2021 Religious Travel Planning Guide

Hold Your Retreat at a Luxury Hotel Groups can use meeting spaces for spiritual gatherings

2021 EDITION

Help your Fellow Man with these Mission Trips Take part in these soul-enhancing sojourns

Soulful Oases Mingling with monks makes monasteries memorable

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Photo courtesy of Extremadura Turismo

Spain’s Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Guadalupe

SOULFUL OASES W Mingling with monks makes monasteries memorable

By Randy Mink

hile monasteries are often perceived as places cloaked in secrecy, shrouded in obscurity and walled off from the rest of the world, these intimate Christian enclaves welcome all who come. Their guests can take an organized tour, explore the grounds at will, visit the gift shop or attend Mass or evening vespers in the abbey church. Many monasteries have a guest house that accommodates retreat groups or individual travelers.

Extending hospitality has been an age-old tradition practiced by the monks and nuns in their peaceful havens.

Among the best known are Benedictine Religious Travel Planning Guide

monasteries, which follow the core values set forth by St. Benedict, the founder of Western monastic life.

Here is a sampling of tour-worthy Christian monasteries in the U.S. and Europe:

United States In the rolling hills of southern Indiana, located 10 minutes from each other, lie two Benedictine monasteries— one of them inhabited by nuns. The Sisters of St. Benedict, about 150 strong, invite guests to tour Monastery Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand, a small town just off Interstate 64 between Louisville and Evansville.

Dominating the campus is a red-brick, Romanesque-style building crowned by an 87-foot dome that can be seen far and wide. Tours of the church, built between 1915 and 1924, showcase the barrelvaulted ceiling, two rose windows, Italian marble floors and white oak woodwork hand-carved in Oberammergau, Germany. Your guide also will take you to the gardens, labyrinth and Grotto Hill, which has The Stations of the Cross, statues of Our Lady of Fatima and Our Lady of Guadalupe, and a replica of the shrine in Lourdes, France. The monastery gift shop offers German-inspired cookies, Bourbon-Soaked Fruitcake and Prayerful Pretzels from the onsite bakery. religioustravelplanningguide.com

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In the welcome center, they can watch a video and peruse displays that explain monastic life at Gethsemani, which was established in 1848.

Europe The isolated Spanish village of Guadalupe, 125 miles southwest of Madrid, attracts pilgrims from around the world. They come to the Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Guadalupe to see the Black Madonna (our Lady of Guadalupe), a statue reputedly carved by St. Luke and discovered in the soil by a local farmer in the late 13th century. Viewing of the polychrome cedar sculpture in the Camarin chapel of the colossal monastery basilica climaxes guided tours, which pass through small museums brimming with ecclesiastical artwork and treasures such as richly embroidered vestments and mammoth leather-bound choir books with beautifully illuminated manuscripts.

Maintained by Franciscan monks, the monastery was built in 1340 as a shrine to the Virgin Mary. Pilgrims also enjoy its Moorish-style gardens and making little discoveries as they wander the hilly, narrow streets of the whitewashed medieval village.

Balanced precariously on smooth granite pillars towering above the Thessalian plain in a remote region of north-central Greece, the mountaintop monasteries of Meteora date back to

Tasos Lekkas via Pixabay

The town of St. Meinrad, Indiana, a short drive from Ferdinand, is home to Saint Meinrad Archabbey and its 90 monks. Tours of the grounds and historic buildings include the Archabbey Church of Our Lady of Einsiedeln, which was completed in 1907. Built of thick sandstone blocks in the Romanesque style and distinguished by two bell towers, it houses a replica of the Black Madonna statue in Einsiedeln Abbey, the mother house in Switzerland.

Adjacent to the monastery’s gift shop is the showroom for Abbey Caskets, which offers handcrafted burial caskets made of cherry, poplar, oak or walnut.

Tours of the casket workshop, which also produces wooden cremation urns and keepsake crosses, are available.

In the Tri-State area where Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois meet, a community of monks inhabits New Melleray Abbey, set amid fertile farmland and rugged woodlands 12 miles southwest of Dubuque, Iowa. They are members of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance, better known as Trappists. Across the road from the monastery (founded in 1849 by monks from Mount Melleray Abbey in Ireland) is Trappist Caskets, where tour groups can see monks and laypersons at work constructing simple wooden burial caskets and urns, products that account for the monastery’s primary means of support.

Working as carpenters, they feel solidarity with Jesus and Joseph, who both made their living this way.

The Abbey of Gethsemani, another Trappist monastery in a rural setting, is nestled in the heart of Kentucky Bourbon Country, in the hills outside of Bardstown. Many visitors come away with the monks’ prized bourbon fudge and bourbon fruitcake. Though guided tours are not given, guests are welcome to walk the grounds, pray with the monks or attend Mass in the church.

