2017 Religious Travel Planning Guide

2017 EDITION

Germany’s

LutherCountry Celebrates the

500

thAnniversary

of the Reformation

DETAILS ON PAGE 6

Welcome home!

Face your own faith in LutherCountry.

UNESCO World Heritage Wartburg Castle, Eisenach

ISRAEL

Where the Bible Comes Alive 2017 EDITION

Tracing the footsteps of Jesus in the Holy Land

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Overlooked Religious Sights of Europe Rewarding discoveries off the beaten path

Youth Service Trips Work projects let young people live out their faith

Time to Ditch Your Tour Operator?

Group leaders need to know when to look for a new partner A Premier Travel Media publication www.ReligiousTravelPlanningGuide.com

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The village of Erl, Austria, will present a passion play in 2019

VOL. 7 • 2017 EDITION

FEATURES

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contents

Germany Celebrates a Big Anniversary

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Church groups flock to LutherCountry as the Reformation marks a half millennium.

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Service Trip Opportunities for Youth Groups BY MILES DOBIS Young church members can live out their faith on work projects in all parts of the U.S.

Seeking Renewal on Retreat

BY LORI ERICKSON

SPECIAL SECTION

Choosing the right retreat center is key to planning a memorable experience for your group.

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Time to Ditch Your Tour Operator for a New One? BY VANESSA DAY

Israel: Where the Bible Comes Alive Your group can trace the footsteps of Jesus at iconic sites throughout this ancient land.

Group leaders need to know when to fly the coop and seek a new trip-planning partner.

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11 Overlooked Religious Sights of Europe

BY RANDY MINK

From Greece to Norway, straying from the beaten path yields some rewarding discoveries.

16 Kentucky’s Oasis Christian Center: a peaceful setting for retreats

ON THE COVER:

Holy Fire ceremony, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem.

(Photo courtesy Dafna Tal/Israel Ministry of Tourism, www.goisrael.com)

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Young volunteers on a World Servants program in the Navajo Nation

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Religious Travel Planning Guide

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Randy Mink

Let Travel Light Up Your World

Vol. 7 No. 1, 2017 Edition

Editorial Office

W

hether it’s a weekend at a retreat center close to home or a 10-day tour of the Holy Land, church group trips have a powerful way of bringing meaning to our faith. Sometimes it takes a fresh new setting to change our outlook, reaffirm beliefs and rejuvenate the spirit.

Religious travel, of course, entails pilgrimages, mission work, retreats and educational ventures, but churches also design trips purely for recreational purposes. Traveling with church friends not only helps us reconnect with our faith but also to each other as we mix and mingle in a whole new set of circumstances, in places well removed from daily routines. Whether touring ancient ruins, attending a church service in a foreign country, hiking in the mountains or just going to the beach, we see each other in a different light.

Traveling to places of religious significance and tapping into the roots of our faith can do wonders for the soul. Following in Jesus’ footsteps in Israel, worshipping in a German church where Martin Luther preached or visiting a shrine to the Virgin Mary you’ve heard about all your life makes it all seem more real.

Speaking of Israel, see the “Ultimate Christian Itinerary” in the special Israel section that starts on page 9. This seven-day circuit covers the main sites of interest to church groups making their first Holy Land pilgrimage. For any trip, foreign or domestic, your choice of tour operator is critical, so don’t miss the planning tips provided in “Time to Ditch Your Tour Operator for a

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New One?” If you’ve ever planned a men’s, women’s, couples or youth retreat, you know the importance of choosing the right retreat center, and you’ll find some helpful tips in the article by Lori Erickson, a travel writer who specializes in the spiritual realm.

This year’s youth feature focuses on opportunities to help communities in Appalachia, South Texas and other underserved areas.

Whether your church has an active travel program or is contemplating the formation of a travel ministry, we hope you’ll find inspiration in these pages. Please consider passing along this copy of the 2017 Religious Travel Planning Guide to colleagues who might find it helpful. Or let them know they can download it for free.

Besides our annual print publication, we have online resources for planning and marketing your group trip. ReligiousTravelPlanningGuide.com is the premier research tool for the faith travel market, offering destination information and practical tips. Each month we compile digests of the best online content in InSite, our free monthly e-newsletter.

We wish you the best in creating meaningful travel programs that will energize and make a lasting impact on your community of faith.

621 Plainfield Road, Suite 406 Willowbrook, IL 60527 P 630.794.0696 • F 630.794.0652 info@ptmgroups.com

Publisher – Jeffrey Gayduk jeff@ptmgroups.com

Managing Editor – Randy Mink randy@ptmgroups.com

Contributing Writers Vanessa Day Miles Dobis Lori Erickson

Director, Design & Production – Robert Wyszkowski rob@ptmgroups.com

Advertising Sales Office Phone: 630.794.0696 advertising@ptmgroups.com www.ptmgroups.com

The publisher accepts unsolicited editorial matter, as well as advertising, but assumes no responsibility for statements made by advertisers or contributors. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information published, but the publisher makes no warranty that listings are free of error. The publisher is not responsible for the return of unsolicited photos or manuscripts.

Religious Travel Planning Guide is published annually by Premier Travel Media, 621 Plainfield Rd., Suite 406, Willowbrook, IL 60527. Postage paid at Willowbrook, IL and Lebanon Junction, KY. The magazine is distributed free to religious group travel organizers and travel suppliers catering to the market. Single copies for all others is $9.95.

Send Address Change to: Premier Travel Media 621 Plainfield Road, Suite 406 Willowbrook, IL 60527

Happy Traveling,

A Randy Mink Managing Editor

publication

All rights reserved. Materials may not be reproduced in any form without written permission of the publisher.

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Germany Celebrates a

Big Anniversary Luther House, Eisenach

Thüringer Tourismus GmbH

The Protestant Reformation marks a half millennium in 2017

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t has been exactly 500 years since Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, an event that shook the world and changed Christianity forever. The legacy of Germany’s famous son—monk, professor and church reformer—is evident not only at Luther sites in Wittenberg but throughout the country.

Church groups considering a trip to Germany can expect festivals, exhibitions and special programs, all paying a tribute to Martin Luther and the Age of the Reformation. Such events have been held to celebrate the Luther Decade since 2008, and the celebration reaches a crescendo in 2017, marking a final chapter in this religious milestone—the birth of the Protestant Reformation a half millennium ago.

In 2017 and beyond, your group can follow in the footsteps of Martin Luther throughout Germany and embark on a fascinating journey back to the momentous events of the 1500s.

Travel to Germany is Easy Germany’s well-developed infrastructure, from high-speed trains and rental cars to intercity buses and domestic flights, makes traveling a breeze. And with nearly 500 flights weekly between the U.S. and Germany, getting there is convenient, too. Another plus: Germany’s prime location in the center of Europe.

Renowned for the high level of its hospitality services, Germany has a broad range of hotel accommodations in every category and boasts some of the lowest hotel rates in Europe. The favorable euro-to-dollar exchange rate at this time makes Germany an excellent value for the American traveler.

For those who cannot make it to Germany for the 500th anniversary events, sightseeing in LutherCountry may be an even more attractive option in 2018 and beyond, when the crowds will be smaller and prices lower. And visitors will still enjoy the fresh look of the sites that were renovated for the big celebration.

