September 8 – 18, 2020

Ken Hensley will team up with Jim Anderson and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson on this “Deep in History” Pilgrimage to Germany! We hope to make this pilgrimage an inspirational and educational experience for lifelong Catholics as well as converts and those on the journey toward the Church. Along the way, we will celebrate Mass in some of the most beautiful churches in some of the most beautiful towns in one of the most beautiful countries on earth. Please consider joining us! It will be a wonderful time for us to share our stories and forge life-long friendships as we experience the beauty and history of our Church up close.

For additional information about the content of the tour, you may contact Ken Hensley at the Coming Home Network at kenh@chnetwork.org. For additional information about flights, schedules, payment, amenities/accessibility, and other logistical issues, you may contact Maggie McDaniel at maggie@catholicfaithjourneys.com or 419-290-8782.

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Click here to download the Itinerary and Terms & Conditions

Itinerary
*Subject to change

Day 1 – Tuesday, 8 September: Depart USA
Depart USA on overnight flight to Luxembourg with transfer in Amsterdam.

Day 2 – Wednesday, 9 September: Arrive in Luxembourg
Arriving in Luxembourg, we transfer to our hotel in Trier, a short drive from the airport. Check-in and enjoy lunch on your own and the afternoon free to unpack and relax or stroll the streets of this beautiful historic city before beginning our pilgrimage with the celebration of the Mass at the Church of Our Lady, pending confirmation. Enjoy a welcome Dinner with the touring team. Overnight in Trier (D)

Day 3 – Thursday, 10 September: Trier
After breakfast, we celebrate Mass at the stunning 13th-century Church of Our Lady (Liebfrauenkirche), pending confirmation, Germany’s oldest Gothic church and then enjoy a guided tour of one of Germany’s most beautiful cities, known at one point as the “Rome of the North.” Centered on a market square encircled by historic architecture, Trier boasts no less than eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Porta Nigra gate, Constantine’s throne room, the imperial bathhouses, the Roman Bridge, and the amphitheater. Dinner and overnight in Trier. (B, D)

Day 4 – Friday, 11 September: Trier – Fulda
This morning we depart for Fulda, at the heart of Catholic Germany. A lecture on the life of St. Boniface the great “Apostle of Germany” will be given during the bus ride. After checking into our hotel, enjoy lunch and the afternoon on your own before we celebrate Mass at the Baroque Cathedral of Hesse, followed by dinner and overnight in Fulda. (B, D)

Day 5 – Saturday, 12 September: Fulda
Today we celebrate Mass at the Church of St. Michael and then enjoy a guided walking tour of this beautiful Catholic city: including the cathedral and the tomb of Boniface, the Benedictine monastery founded by St. Sturmius, a disciple of St. Boniface, wherein the seminary and the diocesan museum are seated, the Franciscan church Of Our Lady at Frauenberg, St. Blasius church, Holy Spirit church, the Castle Garden, and the Church of St. Lioba, which contains the tomb of St. Lioba and beautiful old frescos. Dinner and overnight in Fulda (B, D).

Day 6 – Sunday, 13 September: Eisenach – Erfurt
Drive to Eisenach and celebrate Mass at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church. Enjoy a walking tour of Eisenach, the town where Luther lived some years as a boy. Visit the Luther’s House, one of the oldest houses in the city, and also the house where J. S. Bach lived until he was ten. Following lunch, on your own, depart for Erfurt to visit the Augustinian monastery where Luther lived as a monk before returning to Eisenach for dinner and overnight. (B, D)

Day 7 – Monday, 14 September: Eisenach – Eisleben – Dresden
After breakfast we visit the Wartburg Castle, where Luther spent ten months after the famous Diet of Worms in 1521 where his fate was decided. Here Luther translated his New Testament into his German language. Continue on to Eisleben, the town where Luther was born in 1483, baptized, preached his last sermon, and died. Celebrate Mass at St. Gertrud’s Church (subject to confirmation) then visit the museum in the house of Luther’s birth and death. After our visit we depart for the historic city of Dresden, in the heart of Saxony. This evening explore Dresden’s beautiful Old Town during a guided tour at dusk and follow the historical night watchman on his rounds. Overnight and dinner at the hotel in Dresden. (B, D)

