FOOT STEPS OF ST. FRANCIS XAVIER

ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE, & BLESSED MOTHER TERESA

OUR LADY OF GOOD HEALTH & OUR LADY OF MOUNT MARY

Meeting with Fr. Prasad, (experienced the Miracle of the Eucharist), the visionary Mary-Amma , Little Moses (allegedly brought back to life)

 NOV 24 – DEC 11, 2008

$4595 + tax

SOME OF THE WONDERS OF THE WORLD

THE TAJ MAHAL…THE RED FORT & MOUNT EVEREST

Montreal /Newark/ Madras.

Day 1 - 2 -3 Our pilgrimage will begin as we depart  Newark on our flight to Madras.  We arrive Madras the next evening. After the traditional welcome, our guide will assist us to our hotel…….dinner and overnight.   Next morning, Here St. Thomas the Apostle died and was buried. St. Thomas, we are told, went to India in AD 52, and was the founder of Christianity in India. Thomas preached Christianity to the Brahmins of Malabar, who became the first Christians in India. Later he moved to Madras where he died. His burial place is still called St .Thomas’ Mount in Madras. Christians in South India, trace their ancestry to these events, which date back to Biblical times.  We will celebrate Holy Mass at the church and we will spend time in Adoration. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Day 4   Madras/Vellankani Our Lady of Health

After breakfast  we drive  to Vellankani.  The sacred land is 12kms away from Nagappattinam where the "Shrine Basilica" is located. This shrine is a singular attraction and draws millions of pilgrims from across the world, irrespective of their religion or faith. It is believed that Mary, the mother of God, appeared with the infant Jesus in the late 16th century. Ever since, Vellankani is one of the most important destinations for pilgrims. The apparitions of Our Lady, the miraculous statue of Our Lady, the countless miracles, the magnificent architecture and beauty of the Shrine, were the motives for this Shrine to become a Basilica.  We will celebrate Holy Mass at the Shrine and we will spend time in Adoration.  Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

DAY 5   Vellankani/Vadiakikadu /Trichy

After breakfast we will drive to Vadiakikadu to meet with Fr. Prasad, Mariama & little Moses. Father will give us  detailed information, including a video of the miracle  that took place in this far away village, to a non-catholic girl and boy, Here we will have Holy Mass where the miracle of the Eucarist took place.  Later we will visit the grave- site of Little Moses, the boy who allegedly was brought back to life. We will have a chance to listen to the mother of the Little boy Moses and Mary- Amma, the visionary, We will spend the whole day with them. Later we will continue our journey to Trichy. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Day 6 Trichy/ Cochin 

After breakfast we will explore some of the old churches where we will have Holy Mass and Adoration.  Later we will go sightseeing. Late evening we transfer to the train station for our over night train to Cochin… dinner and overnight.

Day 07 – 08   Cochin /Potta Retreat Center

Early morning arrival we then transfer to our hotel. After breakfast at the hotel we will drive to Potta and spend the whole day at the retreat center. We will meet some dynamic priests where you may experience a ‘life changing’ exerience. Divine Retreat Centre is just 2 kilometers away from the town of Chalakudy along NH47 near Cochin, In 1997, the Potta Ashram was established as the center to direct and to coordinate Popular Mission Retreats. Full time preachers began to stay over here to pray and prepare together.  The facilities at Potta Ashram became inadequate for the huge numbers of people converging for the week-long residential retreats held in Malayalam. A sprawling locale was acquired at Muringoor, on the banks of Chalakudy River, six kilometres away from Potta - it was named Divine Retreat Centre. The mighty works of God spread far and wide all over the world and the pilgrims poured in. New vistas opened up and retreats started in six other languages – English, Konkani, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil and Hindi.  Today, Divine Retreat Centre is the largest retreat centre in the world. Since 1990, over 10 million pilgrims from all over the world have attended retreats here.

Day 09 ,10 ,11,    Cochin / Goa

After dinner we will transfer to the overnight train to Goa, where lies the incorrupt body of St. Francis Xavier.We will spend 3 nights here. On arrival in Goa we transfer to our beach hotel. A free day to relax and catch up on your rest by the sea. When in Goa we will visit the BASILICA OF BOM JESUS in Old Goa, which was built in 1605.We will celebrate Holy Mass here and we will spend time in Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament.  The sacred relics of St.Francis Xavier’s body are kept in this church. St.Francis Xavier, patron saint of Goa, died while on a sea voyage to China.   As per his wishes, the following year, while transferring his remains to Goa, it was found that the saint's body was as fresh as the day it was buried. This miraculous phenomenon continues to attract the devout from all lands. An exposition or public viewing of his body, every ten years, attracts thousands of pilgrims.  We will visit SE CATHEDRAL where at the church of St. Catherine the Cross of Miracles, placed in the Cathedral attracts thousands of people.  It seems the Goans had a vision of Christ on this cross and the rock on which it was found was said to spout water. Today, the cross is slowly growing. Earlier, it was at Se Cathedral that the sacred relics of St. Francis Xavier were shown to the public. We will also visit the Church of St. Cajatan, built by anItalian architect in 1651, and was modeled in miniature on St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Day 12, 13   Goa / Bombay

