return to TUE, JUN 27, DAY 9: MONTSERRAT / BARCELONA: We our hotel. We celebrate Mass at a chapel in our hotel before our depart in the morning for Barcelona. Upon arrival we celebrate dinner. (B, L, D) Mass at a local church. Then we meet a local guide to enjoy a walking tour of the Gothic Quarter and the Church of Santa SAT, JUN 24, DAY 6: LOYOLA / XAVIER: We board our motor Maria del Mar, where Ignatius begged for alms for his journey coach with our tour manager and continue to the hamlet of Xavier, to the Holy Land. After our included lunch at a local restaurant located nearby Pamplona in the province of Navarra. We call to the balance of the day is at leisure to explore the city on our own. mind the life of St. Francis Xavier as we celebrate Mass here. Then Dinner is on our own this evening and our tour manager will have we gather at a local restaurant for our included lunch, followed by suggestions on where to dine. (B, L) a guided tour of the Xavier Castle. We check in at our hotel and the rest of the day is free for rest and reflection. Dinner will be served WED, JUN 28, DAY 10: BARCELONA: GAUDI SITES & LEI- at our hotel. (B, L, D) SURE TIME: This morning we celebrate Mass at Santa Eulalia Ca­ thedral. Then we meet our local guide to tour some of the major SUN, JUN 25, DAY 7: XAVIER / MONTSERRAT: We make sites of Barcelona, including Gaudi’s masterwork, the Basilica of our way to Montserrat, stopping en route for lunch on our own. the Sagrada Familia. Lunch and the rest of the day is on our own We arrive later this afternoon in the spiritual heart of Catalonia to ex plore the city. In the evening we gather at a local restaurant for and home to the dra matically set Benedictine monastery. This our farewell dinner. (B, D) Marian shrine has attracted pilgrims for over 700 years, much as it did Ignatius in March of 1522. We view the Black Madonna of THU, JUN 29, DAY 11: END OF OUR JOURNEY TOGETHER: Montserrat before whom Ignatius laid his sword and exchanged We enjoy our breakfast at the hotel, and this concludes our time his fancy clothes for those of a beggar. We celebrate our Eucharist together. For persons wishing assistance in arranging transfers to at the Monastery of Montserrat before gather ing for dinner at our the airport, your tour manager will be able to assist you.