For more information on Germany, visit www.germany.travel.

The Heartland of Luther’s Legacy LutherCountry is a popular tourism region located right in the heart of Germany, between Frankfurt (Main), Munich and Berlin. Visitors from around the world flock to its storybook towns, historic churches, mighty castles and enchanting countryside.

More than 30 Martin Luther-related sites—places where the great reformer lived, studied and preached—are scattered throughout LutherCountry, but the most important ones are concentrated in four towns. Eisleben is where Luther was born in 1483 and died in 1546. He spent more than 35 years in Wittenberg, which has attractions like the Luther House as well as Castle Church.

At Wartburg Castle in Eisenach he translated the New Testament from ancient Greek into German, making God’s Word accessible to the common man. In the beautiful city of Erfurt, Luther served as a monk at the Augustinian Monastery, now a pilgrimage center.

Download the “Luther 2017” eBrochure and find eight inspiring routes and ideas at www.germany.travel/ebrochures.

Wartburg Castle, Eisenach

LUTHER 2017 NATIONAL EXHIBITIONS April 12-November 5, 2017 Berlin The Luther Effect.

500 Years Since the Reformation www.dhm.de May 4-November 5, 2017 Eisenach/Wartburg Luther and the Germans www.wartburg.de May 13-November 5, 2017 Lutherstadt Wittenberg Luther! 95 People – 95 Treasures www.martinluther.de

Martin Luther

DZT/Andrew Cowin

For more information on Luther events and exhibitions, visit www.germany.travel/luther.

Thüringer Tourismus GmbH/Marco Fischer

There are once in a lifetime moments

that change you

Your next life changing moment awaits you in

the Land of the Bible

CONTINUE YOUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY Once in a lifetime, be at the place where it all began. Follow in the footsteps of Jesus, and experience the Bible beyond its words. Embrace your spirituality in a place like no other on earth, and return forever transformed.

ISRAEL Where The Bible Comes

Al ve

7 Days in Israel:

The Ultimate Christian Itinerary

or a person of faith whose beliefs are rooted in the Bible, there is no place on earth like the Holy Land. For centuries, Christian travelers have been transformed while visiting this narrow strip of land where events of the Old and New Testaments took place—scenes we have pictured in our minds since Sunday school. Because of the country’s compact size, places of religious significance are not far from each other. A week touring Israel can be a life-changing experience, one from which Christians will return home with a deeper and more committed faith.

The following sample itinerary begins in historic cities along the Mediterranean coast and heads north to the Sea of Galilee area before moving back south to the Jordan Valley and Dead Sea. Your eye-opening week climaxes with three days in Jerusalem, the highlight of any Israel tour.

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Jaffa Mount Tabor

DAY 1 Ancient Ports, Green Hills, Nazareth Begin your journey by heading to Jaffa, the picturesque Mediterranean port from which Jonah set sail before being swallowed by the whale, where King Solomon imported the cedars of Lebanon to build the Temple in Jerusalem and where Peter had his vision at the home of Simon the Tanner. The Visitor Center in Kedumim Square, a site built around antiquities from the time of Jesus, showcases the history of Jaffa.

Drive north across the Sharon Plain to the excavations of the ancient city port of Caesarea. From this site, now a national park, Pontius Pilate ruled the country. King Herod built Caesarea in honor of his patron, Emperor Augustus, in the mid-first century B.C. Peter’s story continues in Caesarea when Peter baptized Cornelius the Centurion. It was from this port that Paul set sail to preach in communities surrounding the Mediterranean Sea and where Paul was later imprisoned for two years and appeared before Felix, Festus and King Agrippa. All these events are reflected in the ruins you’ll tour, including the Roman theater, hippodrome and Herod's palace. You can also see mosaics and other remains from the centuries when Caesarea was an important Christian center with its Crusader walls, moat and gates.

Continue north to Mount Carmel and hike in the nature reserve around the Kelah River. The evergreenladen Carmel hills are known as "Little Switzerland."

Bird’s-eye lookouts and picnic stops are scattered along

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the scenic routes, where you can enjoy sweeping views of the Jezreel Valley to the east, the Upper Galilee to the north and Mediterranean beaches to the west.

Drive through the Ara Valley to Tel Megiddo, the Armageddon of Revelations 16:16. Tour the remains of one of the most consistently inhabited sites in the country with over 25 levels of civilization settlements, spanning some 3,000 years, including walls, gates, palaces and dwellings from the time of King Solomon, King Ahab and the Assyrians. A walk through the water system reveals one of the engineering marvels of the ancient world.

Cross the Jezreel Valley, Israel’s breadbasket, to Mount Tabor and learn about the prophetess Deborah gathering her forces during the time of the Judges to battle against Sisera. Jesus came to Tabor with Peter and James, was transfigured before them, and met with Moses and Elijah. After enjoying a breathtaking view of the valley, visit the beautiful Church of the Transfiguration.

Continue to Nazareth to visit Nazareth Village, a full-scale reconstruction of life in Nazareth during the time of Jesus. Then visit the centuries-old Church of St. Gabriel, which houses the village spring – one of the few remains from the time of Jesus.

Drive across the Galilee mountains via Cana, the scene of Jesus’ first miracle of changing water into wine and home of Nathaniel. From the Arbel cliff, stop for a view of the Sea of Galilee and scenes of Jesus’ Galilee ministry.

Overnight in the Sea of Galilee area. religioustravelplanningguide.com

G A LILEE DAY 2 Bible Lessons in the Galilee Greet your day at Kibbutz Ginosar to witness the magnificent display of the wooden Galilee Boat dating from the time of Jesus.

Continue from Ginosar with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, stopping for devotions as waves lap quietly against the boat.

Driving along the Sea of Galilee shore is a special experience.

Cross the Jordan River and head southeast towards Kursi, where the remains of the largest Byzantine monastic complex can be found, and where, according to tradition, Jesus healed those possessed by demons by casting their evil spirits into a herd of swine.

Continue on to Capernaum to visit the ruins of "the town of Jesus."

Next, stop at the nearby Church of the Primacy of Peter, where Jesus appeared to the Apostles after the resurrection.

Nearby is Tabgha, site of the miracles of the fishes and loaves, with its famous mosaic.

Continue north to the Mount of Beatitudes, the hill where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount to the multitudes below.

From here you have a panoramic view of the Sea of Galilee.

Continue to Caesarea Philippi, now known as Banias. Enjoy the natural beauty of this area nestled on the banks of one of the Jordan River’s main tributaries.

Overnight in the Sea of Galilee area.

All photos courtesy Israel Ministry of Tourism

D EA D SEA

DAY 3 Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea Before you leave the Sea of Galilee area, visit Yardenit, the Jordan River baptismal site at the sea’s southern tip. Traveling from lush landscape to desert terrain, toward the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, you will be struck by the changing scenery.

Visit the well preserved Crusader fortress, Belvoir Castle. Built in the 12th century, it stands on a plateau high above the Jordan Valley.

Drive south along the valley to ancient Beit She'an. Climb to the top of the huge mound of biblical antiquities and see magnificent remnants of this city, the capital of the Decapolis cities where the Gospels say the fame of Jesus spread during His ministry.