After breakfast and Holy Mass we will transfer to the airport for our flight to Bombay.  We will visit St. Michael's church for the novena of Perpetual Help that has attracted thousands of pilgrims, Catholic and non-Catholic.  The Novena begins from seven in the morning until midnight every Wednesday…. all roads lead to St. Michael's Church every Wednesday. Thousands of miracles are reported by all faiths. We will then be taken on a tour of fascinating Bombay, which is the commercial hub of India.   Bombay is a city of paradoxes; apart from its commercial aspects, it is a city steeped in tradition and culture. We will be shown many attractions one of which is the Gateway of India built in l927.During our stay in Bombay we will visit the church of Mount Mary in Bandra where we will celebrate Holy Mass and we will spend time in Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. The church has attracted pilgrims from all faiths over the years, though it’s not known when it gained its ‘miraculous’ reputation.  Local residents (Catholics & non-Catholics) refer to it as the church on the Hill of the Mother, since they considered the Virgin to be a mother. Devotees came here to worship and pray for the birth of a child or recovery from prolonged illness. As the fame of the church grew, the church became an important center of pilgrimage. Pope Paul VI 1964 on his visit to India… "We cannot conclude our visit to India without paying special homage to Mary, the Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Here at Mount Mary in Bandra we join you in hailing her as Queen and Mother of all India, to her loving maternal care we entrust this great continent with its people, praying to her to show herself as mother, so that He who became her Son and our Savior may accept our prayers through her intercession."

Day 14 Bombay / Calcutta

After breakfast and Holy Mass we will fly to Calcutta on arrival we will drive to the grave site of Mother Teresa  and visit her convent and speak to the nuns of Blessed Mother Teresa. Later full day guided sightseeing of the city visiting  Victoria Memorial - An splendid example of British architecture, this building was built in memory of Queen Victoria and was inaugurated by Prince of Wales in 1921. The Memorial is based on architecture of the Taj and is built in marble. Vidyasagar Setu Well known as second Howrah bridge that connects the city to Howrah is a cable staid bridge, broad enough to carry six cars side by side. The main span length is 457 m and pylon height is 127 m and is of interest for history’s sake more than anything and worth a ‘look see’ if in the area. Birla Planetarium - One the earliest planetariums in India, the Birla Planetarium in Calcutta is a major tourist attraction.  The planetarium was opened in 1961 and the cost of completion came to about 2 crores. The capacity of the auditorium is 500 and there are daily film shows. These shows are in different languages. Inside the planetarium you can relax and gaze at the stars which are better seen here than in the polluted atmosphere out side. The planetarium gives complete information about the Universe and our solar systems. The models kept here are special attraction for the children.

Nicco Park If you are visiting with kids in tow then this is a must do place to spend at least a few hours while here. Your kids (and their mums and dads) will love the funky joy rides and numerous food stalls selling mouth-watering nibbles too. 

Howrah Bridge is a spectacular construction, the third largest cantilever bridge in the world and was opened in 1943. The 71 ft wide bridge can accommodate eight lanes of traffic and is flanked by two wide footpaths. Dinner over night.

Day 15 Calcutta / Darjeeling

After breakfast and Holy Mass we will travel to Darjeeling . Tiger Hill to watch the spectacular sunrise and its amazing  effects on the Mt. Kanchendzonga (the world’s 3rd highest peak). Visit Ghoom Monastery and Batashia Loop War Memorial before returning to the hotel for breakfast. Later, proceed on a half day local sightseeing tour, covering Padmaja N. Zoological Garden, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Tibetan Refugee Self-help Center and a visit to the Mall and local market for a view of daily city life. Experience the famous Toy Train Joy Ride. This uniqueMountain Railway project was first started in 1878 by the initiative of Sir. Assly Eden and isnow a World Heritage.  Dinner and over night.

Day l6  Darjeeling /Delhi

After breakfast, transfer to the nearest airport at Bagdogra for our flight to Delhi. We will visit a Catholic Church for Holy Mass and spend time in Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament.   We will get some insight as to how Catholics function in a non-catholic environment. Later our tour begins  with the capital of India, Delhi, which has a century of history behind it….quite unparalleled in its beauty with wide tree-lined avenues and boulevards.  Delhi is what you want it to be- a modern city with life or a city of monuments and history, which has left its legacy in Qutab Minar, Red Fort and the bustling bazaar of Chandni Chowk. In the afternoon we will visit some important churches.

Day 17    Delhi / Agra                                                                                                                                                                     

Early morning, after breakfast, we will depart for Agra the city of the Taj Mahal…. a poem in white marble built in the 16th century by the Emperor Shah Jahan, as a monument of love. Agra was once the capital of the Mughals and the relics of the glory are scattered all over the city. The Taj Mahal is everything that has been said about it and more. Taking 22 years and 22,000 men to build, the white marble was quarried 200 miles away and was transported to the site by a fleet of 1000 elephants. Built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as an expression of his love for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, in the mid 17th century. The Taj Mahal is truly one of the wonders of the world. Though the Taj appears to be amazingly perfect from almost any angle, it is the close-up marble inlay work, which is really astounding. Later we will visit some more monuments. We will celebrate Holy Mass in one of the nearby local churches and we will spend time in Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. Transfer to Delhi. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Day 18,  Delhi / Newark / Montreal

Transfer for flight to airport for Canada.

We transfer to the airport for our flight to Madras. Here St. Thomas the Apostle died and was buried. St. Thomas, we are told, went to India in AD 52, and was the founder of Christianity in India. Thomas preached Christianity to the Brahmins of Malabar, who became the first Christians in India. Later he moved to Madras where he died. His burial place is still called St .Thomas’ Mount in Madras. Christians in South India, trace their ancestry to these events, which date back to Biblical times.  We will celebrate Holy Mass at the church and we will spend time in Adoration. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

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