Meteora, Greece

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 system, they certainly must have felt close to heaven.

At its zenith during the 16th and 17th centuries, the Meteora community counted 24 monasteries clinging to the 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, offer museums filled with valuable icons and sacred relics.

Frescoes, hanging oil lamps and icons adorn their chapels. What intrigues visitors most, though, are the vultureeye’s views of the valley, wooded ravines and surrounding rock pillars topped with neighboring monasteries.

England has several abbeys that welcome visitors. Awaiting guests at Buckfast Abbey are a church, gardens, book and produce shops, and the Monastic Way Exhibition.

Other facilities include a restaurant, hotel and guest houses for retreat participants. Bordering Dartmoor National Park in Devon, the Benedictine monastery is midway between Exeter and Plymouth. It dates from 1018.

Austria’s famous Melk Abbey, with its pleasing ochre-and-cream exterior, sits on a bluff high above the Danube River. Dating from 1089, it is a working monastery owned by Benedictine 29 monks, 15 of whom live there. Most stunning is the abbey church, a Baroque masterpiece sumptuously adorned with frescoes, gilded angels and statues of saints.  Religious Travel Planning Guide

Help your Fellow Man with these

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Mission Trips

Religious Travel Planning Guide

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By Brandie Lorenzen

hether they take place halfway across the world or one state over, faith-based trips are some of the most rewarding excursions one can take.

And even though many borders have been closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, faith-based communities still want to lend a helping hand. If you are considering a mission trip when the borders completely reopen, these companies are a good place to start.

Matthew 25: Ministries Blue Ash, Ohio What began as a volunteer trip to Nicaragua with founder Rev. Wendell Mettey and a group of doctors and nurses soon turned in a lifelong mission to help give aid to developing countries.

Matthew 25: Ministries is an international humanitarian aid and disaster relief organization that not only sends disaster relief, but also helps out with job creation, education and handing out food in villages.

Matthew 25 has volunteer opportunities for everyone from the ages of 3 to 93 at its more than 200,000-square-foot facility in Blue Ash. It also suggests off-campus activities for groups of all abilities. m25m.org Edge Impact Bernardsville, New Jersey This organization is a beacon of hope for young people where they are able to not only reach out and volunteer, but grow as Christians. Edge Impact religioustravelplanningguide.com

promotes and encourages young people between the ages of 13 and 25 to go out and foster a relationship with Christ and share in the love that he gives them.

This organization works closely with inner city youth, instilling the necessary life skills to help them prosper. Teens and young adults are given the chance to develop these skills and become entrepreneurs.

One of the trips this organization offers is a tri-state mission experience in Pennsylvania, New Jersey as well as New York.

Attendees will work with inner city at-risk teens in New Jersey, run a four-day motocross camp for young riders in Pennsylvania and then spend two days of street ministry in New York, exploring the city and reaching out to people in need with love, prayer and hope. edgeimpact.org Global Field Evangelism Adamsville, Tennessee There is one goal in mind for Global Field Evangelism and that is to help spread the good word to countries that may not have the opportunity to worship.

Hence the name Global Field, which is to not only speak the word to the people of the world, but to connect with them in their own communities and lift themselves up with the message of God. Global Field offers a variety of mission trips including a Guatemala trip where you can be a part of transforming a poor village; a trip

to Nicaragua, where volunteers will carry out four medical-dental clinics in rural, mountainous communities where families survive on less than $1 per day; and a mission to Mexico where skilled and unskilled workers can help build homes in the Ensenada area. wegotothem.com Operation Mobilization This global organization features 6,800 people working in 118 nations to build communities of Christ followers, provide humanitarian assistance and demonstrate compassion. It accomplishes its core values through church planting, evangelism, relief and development and mentoring and discipleship.

One of its mission trips pays a visit to Ukraine, where the goal is to support the ongoing ministry to village churches in the Vinnitsa province to establish children’s and teen ministry and Sunday schools. Those who wish to mentor will cherish this excursion.

This trip has been described as an extreme summer camp where visitors can be part of igniting the flame for children’s ministry that 70 years of communism has all but put out. omusa.org ď •

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Those seeking to do good in the world can take part in these soul-enhancing sojourns

Mission trips are good for the soul.

Religious Travel Planning Guide 9

Religious groups can use hotels’ big meeting spaces to hold gatherings like never before

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s the tourism and hospitality industry continues to suffer under the weight of the COVID-19 pandemic, religious groups are seeking an escape. In some cases, luxury hotels are providing those escapes for spiritual retreats. While there are countless nationally ranked luxury hotels to choose from, here are some highly rated hotels in five major cities that religious groups can safely book.