Continue down the Jordan Valley, seeing Jericho as you travel through the wilderness of Judah to the Dead Sea. Stop for a float in this mineral-laden body of water at one of the many beaches.

Overnight at the Dead Sea. Capernaum

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M ASADA DAY 4 Masada, Ein Gedi Oasis, Qumran At the southern end of the Dead Sea, take the cable car to the top of Masada, an isolated rock plateau where Jewish rebels were besieged by Roman legions nearly 2,000 years ago. The new museum depicts the daily life of the rebels, the excavations and how the site became a symbol of strength and heroism.

Drive along the Dead Sea to the oasis at Ein Gedi, where David hid from King Saul, and hike to a desert waterfall. Visit Qumran, where the famed Dead Sea Scrolls were found.

If you’re on the main road from Jericho to Jerusalem and it’s before 4 p.m., take a break at a 19th century Turkish building called the Inn of the Good Samaritan. The museum features an open-air display of mosaics and archaeological findings from both Jewish and Samaritan synagogues, as well as Christian churches, including cisterns and remnants from the reconstructed Good Samaritan Byzantine Church.

Before heading to your hotel in Jerusalem, stop for your first view of the Holy City from Mount Scopus, and open your Bibles to read, “Our feet are standing in your gates, O Jerusalem” (Psalms 122:2).

Overnight in Jerusalem.

DAY 5 Archaeological Wonders in Jerusalem

J ERU SALEM

Welcome the day at the most ancient part of Jerusalem: the City of David. This area boasts some of the most important discoveries in biblical archaeology. Walk through the water of Hezekiah’s Tunnel, named after the king who demanded its quarrying to keep Jerusalem’s water from the Assyrians when the city was under siege.

Stop at the Pool of Siloam, where new excavations have uncovered the remains of the pool where Jesus healed a blind man.

Explore the Southern Temple Excavations at the southwestern corner of Temple Mount. Here you can stand on the very street that Jesus would have walked 2,000 years ago and view other archaeological remains that shed light on New Testament events. At the magnificent Davidson Visitors Center, see the virtual-reconstruction, high-definition, interactive model and enjoy the film that depicts ancient pilgrimage to the Temple.

Stop at the Western Wall, the last remnant of the Herodian Temple Mount destroyed by the Romans nearly 2,000 years ago.

Schedule a tour of the Western Wall Tunnels, also called the Rabbinical Tunnels.

Stroll through the alleyways of the Jewish Quarter, including the Cardo, which was the main street of Byzantine Christian Jerusalem.

Overnight in Jerusalem.

Qumran

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O LD C ITY DAY 6 More Jerusalem Sights Start the day at the Israel Museum, home to the most important archaeological discovery of the 20th century – the Dead Sea Scrolls. An impressive model of Jerusalem in 69 B.C. sets the stage before entering the special shrine that contains the Scrolls.

Stop at the square opposite the Knesset to view Israel’s legislature and see the magnificent bronze menorah with its carvings depicting the biblical history of Israel and Zechariah’s immortal words “Not by might, nor by power but by My Spirit” (Zechariah 4:6).

Continue to Mount Zion and its many sites, including King David’s Tomb and the Coenaculum, the Room of the Last Supper.

Despite its name, King David’s Tomb could not be the actual burial place as King David was buried in the City of David. As it is, the tomb, a recent (medieval) site, is strangely situated in the same Crusader building that houses the traditional place where the Last Supper was held.

Wander the Old City markets, steeping yourself in its sights, sounds and aromas, and try your hand at bargaining.

Visit Yad Vashem, Israel's official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust, with its astounding new historical museum, Hall of Remembrance and Children's Memorial.

Overnight in Jerusalem.

DAY 7 Jerusalem: In the Footsteps of Jesus Welcome the day with one of the most magnificent views in the world: ancient Jerusalem as seen from the top of the Mount of Olives. Allow time to visit the various churches on the summit, among them: Pater Noster, where the prayer “Our Father” is inscribed in dozens of languages, and the Church of Ascension, marking the place where Jesus ascended to Heaven. Take the “Palm Sunday Walk” down the Mount of Olives in the footsteps of Jesus.

At the Garden of Gethsemane at the base of the mountain, ponder the time Jesus spent here with His disciples before His arrest. See the floor-to-ceiling mosaics in the impressive Church of Gethsemane, known as the Church of All Nations.

Enter the Old City via Lion’s Gate, also known as St. Stephen’s Gate, to the Pools of Bethesda, where Jesus healed a paralytic ( John 5: 2-9). Visit St. Anne's Chapel, the purest Crusader church in the entire country, where Christian groups love to sing praises to the Lord. Stroll down Via Dolorosa, the street where St. Anne’s is located and where Jesus walked from the place of Pontius Pilate’s sentencing to Golgotha. The last path of Jesus ends in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where Orthodox and Catholic Christians mark His crucifixion and burial.

The day will end with a visit to the Garden Tomb. Located north of Damascus Gate, this ancient cemetery has become a touching site in which to recall the crucifixion and burial of Jesus and spend time in prayer, song and fellowship. religioustravelplanningguide.com

CHURCH O F T H E H O LY SEPULCHRE

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Must-See

ISRAEL

The Holy Land’s barren hills, fertile plains and bodies of water abound with sites of religious significance. These eight places are not to be missed.

JERUSALEM The capital of Israel, perhaps the holiest place on earth, is packed with biblical sites, including the Garden of Gethsemane, Garden Tomb, Mount of Olives and Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a place of pilgrimage built on the spot where Orthodox and Catholic Christians believe Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected. The Via Dolorosa, or Way of the Cross, winds a mile through the Old City and has 14 stations, each with a chapel or marker recalling an incident in Jesus’ final mortal journey. Another must: the sight of Jews praying at the Western Wall, Judaism’s most sacred structure.

In West Jerusalem, an important stop is Yad Vashem Memorial and Holocaust Museum.

TEL AVIV This metropolis on the Mediterranean captures the essence of modern Israel, offering the latest in cuisine, fashion and entertainment. For historical sightseeing, there’s Old Jaffa, the ancient seaport that existed long before there was a Tel Aviv. The cobbled lanes of Jaffa’s old quarter are lined with art galleries, shops and restaurants. Nearby Jaffa Flea Market and surrounding streets typify a Middle Eastern bazaar.

Other Tel Aviv destinations include the palm-lined beach and raucous Carmel Market, where scrappy merchants peddle produce, souvenirs, cheap clothes and tasty street eats. With Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport the gateway to Israel, many groups find it convenient to stay a night in the city, either upon arrival or before the flight home.

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CA ES A R E A AKKO

CAESAREA

Tour the ramparts, tunnels, subterranean chambers and medieval quarters of this well preserved Mediterranean city dating back to biblical times. As recorded in the New Testament, the apostle Paul visited Akko (Acts 21:7). Conquered by the Crusaders in 1104, the fortified port served as their last capital in the Holy Land after the fall of Jerusalem. A walk through the cobbled lanes of the walled Old City reveals mosques, a Turkish bathhouse, outdoor market stalls with copperware vendors and fishing boats in the picturesque harbor.

