Welcome to the online registration site for Catholic Travel Centre. We've partnered with WeTravel to provide you with this convenient and secure online registration and payment platform. Here you will find all the information you need to register and pay for your upcoming pilgrimage journey.  

This pilgrimage will be under the Spiritual Direction and Leadership of Rev. Michael Brzezowski from Holy Spirit Parish in Kennewick, Washington. Your Group Coordinators are Deacon Kenneth Ellis and Ms. Cindy Ellis. 

To reserve your place, simply click on the green "Select" button to the right: or the "Book Now" button located further down this page.

• Travel Packages: Choose the travel package you prefer, either Full Package (including airline) or Land Only (not including airline)
• Rooming Options: Prices are per person based on double room occupancy. If you wish to stay in a single room (without a roommate) please select the Single Room option and you will be invoiced for the single room supplement.  
• Registration:  Complete all the required fields to register  You will be asked to to upload a copy of the photo page of your passport (can be submitted at a later time.)
• How to Pay: You may choose to pay by an ACH draft from your savings or checking account (you will need to  enter your bank account information). Or you may choose to pay by credit card by inputting your credit card information. If you choose to pay by credit card, a processing charge will be added to your invoice total at the time of checkout (2.9 % for most credit cards, 3.9% for American Express).   After you register, you will receive an email confirmation and a receipt of payment.  
• Walking: Please note:  this journey involves considerable walking on cobblestone streets and uneven pavement and requires being on your feet more than usual. You should be in good physical condition to enjoy this pilgrimage to its fullest.

Dear Fellow Pilgrim,

Coordinator Cindy Ellis, her husband Deacon Ken Ellis and I would like to invite you to join us on a special pilgrimage to the Holy Land early next year. 

A spiritual visit to the Holy Land is like no other experience you will have in your life. It is the land where Jesus was born, lived, worked, preached, died, and rose from the dead. We will visit many of these places on our pilgrimage. To highlight just a few sites among many … we will travel to Nazareth—the site of the Annunciation and where Jesus grew up—and walk the shores of the Sea of Galilee—where the Lord called the first disciples and taught them about the Kingdom of God. 

Each day of this pilgrimage will be steeped in prayer, reflection on the Gospels, and—of course—the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Truly, this journey will be a cultural and spiritual opportunity of a lifetime. Cindy, Ken and I look forward to traveling with you on what promises to be a grace-filled pilgrimage. 

Our trip will be very safe, abiding by all vaccination and COVID-19 protocols required by the local governments. 

God’s Blessings, 

Fr. Michael E. Brzezowski, Spiritual Director

TUE, APR 16, DAY 1: DEPART THE USA

We depart en route to Athens, with complimentary meals and beverages served aloft.

WED, APR 17, DAY 2: ARRIVE IN ATHENS

Upon arrival in Athens, we are met by our Catholic Travel Centre representative and escorted to our private motor coach. Once our rooms are prepared, we check-in to our hotel. The balance of the afternoon is at leisure to rest from our travels. Dinner is served at our hotel. (D)

THU, APR 18, DAY 3: ATHENS: CITY TOUR

We begin with Mass at the Cathedral of St. Denis. We enjoy a tour of the city of Athens, including the Agora, where Paul addressed the Athenians. According to the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 17:16-34), while he was waiting for his companions Silas and Timothy to arrive, Paul was distressed to see Athens full of idols. His sermon at the Areopagus, the high court in Athens, is the most dramatic and fullest reported speech of his missionary career.

We also visit the famed Acropolis (the ancient citadel) located on a rocky outcrop above the city, and the Parthenon, Hadrian’s Arch and the Temple of Zeus. Lunch is on our own. The balance of the day is at leisure to explore the city and its museums. Tonight, we enjoy a welcome dinner in the Plaka area.  (B, D)

FRI, APR 19, DAY 4: ATHENS / DELPHI / KALAMBAKA

This morning, after breakfast and check-out, we board our motor coach for Kalambaka, stopping first at Delphi, one of the most important religious sanctuaries of the ancient Greek world, home to Apollo and the most famous oracle of antiquity. Its history dates to the Mycenaean period and in Homer’s Iliad, the site was referred to as Pytho.

The oracle or the Pythia as it was called was a woman over 50 who abandoned normal life and lived her life in seclusion to serve the many who came to have their questions answered. The Pythia would pronounce her prophesies while the priests wrote them down and translated them to the people. Among the most noted to come with questions were King Croesus and King Midas. 

After our visit, and time for lunch on our own, we continue on to Kalambaka, situated at the foot of the stunning Meteora peaks. We check-in to our hotel for dinner and the evening. Mass is celebrated in a meeting room in our hotel.  (B, D)

SAT, APR 20, DAY 5: KALAMBAKA: VISIT OF METEORA 

Today will visit the breathtaking Byzantine monasteries of Meteora.  Derived from the Greek word “meteorizome,” meaning“to hang in the air,” the structures seem to do just that.  Perched on a mountain of strangely shaped pinnacles in the Peneus Valley, they are far removed from the world and its distractions.  During their heyday in the 15th and 16th centuries, the number monasteries grew to 24.  The buildings were decorated with frescoes and icons from the great artists of the day.