Day 8 – Tuesday, 15 September: Dresden – Leipzig – Dresden
After breakfast, depart for Leipizg. Upon arrival, celebrate Holy Mass at a local church. After Mass, we will enjoy a guided tour of Leipzig, including the place where Luther and John Eck conducted their famous debates on papal primacy and ecclesiastical authority, the St. Nicholas Church, and the Church of St. Thomas, where Johann Sebastian Bach spent the last 26 years of his life, serving as choir director and church organist, and where he wrote most of his most famous works. Lunch on your own with a little free time to explore the old town of this beautiful historic city. Return to Dresden for dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel in Dresden. (B, D)

Day 9 – Wednesday, 16 September: Dresden – Wittenberg – Potsdam – Berlin
After breakfast, we depart for Wittenberg, the Cradle of the Reformation, where we will celebrate Mass at Undefiled Conception Catholic Church and then stroll the old town, visiting the Castle Church, where Luther nailed his “95 Theses” on the door, the graves of Martin Luther and his theologian Philip Melanchthon, as well as the Luther House, where he lived with his wife, the former nun Katharina von Bora, and their six children. After lunch, we depart for a tour of Potsdam where Churchill, Stalin, and Truman met in 1945 for Potsdam Conference. See the Sanssouci Palace, the summer residence of Frederick the Great. Then on to Berlin to check in to the hotel we will be in the rest of the pilgrimage (B, D).

Day 10 – Thursday, 17 September: Berlin
After breakfast we will celebrate Mass at St. Hedwig’s Cathedral followed by a guided city tour of Berlin’s highlights: the Berlin Wall, Reichstag, Checkpoint Charlie, Potsdamer Platz, and the famous Brandenburg Gate. After lunch on your own, enjoy a free afternoon to stroll Berlin or visit the Pergamon Museum to see some of the world’s most famous treasures, including the Ishtaar Gates of Babylon, the Pergamon |Altar of Zeus, the Market Gate of Miletus, and more. Tonight we will enjoy the sights of Berlin on a scenic dinner cruise on the river Spree. Overnight in Berlin. (B, D)

Day 11 – Friday, 18 September: Depart for USA
After breakfast we check out of our hotel and transfer to the Berlin-Tegel Airport (TXL) for our return flight home to New York (JFK). (B)

NOTE: While no changes are anticipated, there may be occasions when certain alterations become necessary to this itinerary due to pending schedule confirmations, closures, strikes, traffic, weather and/or, any other changes beyond our control.

TOTAL COST including airfare from JFK:

$ 4,499 per person, discounted for Cash/Check payment, based on 40 participants, & double occupancy. We gladly accept credit cards for the full price of $ 4,678.00 per person, based on 40 participants, & double occupancy.

**For those pilgrims who wish to arrange their own international airfare, we have a LAND ONLY price of $3,629.00 per person, discounted for Cash/Check payment, based on 40 participants, & double occupancy. Or $3,774.00 per person Full Price with Credit Card. Please discuss this option with Maggie McDaniel before booking your international air!!!! maggie@catholicfaithjourneys.com or 419-290-8782

Included

Round trip air from New York (JFK) to Luxembourg and Berlin to JFK
9 Nights’ accommodations
Breakfast / Dinner daily
English speaking tour escort/guides throughout
Private motor coach throughout
Transfers to and from all international airports for those on group air
Entrance fees as noted in itinerary
All tips to tour escourts, guides and drivers
Private Mass arrangements daily (All locations noted pending confirmation)
Entrance fees as noted in itinery
Private Mass arrangements daily (All locations noted pending confirmation)
Taxes and fuel surcharge (subject to increase 30 days prior to departure)

Not Included

Optional travel insurance from our trusted provider (strongly recommended)
Transportation to JFK airport
Lunches & beverages w/meals
Items of personal nature
Baggage fees imposed by airlines
Any items not specifically mentioned
Limited single rooms available for an additional cost of $800 per person (cash or check discount) or $832 (full price credit card)

Click here to DOWNLOAD THE REGISTRATION FORM