One of the largest archaeological digs in Israel, Caesarea was a Roman city named after Caesar Augustus and once the most important seaport in the Middle East. See the beachfront Roman aqueduct, restored Roman theater and hippodrome where chariot races took place, plus Byzantine and Crusader ruins. Caesarea, the seat of Roman government for more than 500 years, was the home of Pontius Pilate and where the Roman centurion Cornelius was baptized by Peter and became the first gentile to convert to Christianity. Paul spent two years in prison in Caesarea.

NAZARETH The town where Jesus spent his boyhood while living with Joseph and Mary is home to the Basilica of the Annunciation, whose domed roof dominates the Nazareth skyline. The church occupies the site of Mary’s cave dwelling, a grotto where, according to Roman Catholic tradition, the angel Gabriel told Mary she would bear the child Jesus. St. Gabriel Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, built over a spring called Mary’s Well, is the spot where Greek Orthodox Christians believe the angel made his announcement, or annunciation. Tour groups in Nazareth also visit Nazareth Village, a collection of reconstructed workshops, farmsteads and houses where costumed interpreters go about everyday tasks common in biblical times.

SEA OF GALILEE The fishing village of Capernaum, now an archaeological site with the ruins of a synagogue and the House of St. Peter, was the center of Jesus’ Galilee ministry. It was here that Jesus taught in the synagogue, healed the sick, performed many of his miracles and recruited some of his disciples (“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men”—Matthew 4:19). Nearby are other important Christian sites, including the domed church on the Mount of Beatitudes (the mountain where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount) and, in Tabgha, the Church of the Primacy of Peter and Church of the Multiplication. Boat trips on the Sea of Galilee, actually a lake, are popular with Christian pilgrims.

MASADA For panoramic views of the Dead Sea and a lesson in Jewish history, ride the cable car or hike to the top of Masada, an isolated rock rising 1,400 feet above the Negev Desert. Now an archaeological site with a museum, the iconic landmark first served as a palace-fortress for King Herod and in 73 A.D. was where 900 heroic Jewish rebels under siege committed suicide rather than be captured by the Romans camped below.

DEAD SEA Many Israel itineraries include a day or two in a beachfront hotel fronting this mineral-laden lake whose briny water is said to provide relief for sufferers of various ailments. Situated 1,300 feet below sea level and only 15 miles from Jerusalem, the Dead Sea is the lowest spot on earth. It’s de rigueur to go through the ritual of floating effortlessly on the buoyant water—you cannot sink.

Another ritual: slathering yourself with oily black mud gathered from the sea floor. At the lake’s northwest corner are the ruins of Qumran, an archaeological site where Bedouin shepherds in 1947 discovered parchment fragments that later became known as the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Negev Desert

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Seeking

Renewal

By Lori Erickson

s a retreat leader, you have the chance to help people deepen their faith, change their lives and build lasting bonds of friendship. But whether your group has less than a dozen participants or includes hundreds of people, planning a successful retreat takes significant effort.

Choosing the right center is one of the most important steps in the process. The U.S. has a wide array of options, from sites affiliated with spiritual communities such as Roman Catholic monks to centers whose sole business is catering to religious groups. These questions can help you refine your search: How far is your group willing to travel?

The word retreat implies getting away from ordinary routines, and many people find that leaving their immediate area is a valuable part of spiritual renewal. Some retreat centers are located in spectacularly beautiful places, such as Ghost Ranch (ghostranch.org), which is set amid the red rock canyons and high desert of New Mexico, and Holden Village (holdenvillage.org), which is located in a remote wilderness area near Chelan, Washington, and is accessible only by ferry. Unfortunately, such sites require a considerable amount of effort and time to reach and may not be feasible for your group. But virtually every corner of the U.S. has a retreat center within a one- to two-hour drive.

Short-stay options close to major cities include Laurelville (laurelville.org) near Pittsburgh and Angeles Crest Christian Camp (angelescrest.com) near Los Angeles.

What goals does your group have for a retreat? Churches schedule retreats for a wide variety of reasons, from enriching the spiritual lives of their members to building support for an upcoming building campaign or nurturing and educating new leadership. Identifying your pur-

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Religious Travel Planning Guide

Choosing the right retreat center is key to planning a memorable experience for your group

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Oasis Christian Center in Franklin, Kentucky, can accommodate up to 110 retreat guests.

pose early in the process will help you decide what resources and accommodations you require. Do you need spaces primarily for discussion groups, lectures, individual reflection or for group worship? Look carefully at the design of the retreat center to make sure it has spaces that can accommodate the different activities. If at all possible, do an on-site visit.

How much planning do you want to do? Retreat centers such as America’s Keswick (americaskeswick.org/home-page) in Whiting, New Jersey, can provide you with virtually everything you need for a successful retreat. Places that rent their facilities and provide meals but let you take care of the rest of the planning include Cross Roads Retreat and Conference Center (crossroadsretreat.org) in Caldwell, Texas.

Tips for a Successful Retreat et Help. Early in the retreat-planning process, pull together a team that can help you. You might want to have someone in charge of areas that include administrative details, worship, decorations, food, music, recreational activities, publicity, finances and fundraising. An added benefit is that people will be more invested in the retreat if they help out along the way.

Develop a program. Some retreats have a lot of structure, while others are more open-ended. Whatever the schedule, allow time for breaks and private reflections. And don’t forget to plan for the vagaries of weather—your sunrise worship service is not going to work well if it’s raining.

The Rev. Dr. Catherine Quehl-Engel, chaplain of Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, has planned many retreats for students, faculty and community

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Who will lead the retreat? Some institutions, including the Bay View Association (bayviewassociation.org), a Chautauqua-style organization in Petoskey, Michigan, affiliated with the United Methodist Church, bring in nationally known authors and theologians to conduct programs. Many centers can also provide suggestions of local speakers who can lead sessions, or you can ask your own pastor or congregational leader to direct a retreat. And religious communities such as the monks at Saint John’s Abbey (saintjohnsabbey.org) in Collegeville, Minnesota, or the Dominican sisters who live at Sinsinawa Mound Center (sinsinawa.org/moundcenter/index.html) in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin, have many years of experience in directing retreats. members. She suggests building in time each day for reflection. “Invite people to reflect on what experiences stood out for them that day as meaningful,” she recommends. “Where and how did they experience the Holy? What might the day’s outward journey have to say regarding their inner journey?

These can be questions to consider in a group or used as reflection tools for individuals. I also encourage participants to keep a journal to enhance their experiences, insights and growth while on retreat.”

Promote your event. A simple website with information about your retreat, or a designated page on your church’s site, makes it easy to promote your retreat on social media. In addition, put up posters and flyers, make announcements in church and spread the word through as many channels as possible. And keep in mind that the best advertisement is always word of mouth.

Encourage planning team members, and those who have already registered, to reach out with a personal invitation to others.

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What type of lodging and catering needs does your group have? “Youth retreats usually do fine with camp-style food and dorm accommodations, but adult groups often want more elaborate meals and rooms that are either private or shared with two people at most,” says Andy Mc Clung, owner of Oasis Christian Center (oasischristiancenter.com) in Franklin, Kentucky, and author of The Ultimate

Retreat Planning Guide. “At our center, we have both dorms and private lodge rooms so that we can accommodate a range of preferences, and we also serve food that’s more like you’d get in a restaurant than a typical camp. We’ve found that food is a very important part of a successful retreat.”