Colossal symmetrical gray and reddish boulders, as though pushed upwards from the bowels of mother earth by an invisible hand, sustain breathtaking beautiful monasteries perched precariously high above the ground.  Originally the only access was by means of very long ladders which could be drawn up when not in use, or in a basket or net suspended on ropes from a winch which was mounted in a winching tower above the void below: according to travelers in the past the ropes were not replaced until they broke.  Steps have now been cut in the rock face, and there is a fine modern road serving the main monasteries.

We will reach the monasteries by climbing the stairs – no ropes for this group! The monasteries are veritable Byzantine museums exhibiting superb icons, old manuscripts and unique mosaics and frescoes.   After our visit, we return to our hotel for dinner and the evening. Mass is celebrated in a meeting room in our hotel.  (B, D)

SUN, APR 21, DAY 6: KALAMBAKA / ATHENS 

Today, after breakfast, we will check out and make our way south to Ossios Lukas Monastery, a 10th century monastery and one of the most impressive examples of Middle Byzantine architecture and art, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990.  After our visit and time for lunch on our own, we continue on to Athens, where we check-in to our hotel, then join the community of St. Denis in their celebration of the day’s liturgy. (B,D)

MON, APR 22, DAY 7: ATHENS/ PIRAEUS: CRUISE: MYKONOS

After breakfast and checkout, we transfer to the port of Piraeus, where we board our waiting ship. Lunch is served on board. Our cruise this afternoon will take us to the island of Mykonos. We celebrate our Mass today on the ship, remembering the journeys of Paul. Upon arrival in Mykonos, we are free to explore this picturesque island. Our dinner is aboard our ship. (B, L, D)

TUE, APR 23, DAY 8:  CRUISE: KUSADASI AND PATMOS

This morning we dock at Kusadasi, where we board our motor coach for our included shore excursion to Ephesus. In ancient times, it was the largest city and major harbor on the western coast. Silt in the harbor has today placed the shoreline more than four miles west of the harbor in Roman times.

St. Paul founded the Church in Ephesus 53-56 AD. From here, he wrote letters to Galatia, Philippi, and Corinth. On our included shore excursion, we visit the great theatre where St. Paul addressed the crowds (Acts 19:29) and the site of the riot from which Paul escaped. We visit the ruins of an early 4th century Christian church with a baptistery and bishop’s residence. This church was named Church of the Virgin Mary, and in 431 A.D. the Third Ecumenical Council met here and affirmed Mary as Theotokos, “Mother of God.”

Early Christian tradition has identified John the Apostle with Ephesus and affirmed he wrote his Gospel here. We visit the Basilica of St. John, built by Justinian in the 6th century, which houses the tomb of St. John. Christian tradition has also associated Mary, mother of Jesus with Ephesus. At the cross, Jesus committed her to the care of “the disciple whom He loved” (John 19:26). We visit the House of Virgin Mary, believed to be the last residence of Mary. The peaceful site is sacred to both Christians and Muslims.

We return to our ship for lunch and continue our journey to Patmos, often called the Jerusalem of the Aegean. On our included shore excursion we visit the island of Patmos, including the Monastery of St. John, a huge fortress-like building dating from the 11th century, and the grotto where tradition says John wrote the Book of Revelation. Back on board our ship, dinner is served. Mass is celebrated in a room on board our ship. (B, L, D)

WED, APR 24, DAY 9:  CRUISE: RHODES

We arrive in Rhodes this morning, with time to explore the island and its charm. The island sometimes referred to as the Island of the Knights of St. John, who built the medieval town, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Historically, Rhodes was famous worldwide for the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. You are free to explore the island on your own or to purchase the optional shore excursion on board. Lunch and dinner are served on board.  Mass is celebrated in a room on board. (B, L, D)

THU, APR 25, DAY 10: CRUISE: CRETE AND SANTORINI

Early this morning we arrive in Crete, where Paul had stopped and visited the last time before his death, placing Titus in charge of the church he founded here (Titus 1: 12). We have time on our own here to explore the town.  Later, after lunch on board, we continue on to the port of Santorini, where we have some time on our own to explore this scenic town on our own. Santorini is one of the most magical of the Greek Isles, affording stunning views. Dinner is served on board.  Mass is celebrated in a room on board. (B, L, D)

FRI, APR 26, DAY 11: DISEMBARK IN ATHENS: CORINTH EXCURSION

We arrive in port early this morning to find our motor coach waiting for us. From here, we travel to Corinth, the largest city in the land now known as Greece. Here Paul spent 18 months, preaching to the Jews and Gentiles. The site is overlooked by an Acropolis housing the remains of the Temple of Aphrodite, goddess of love. In Corinth, Paul worked with Aquila and Priscilla and his trial by Gallio took place in the agora. The community he founded here caused him much grief and prompted him to write at least four letters. We celebrate Mass in a nearby church (or outdoors, if permitted).  We enjoy an included farewell lunch at a local restaurant, and then take some time to saunter the seaside. After our visit, we return to Athens and check- in to the hotel overnight. Dinner is on our own as we prepare for our journey home tomorrow. (B, L)

SAT, APR 27, DAY 12: RETURN TO USA

This morning after breakfast, we transfer to the airport for our return flight to the USA. (B)

Note:  While no changes are anticipated, there may be unforeseen occasions when certain alterations become necessary to this itinerary, either due to changes in airline schedules or for other reasons.  All Masses are subject to local church schedules and substitution with alternate Mass sites if churches mentioned are not available.