Luxury Hotels

are Great Spots to Hold Spiritual Retreats

By Jamaal Brown Religious Travel Planning Guide

Photo courtesy of The Drake Hotel

The Langham, New York, Fifth Avenue Groups looking for a luxury hotel with some of the best views in New York City will find The Langham the place to be.

Guests can book a reservation at The Langham, which provides 7,500 square feet of event space for conferences or meetings. Kips Bay Suite is the largest venue that enables religious groups to host and arrange a theater-style occasion.

Lotte New York Palace Lotte New York Palace has 30,000 square feet of meeting space that accommodate 23 rooms and 86 suites for guests. This historic landmark in midtown Manhattan is an excellent locale for religious groups as it has three floors of museum-worthy settings.

Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown Art meets architecture in the heart of Tribeca, one of New York’s hipper areas.

Steps away from the city’s most authentic neighborhoods, the Four Seasons will help groups rejuvenate in a globally inspired religioustravelplanningguide.com

The Blackstone, Autograph Collection In the heart of downtown Chicago with great views of Grant Park and Lake Michigan, The Blackstone promotes a sophisticated collection of rooms and suites. The boutique business travel hotel houses flexible and historically creative meeting rooms and workspaces for events. The hotel’s 12,223 square feet of meeting space is perfect for groups aiming to hold any form of gathering.

Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel Contemporary hotel rooms and suites provide a host of amenities and boast panoramic views of the Chicago River and downtown landscape. The hotel houses 40,000 square feet of stylish venue space and has a range of service offerings, including event rooms, 28 breakout rooms, audio/visual technology and mobile event management.

The Drake Widely known as one of the most famous properties in Chicago, The Drake, which is located near Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, has more than 30,000 square feet of space capable of accommodating five to 600 guests. Its two full-size ballrooms provide views of Lake Michigan and the city of Chicago and its state-of-the-art technology and world-class banquet facilities make it an ideal spot to host a religious outing.

Loews Miami Beach Hotel A beloved hotel with a beautiful oceanfront location in the heart of Miami’s Art Deco District, Loews Miami Beach is home to 790 guest rooms and 69 suites. religioustravelplanningguide.com

With 65,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor function space, meeting rooms, salons and 28,000 square feet of ballrooms, religious groups of any size can enjoy the Miami sun while also holding a retreat.

Fontainebleau Miami Beach Housed in Versailles Tower, Fontainebleau Miami Beach is one of the most historically significant hotels on Miami Beach. This 15-story high-rise building has a total of 107,000 square feet of indoor meeting space, signature restaurants by award-winning chefs, two chic nightlife venues and a two-story spa.

Royal Palm South Beach Miami A celebrated icon among South Beach hotels and resorts, Royal Palm features 139 suites infused with Art Deco style.

The hotel offers 10,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space that fits a group of 300 people. The Great Room, the largest space, features 2,590 square feet of meeting space.

Peninsula Beverly Hills The only AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five Star-rated hotel in Southern California every year since 1993, the Peninsula Beverly Hills offers 195 guest rooms including 38 suites and 17 private villas. It houses one of the Top 10 spas worldwide according to readers of SpaFinder and has a rooftop pool and hot tub surrounded by panoramic views of the Los Angeles skyline.

The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles Situated in downtown Los Angeles at L.A. Live, the Ritz-Carlton allows guests to soak up the sun by the rooftop pool.

Guests can also head to the 24th floor for fine dining with skyline views. The hotel offers more than 100,000 square feet of meeting space for groups to organize large-scale events, board meetings and other occasions.

The Garland Offering a retro chic vibe, The

Photo courtsey of The Drake Hotel

spa and pool. Groups can also dine in CUT by celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck.

There are a number of business amenities available at the hotel, including airline reservation services, administrative services, interpretation/translation services, internet, newspapers, and presentation supplies.

The finest hotels offer the finest food and snacks.

Garland in North Hollywood is an urban oasis with seven tree-shaded acres and more than 20,000 square feet of event space. The Garland offers 13 venue options, including a 130-seat private screening room.

St. Regis San Francisco Considered as one of the top luxury hotels in San Francisco, the five-star St. Regis has more than 22,000 square feet of event space that houses a modern ballroom, a conservatory with a built-in stage, a room with walls of floor-to-ceiling windows and contemporary sculptures.

Fairmont San Francisco Known as one of San Francisco’s most renowned hotels and standing atop Nob Hill in the heart of the city, Fairmont San Francisco offers luxurious accommodations, meeting spaces and services. This hotel features 72,000 square feet of space for meetings and events.

Palace Hotel, A Luxury Collection Hotel, San Francisco An iconic hotel in the heart of downtown San Francisco, Palace Hotel is a great place for religious groups.

This historic landmark features a 38,000-square-foot meeting space featuring three ballrooms and four boardrooms.  Religious Travel Planning Guide