Do you want an outdoor component to your retreat? The natural world can be as inspiring as the grandest cathedral. If your

LOYOLA UNIVERSITY RETREAT AND ECOLOGY CAMPUS

RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL RETREATS LEARN MORE 815.338.1032 • LUC.edu/retreatcampus

2710 S. Country Club Rd., Woodstock, IL 60098

Retreat Resources hristian Camp Pro (christiancamppro.com) has a list of more than 1,100 Christian retreat centers in the U.S. The Ultimate Retreat Planning Guide by Andy McClung is another valuable source of information.

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group loves outdoor recreation, try Deer Run Camps & Retreats (http://deerrun.camp) near Nashville, Tennessee, or Look Up Lodge Christian Camp (lookuplodge.com) in Traveler’s Rest, South Carolina. Activities such as zip-lining, hiking, ropes courses, climbing walls, swimming and canoeing can build ties between participants and provide a balance to the more reflective parts of a retreat.

Do you want a non-denominational retreat center or one affiliated with your national church? All the major denominations have centers, including the Episcopal Church’s Kanuga (kanuga.org) in Hendersonville, North Carolina, and the Butman Methodist Camp & Retreat Center (butmancamp.org) in Merkel, Texas. Other centers, such as Gull Lake Ministries (gulllake.org) near Kalamazoo, Michigan, are Christian but non-denominational. And still others welcome groups from all spiritual paths, including Genesis Spiritual Life & Conference Center (genesisspiritualcenter.org) in Westfield, Massachusetts.

Throughout the planning process, try to keep your focus on your overall mission. “As a retreat leader, it’s easy to get so caught up in the planning that you lose your enjoyment of the process and forget what’s most important,” says McClung. “Pray for guidance and always keep in mind that the ultimate reason for a retreat is to draw closer to God. That’s true for you as well as for the people who will attend the program you’re planning.” U Lori Erickson is a travel writer with a specialty in holy sites. In September, Fortress Press will publish her book Holy Rover: Journeys in Search of Mystery, Miracles, and God, a memoir structured around trips to a dozen holy sites around the world.

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Time to Ditch Your Tour Operator for a New One?

By Vanessa Day

Planning a religious group trip is not an easy task. It’s made even harder when you don’t have the right tour operator—or any tour operator—at your side.

Church groups need to be wary of a few key factors when determining if they should stick with their current tour partner or fly the coop and seek new representation.

o quote the Bible, “…if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” There’s no beating around the bush here—a tour operator is almost essential for groups planning a religious trip. Groups need a reliable partner to assist with organizing and executing a trip; otherwise, they may find themselves flying blind.

There are hundreds of quality tour operators out there, but not all of them will work for every religious organization.

Each congregation is different.

If you’re working with a religious tour operator and considering moving your business elsewhere—or searching for a tour operator for the first time—there are a few things you should keep in mind during the decision process.

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Lack of Experience and Expertise

Ask any expert about the most important characteristic to look for in a tour operator, and he or she likely will say “experience.” If you’ve selected a company that’s relatively new to the faith-based market, closely evaluate its product with one from a company that has been offering religious itineraries for several years.

“There are many tour companies with a large name in the industry for vacation packages that have recently entered this segment,” says John Klados, vice president of sales at Homeric Tours Inc. He believes it takes much more than certain language or marketing to attract religious groups—it takes intimate knowledge and understanding of what groups need for their trip.

The tour operator you select should be able to differentiate between denominations, says Nick Mancino, president of Regina Tours. It’s essential that they understand the difference between the needs of a Catholic group and needs of a Protestant group. That kind of expertise can only be found in a company that has years of experience in this segment of the faith-based market. ©iStockphoto.com/gocrawford

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—Nick Mancino President, Regina Tours

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The tour operator you select should be able to differentiate between denominations. It’s essential that they understand the difference between the needs of a Catholic group and needs of a Protestant group. That kind of expertise can only be found in a company that has years of experience in this segment of the faith-based market.

Cookie-Cutter Itineraries

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©iStockphoto.com/mediaphotos

Each religious group, as we’ve mentioned, is different and requires certain elements to make their trip special. Many tour companies that lack experience with faith groups offer only a cookiecutter itinerary anyone could select and doesn’t have distinct activities or amenities that make it unique for each group. Klados says, “I’ve seen too many tour operators… for example, with ‘The Steps of Apostle Paul’ itineraries that offer the typical cookiecutter itineraries without a fully immersing experience for the pilgrim.”

Paul Larsen, president of Ed-Ventures, says, “I would recommend that groups work with somebody who will listen to their needs and customize the tour to meet those needs, as opposed to using an off-the-shelf kind of itinerary.”

It almost goes without saying that if a tour operator does not offer insurance—or some kind of protection—you shouldn’t work with them. However, it still bears repeating. Most companies are part of the United States Tour Operators Association, and many experts would insist that you only work with a USTOA member, as it guarantees you coverage or a full refund if that tour operator goes belly-up.

This kind of protection comes in handy if something goes wrong with the tour or the company. For example, if you’ve already made payments for your church group and the tour company goes out of business, you have to reimburse your members or your members are stuck with a loss. If the company is part of USTOA, then you’ll receive a full refund. And the coverage is at no additional cost to the religious group.

If the company isn’t a member of USTOA, but still appears to be a good operator, be sure to inquire about the coverage they offer or any additional insurance they recommend. If they have no coverage or recommendations for insurance, they may not be the best choice.

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Very Little Value in Tour Packages

More often than not, price becomes a major factor in choosing a tour operator. However, the highest price shouldn’t automatically be tossed aside, and the lowest price shouldn’t immediately get selected. A higher price is usually reflective of higher quality tours with more included in the itinerary. For example, Regina Tours offers 4star and 5-star hotels in all its packages, according to Mancino. These are comfortable accommodations that provide great service for groups. A lower package cost doesn’t mean the hotels are of lower quality, but it is something to research when analyzing companies.

Groups should also evaluate other inclusions in the itinerary, says Mancino. Look at how many meals are included, what kind of special excursions or exclusive experiences are part of the schedule, and the kind of service you’ll be receiving on the trip, such as luggage handling and transportation.

There are a lot of important questions to ask when looking at itineraries. Is the tour operator able to arrange private church services for a group? Can the tour operator schedule visits with important figures? Klados encourages group organizers to ask these kinds of questions and really pay attention to answers provided by the companies.

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No Protection

Minimal Services

Another key element to look at when analyzing your current or potential future tour operator is to find out what kind of additional services they offer. This can be anything from marketing assistance to payment collection and maintaining reservations.

“Marketing services can go a long way to help a church spread the word of their upcoming trip,” says Klados. If a company offers little or no help with this, it is left up to the church to market the trip on their own, leaving them with limited resources. A good tour operator will provide a variety of different services to make the trip a success, such as free printed flyers and posters, or a visit by company representative to discuss the pilgrimage with church members.

Deposit and full payment collection is another useful service that tour operators can and should provide. Rather than the church collecting payments and keeping track of who has submitted money, a tour operator can set up a personalized website just for your group and members of the congregation can send money directly to the company.

The operator can then let the church know who has paid in full and whom they’re still waiting on. This kind of service is also useful when sending reminders about when deposits and full payments are due, as well as information on itineraries, packing essentials and other trip details. It’s just one less thing for your group to worry about. religioustravelplanningguide.com

“Requesting testimony and even following up by trying to contact the reviewer to ensure accuracy is one of the best ways to get a clear picture of the company you are about to do business with.”

—John Klados V.P. of Sales Homeric Tours Inc.

Poor Reputation and Recommendations

Of the biggest red flags you can come across when searching for a tour operator is a bad review. Obviously, not every bad review is a true reflection of the company and it’s always smart to research further if you see one or two negative testimonies.

“Requesting testimony and even following up by trying to contact the reviewer to ensure accuracy is one of the best ways to get a clear picture of the company you are about to do business with,” says Klados. Most tour operators will collect reviews from past customers and make them available upon request.

Another way to research a company, according to Mancino, is to contact the tourism office of the country or countries you’re planning to visit and asking if they are familiar with an operator. Usually, tourism offices have records of operators that do business there and can provide information regarding their qualifications.

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There is a certain sense of comfort and reassurance that should be felt when you work with a tour operator, especially since you have to trust them with your members on a trip. It’s important to look at all aspects of their business, from past experience and knowledge of the faith tourism industry to their services and benefits. And remember that what works for another church may not work for you.

Your church group is unique and there’s a tour operator out there that’s a match made in heaven. U

Bad Chemistry or Relationship

Even if your tour operator meets all the criteria of a good company, it still might not be right for you. Just because they have the experience, the services, the reputation and the coverage, the chemistry with your church may be missing.

“Look for somebody that has the experience in the faith travel niche and understands the marketplace and will sit down and listen to them as to what they want to get out of the tour,” says Larsen.

Every faith leader may want something different from the experience. Some really care about the historical perspective; others may want a mission component. It really can vary.

“Make sure that the company you’re working with is a good match for you,” says Larsen. “If they don’t understand what you’re about, it’s hard for them to deliver the product that you want.”

—Paul Larsen President, Ed-Ventures religioustravelplanningguide.com

©iStockphoto.com/vm

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A good tour operator tries to understand a group’s particular needs.

“Look for somebody that has the experience in the faith travel niche and understands the marketplace and will sit down and listen to them as to what they want to get out of the tour….Make sure that the company you’re working with is a good match for you. If they don’t understand what you’re about, it’s hard for them to deliver the product that you want.”

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Overlooked Religious Sights Straying of Europe from beaten

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tourist paths offers some rewarding finds

Ancient monasteries perched atop rocky crags provide panoramic views of the Thessalian plain in Greece’s isolated Meteora region. All are active religious centers and open to tourists.

Silent Night Chapel Oberndorf, Austria The little town where the beloved Christmas carol “Silent Night” was first sung will be getting a lot of attention next year as it observes the 150th anniversary of the song’s creation.

Oberndorf, located 13 miles north of Salzburg, welcomes visitors year-round to the Silent Night Chapel, built between 1924 and 1937 on the site of St. Nicholas Church, where priest Joseph Mohr and organist Franz Gruber introduced the carol on 22

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Christmas Eve of 1818.

Gruber, a school teacher, composed the song to a lyric by Mohr, playing his guitar because the organ was broken. Every year at 5 p.m. on Dec. 24 a traditional performance of “Silent Night” is presented in front of the tiny white chapel, whose stained-glass windows depict Mohr and Gruber. Also inside are a copy of the original composition (the original is in the Salzburg Museum) and a Nativity scene. The pink vicarage where Mohr lived has a museum on the song’s history. religioustravelplanningguide.com

By Randy Mink

or architectural beauty, historical significance or popular appeal, they may not rank with St. Peter’s in Rome, Notre Dame in Paris or London’s Westminster Abbey, but hundreds of religious points of interest are just waiting to be discovered by inquisitive travelers not content with merely seeing the usual highlights. Many of us are always on the lookout for those unheralded places, offbeat spots without the crowds. We seek out less obvious shrines, churches or passion plays, especially if we’ve already experienced the more famous ones.

Here are 11 places worthy of consideration, all with religious significance and their own story to tell.

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Randy Tarampi/Flickr

Mountaintop Monasteries of the Meteora North-Central Greece Balanced precariously on smooth granite pillars towering above the Thessalian plain in the isolated Meteora region, the collection of mysteriously situated mountaintop monasteries dates back to late Byzantine and medieval times. Though seemingly harsh and lonely, the lofty setting was ideal for Eastern Orthodox monks who came to find God, ponder the universe and renounce worldly things.

At these dizzying heights, reached by rope ladders and later a pulley religioustravelplanningguide.com

system, they certainly must have felt close to heaven.

At its zenith during the 16th and 17th centuries, the two-milesquare Meteora community counted 24 monasteries clinging to its perpendicular pinnacles. The six red-tiled-roof refuges that remain today—all are active religious centers and open to tourists—are inhabited by a handful of monks and nuns who serve as guides and curators. These monastic settlements, each built around a central courtyard, are treasure houses of art and architecture, offering museums filled with valuable icons and sacred relics. Frescoes, hanging Religious Travel Planning Guide

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oil lamps and icons adorn their chapels.

What intrigues visitors most, though, are the vultures-eye views of the valley, wooded ravines and surrounding rock pillars topped with neighboring monasteries—and how the brothers used the pulleys for hoisting supplies and people in nets, a half-hour ordeal that involved winding the handmade rope around creaking wooden machinery. As one story goes, when apprehensive visitors asked how frequently the ropes were replaced, the monks had a stock reply: “When the Lord lets them break.”

Basque Tour

Cathedral of St. Mary Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain

The Cathedral of St. Mary in Vitoria-Gasteiz, capital of Spain’s Basque region, offers hard-hat tours that show a restoration in progress.

Beautiful churches obscured by scaffolding is a common sight in Europe, but visitors to the capital of Spain’s Basque Country can take advantage of an unusual tour that goes behind the scenes of a major restoration. The Cathedral of St. Mary, dating back to the 11th century, offers hard-hat tours of what basically is a construction site with no finish date in sight. Due to water damage and the shifting subsoil underneath its foundation, the church had been showing cracks in its transept and columns for many years before closing in 1994. The tour provides a look at the intricacies of medieval architecture and how stonemasons and other workers today are tackling structural problems in restoring the church to its former glory.

From catwalks, visitors view scaffolding, cranes and men at work. An elevator or staircase takes tour members to the bell tower for panoramic views of Vitoria-Gasteiz and its old city walls. The tour includes a video showing diagrams of the church and what needs to be done to bring it back to health. A museum just opened last year in the church’s crypt, where archaeologists found 2,000 corpses (churches were once graveyards). Corpse replicas, along with coins found on the bodies, are among the exhibits.

Sömmersdorf Passion Play Sömmersdorf, Germany

In summer of 2018, the Sömmersdorf Passion Play, to be staged in the German village of Sömmersdorf, will dramatize Christ’s last days on earth.

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The Oberammergau Passion Play, a major spectacle staged every 10 years, is certainly the best-known interpretation of Jesus’ last days on earth, but more than 90 towns in 15 countries stage passion plays, according to Christian Utpatel, owner of Terra Lu Travel, a Germany-based church travel specialist (germany4groups.com).

In 2018 the village of Sömmersdorf, for example, will portray Christ’s Passion for about 1,900 guests in an open-air theater set in the middle of a forest. (The first performance was in 1933.)

Located in the Franconia region of Bavaria, north of Würzburg, Sömmersdorf counts only 600 inhabitants, about two-thirds of whom will be involved in the play, to be performed on summer weekends. In 2019 about 600 of the 1,450 residents in Erl, Austria will present a passion play for 1,500 visitors on weekends from May to October. religioustravelplanningguide.com

Our Lord in the Attic Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Cathedral of Our Lady Antwerp, Belgium

Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer Op Solder, better known as Our Lord in the Attic, looks like a typical Amsterdam canal house, but behind the ordinary facade lies a secret church, a place where Catholics could come during a time when the ruling Calvinists forbade them to worship openly. For two centuries, from 15781795, Catholics were forced to gather in homes and offices to say Mass in secret. Their lavishly decorated churches were taken over

by Protestants and stripped of ornamentation.

Built in 1653 in the upper floors of a rich merchant’s home, the former sanctuary is nestled alongside Thai and Indian restaurants in the city’s history-filled Old City. Our Lord in the Attic completed a six-year restoration in 2015 and was officially reopened in the presence of Queen Maxima. The project included new exhibit areas and a new visitor center in an adjacent building. Audio headset-equipped visitors who tackle the narrow stairways can explore two balconies that rise above the long, narrow nave. There is an altar at one end, an organ at the other. In the upper balcony you really get the attic feel. Mass is said several times a year in the church, a museum since 1888.

Though Antwerp is Belgium’s second largest city and an economic powerhouse, it’s not always on the top of travelers’ checklists.

Other European cities may have more famous churches, but none of these churches can boast a collection of paintings by Flemish master Peter Paul Rubens. Antwerp’s Cathedral of Our Lady has four Rubens masterpieces.

As the centerpiece of Antwerp’s Old Town, the cathedral punctuates the skyline with its 404-foot tower and is practically the symbol of the city. Those willing to climb the tower’s 500 steps are rewarded with views that extend as far as Brussels, 30 miles to the south. Built between 1352 and 1521, the Cathedral of Our Lady is the largest Gothic church in the Low Countries. As you explore

Armagh is a town with roots in Celtic paganism. When Christianity spread to the region in the 400s A.D., St. Patrick (Ireland’s patron saint) established his church there and Armagh became the ecclesiastical capital of the island. He decreed that only those educated in Armagh were fit to spread the gospel, so numerous educational institutions were founded.

The seat of both Protestant and Catholic archbishops, Armagh (two hours north of Dublin, an hour southwest of Belfast) is the most venerated and oldest of Irish cities. Crowning opposite hills within a half-mile of each other are St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Cathedral and St. Patrick’s Anglican Cathedral. The 19th century, Gothic-style Anglican (Church of Ireland) cathedral is built on the site of older churches (including the one St. Patrick established in 445, according to tradition) and contains relics of Armagh’s storied past. Buried there is Brian Boru, the King of All Ireland who in 1014 drove the Vikings out of Ireland. The twin-spired French Gothic Catholic cathedral, completed in 1873, is notable for the statues above the main doorway and a magnificent organ. St. Patrick’s Trian Visitor Complex, in a former church behind the tourist office, has exhibits on city history and St. Patrick’s writings.

To the east, in the city of Down, visitors can explore the legacy of Ireland’s patron saint through interactive exhibits at the St. Patrick Centre and see his supposed grave in the churchyard at nearby Down Cathedral. St. Patrick’s Trail is a 92-mile signposted driving route that identifies places associated with him in Down and Armagh counties. religioustravelplanningguide.com

Tourism Ireland

Land of St. Patrick Armagh, Northern Ireland

St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Cathedral (shown here) and St. Patrick’s Anglican Cathedral draw religious travelers to Armagh, Northern Ireland.

its seven aisles, feast your eyes on the architecture and art, which includes Rubens’ The Raising of the Cross, The Descent from the Cross, Assumption of the Virgin and The Resurrection of Christ. The Baroque master is known for his writhing, muscular figures that seem to tumble off the canvas.

Behind the cathedral a statue of Rubens stands in the Groenplaats, a festive square filled with outdoor cafes. Antwerp’s other four monumental churches—St. James’s, St. Andrews, St. Charles Borromeo and St. Paul’s—have works by Rubens or some connection to the artist. Rubens’ burial chapel is in St. James’s. The Rubens House, a reconstruction of his home, studio and garden, is another popular Antwerp attraction.

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Way of St. Ignatius Loyola Northern Spain The pilgrimage route that traces the 1522 spiritual journey of St. Ignatius Loyola may be lesser known than the Way of St. James, the trail that leads to the relics of the apostle James in Santiago de Compostela. But it still attracts thousands every year who want to follow in the footsteps of the Jesuit order’s founder, born Inigo Lopez de Loyola to a family of minor nobility in Spain’s Basque region.

The Way of St. Ignatius (Camino Ignaciano) begins at the Loyola Sanctuary in the small Basque town of Azpietia, a monumental church complex constructed around the castle-like house where Ignatius Loyola, the youngest of 13 children, was born in 1491. Besides marveling at the impressive domed church sanctuary, visitors can tour the home and see the room where he was born and dioramas depicting important chapters in his life. It was while recuperating from a grave wound suffered in a battle with the French that Ignatius experienced a conversion as he read about the lives of Jesus and the saints. (The room where he lay close to death is now the Chapel of Conversion.) The trail from his birthplace goes through mountains, deserts and plains before ending in Manresa (west of Barcelona), where he lived in caves while composing The Spiritual Exercises, a set of prayers and meditations that is considered his masterpiece. Along the route, pilgrims can visit churches where he worshipped.

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Catholic pilgrims flock to the ornate Baroque church in Switzerland’s Einsiedeln Abbey to behold the statue of the Black Madonna.

Nidaros Cathedral Trondheim, Norway A national shrine and the top tourist sight in Norway’s third largest city, Nidaros Cathedral is where kings in this Lutheran nation are crowned. The largest medieval structure in Scandinavia, it is a magnet for Lutheran and other Protestant pilgrims.

The Gothic-style cathedral started as a small Catholic church built over the coffin of King Olav Haraldsson, the Viking credited with uniting Norway into one Christian kingdom. He died in battle about 60 miles from Trondheim in 1030. A year after Olav’s death, his body rose up from the ground. His hair and nails started growing, he smelled like roses and blood seeped from the wounds on his cheeks. Miraculous healings were reported. So, the body was

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placed on the altar and pilgrims began trekking to Nidaros (the old name for Trondheim) to venerate Olav.

Nidaros Cathedral is noted for its magnificent rose window, the largest organ in Scandinavia and sculptures of saints, prophets, kings and bishops adorning its west facade. Adjacent to the church is the Archbishop’s Palace, where a museum displays religious artifacts. The palace’s west wing houses the Norwegian crown jewels. Pilgrims to Trondheim can be accommodated in the Nidaros Pilgrim Centre, a bed-and-breakfast with room for 60 persons.

Einsiedeln Abbey Einsiedeln, Switzerland Einsiedeln gained popularity as a religious tourist destination thanks to its Benedictine Abbey, one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Switzerland. Thousands of Catholic pilgrims visit annually to see the statue of the Black Madonna in the abbey’s lavishly decorated, 18th century Baroque church. The Einsiedeln Black Madonna image belongs to the series of the famous Black Madonnas of Europe. The Black Madonna became black over the years from dust and the soot of the candles, oil lamps and incense.

In 1803 the hands and face were painted black. Monks gather daily at 4:30 p.m. for a church service. Also on visitors’ agendas are Diorama Bethlehem, regarded as the world’s largest Nativity display with 450 hand-carved figures, and Panorama Crucifixion of Christ, a giant circular painting.

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The town of Einsiedeln, about 25 miles southeast of Zurich, is an important location on the Way of St. James. During the Middle Ages, Einsiedeln was considered the first gathering point for pilgrims traveling to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Many pilgrims drink from The Lady Fountain, located in the center of the square.

Birthplace of Pope John Paul II Wadowice, Poland The two-room family home of Karol Wojtyla, who later became Pope John Paul II, is a museum filled with photos illustrating all stages of the pontiff ’s life. They include boyhood pictures of him skiing, hiking, playing soccer and taking part in school plays.

The future pope, born on May 18, 1920, spent his first 18 years in the simple apartment.

The Wadowice tourist office offers a free walking trail map of pope-related sites in the town of 20,000 in the rolling Carpathian foothills southwest of Krakow. In the onion-domed parish church where Karol Wojtyla was baptized, you can see the Chapel of the Virgin Mary, where he prayed as a boy. Tourists are also drawn to the town’s cafes, all of which serve kremowka wadowwicka, a cream cake of which the pope was a big fan. Less than 10 miles from Wadowice lies Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, Poland’s secondmost-important pilgrimage site after Jasna Gora monastery in Czestochowa, home of the famous Black Madonna painting. U

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6

Service Trip Opportunities for Youth Groups

These U.S. programs are great ways for young church members to experience different cultures and live out their faith Young volunteers on World Servants’ Navajo Nation program will admire the Arizona landscape in addition to bettering the living conditions of local residents.

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By Miles Dobis

ission trips that cater to younger volunteers should combine the excitement of travel with structure that ensures groups have a rewarding experience. Short-term service trips provide the opportunity to interact meaningfully with underserved residents of an area and soak up the local culture. These seven organizations offer that combination, providing housing and food for volunteer groups while allowing them to create genuine connections with communities in need.

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World Vision: Appalachia Offering community development and disaster response to impoverished communities, World Vision has crafted trips to many U.S. locations. From Washington to Georgia, groups can combine resources with local churches to assist the needy, with the Appalachia region receiving the most attention from the organization. Suffering economic hardship from the sharp decline in coal mining and manufacturing jobs, rural West Virginia has become one of World Vision’s main focus areas and is a major site for faith group trips.

Operations are based around Barbour County, where volunteer groups forge relationships with residents through building projects and a children’s outreach program in which volunteers participate in reading time, crafts and sports with local youth. Accommodations are provided by local parishes, and your group will connect with neighborhood ministries as you serve alongside community members and participate in Bible study and church services. All trips end with a community potluck and an opportunity to reflect on the week’s work. (worldvisionusprograms.org/appalachia)

National Geographic Best known for the study of international science and culture, National Geographic also organizes dozens of service trips across the globe designed specifically for students.

Grade school- to university-aged participants can assist struggling villagers in Fiji and aid conservation efforts in the African savannah. And National Geographic is increasingly expanding its roster of U.S. trips.

For the Hawaii Community Service itinerary, students settle for two weeks on the Big Island’s Kona Coast to assist in sustainability efforts. Groups work alongside other volunteers to weed out invasive species, assist at an organic coffee plantation and record geothermic activity from nearby volcanoes. In between outdoor activities, group members can stargaze from the summit of Mauna Loa, kayak alongside dolphins in Kealakekua Bay or learn to surf in the Pacific Ocean. For groups interested in cooler climes, the Alaska Expedition offers a visit to the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, the only cold-water marine science facility in the Western Hemisphere, and opportunities to help preserve the villages and customs of native Alaskans. (ngstudenteexpeditions.com)

World Servants: Navajo Nation Encompassing the Four Corners areas of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah, the Navajo Nation struggles with underfunded schools and unemployment. Recognizing a volunteer opportunity, World Servants created a program for students interested in assisting the Nation’s residents. Groups meet both the physical and spiritual needs of the Navajo people and learn about the native culture of the American Southwest. Physical needs are met primarily through construction and renovation projects, while spiritual needs are addressed in a number of creative and cultural outlets. Volunteers engage in outreach activities such as visits to Navajo homes to learn about family life on the reservation and assisting employees at the local Kids Club. A community-wide celebration with a barbecue, face painting and games as well as a community worship service is offered to all volunteer groups.

Groups can also partner with Navajo churches and communities to build facilities such as community centers and tutoring halls for Navajo youth in addition to constructing playgrounds, basketball courts and baseball fields on the reservation. (worldservants.org/navajo) religioustravelplanningguide.com

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Center for Student Missions: Los Angeles Home to one of the largest immigrant populations in the world, Los Angeles is facing a housing crisis and economic stratification.

Young people with a thirst for social justice may want to consider the service opportunities provided by the Center for Student Missions. The group focuses on urban issues like homelessness and crime, and students can spend a week with the group in Southern California to tackle urban issues. Your group will spend the week assisting community organizers in Salvadoran neighborhoods, counselors at the Salvation Army South L.A. Youth Center and volunteers at the regional food bank. Your party can also help the Midnight Mission, a group that has been assisting the homeless and mentally disabled of Skid Row for over a century, and learn about local drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs. During free time, your group can experience the cultural diversity of L.A. with trips to the Little Tokyo, Echo Park and Buena Vista Hills neighborhoods. (csm.org/losangeles)

Rebuilding Together: New Orleans Twelve years after Hurricane Katrina, Rebuilding Together has quickly grown into the largest home rehabilitation non-profit organization in New Orleans, completing over 500 home repair and community revitalization projects. Youth groups can help repair

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storm-damaged homes or build new houses for those displaced by the hurricane. Several faith groups work together at one site, so young volunteers can develop teambuilding and communications skills with their peers from across the country. In the evening, your party can tour the French Quarter, hear an authentic Dixieland band or sample Cajun cooking at restaurants along the Mississippi River. (rtno.org)

Experience Mission: South Texas The international border in South Texas has become an attractive corridor for many Mexican and Latin American immigrants, and the area’s social services are unable to handle the fluctuating population and its needs. Experience Mission looks to remedy the area’s lack of resources, offering mission trips where groups can serve in and around small colonias in the Rio Grande Valley. Mission trip teams serve alongside the local church in Las Milpas, a colonia five miles south of Pharr, Texas and five miles from the Mexican border. Short-term mission teams can also cross the border and travel into Mexico to serve struggling families in Tamaulipas province. (experiencemission.org) From the exotic to the local, there are short-term mission trips for young people across the country. These seven organizations are merely a fraction of the excellent volunteer opportunities available for faith groups in the U.S. U

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St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City

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