Harvest Time

Ah, the colors of the fall.

Autumn was Pushkin's favorite season.

A time of harvest.  Rejoice and be thanksful!

We are all the product of many little miracles and acts of faith.  

Mass at the Highest Point on the African Continent

Frs. Antony Sumich and Greg Bartholomew celebrate Holy Mass atop Mount Kilimanjaro on September 30, 2015.  Planting the cross of Christ at nearly 6,000 meters above sea level.  Stat crux!

This mountain is located in an extraordinary national park in Tanzania.  It has three volcanic cones.  Located along the border with Kenya.  God bless these daring explorer priests!

Thanks, Bao!

Catholic Culture: Pro-Life Banquet

Have you even been to a pro-life banquet?

Probably not.  Sounds boring.

Actually, some of the most enjoyable evenings I have ever spent have been at pro-life events.

My first was the HLI International Conf, held in Minneapolis in 1997.   

Get to a national or state/provincial pro-life conference and/or banquet.  The life-affirming talks will blow you away.

This was the 21st annual fundraising banquet for Advokate.  A great turn out.  Lots of young professionals, student ambassadors, clergy, and others.

The fabulous keynote was delivered by Hollywood film producer, Mr. Jason Jones.  He is a pro-life author, activist and notable human rights activist.  His films include Bella, Crescendo, and the Stoning of Soraya M.  His talk was inspiring in the first degree.      

From the Spirit of the Jihadist Movement, Protect Us, O Lord

St. Clare, pray for us!

Miraculous Roman Icons: Romanae Portus Securitatis

Catholic Culture: Rome Holy Cards

Parishes in Rome always gave out free little holy cards.

Always nice mementos for visiting pilgrims from the far ends of the earth.

Mater Pulchrae Diletionis et Mater Unionis, ora pro nobis. 

Catholic Culture: Memorial Ordination Cards

As seen in Rome.

Amicis Romanis, gratias ago!

Dr. Alice von Hildebrand, PhD

The greatest living female Catholic intellectual on the planet earth.

A living saint.  A bit like sitting down with St. Edith Stein.

There were two Dr. von Hildebrands and the intellectual scope, breath and depth of both is off the charts astounding.

It was a great privilege to visit her at her home where she lived with her late great husband, DVH, now entombed at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in White Plains, NY.

Dr. Alice has a very sharp and keen intellect.  And a very French sense of humor.  A lovely woman.  Indeed, she is the model Catholic woman.  She speaks five languages.  Her husband taught at Fordham for 19 years.  She taught night school for many years at Hunter College. 

She explained that each morning she prays a rosary for Pope Francis.  She never did this before, but began this habit recently because popes need prayers, so clearly, especially today.  Four times she was received in audience by Pope Benedict, whom she is good friends with.  Dr. von Hildebrand has a great devotion to the Roman Pontiffs.  She was received in private audience by Paul VI in 1965.

Dr. von Hildebrand has traveled the world.  She left her native Belgium on the eve of war in 1940.

15 years after her husband fled Nazi terror in Europe, he went back to his homeland for a visit.  He had lost everything when he left Vienna to escape with his life.  In the 1950s, the two began to lead Catholic student tours to Europe during summer months.  "We led beautiful tours!" she recounts.

Some of the original itineraries have been kept and were recently rediscovered.  Hopefully we can recreate these tours and offer them to Catholic pilgrims of today.  To say the least, they were each very inspirational tours, led by giants.     

Saints abound.  God is glorified in His saints.  Blessed be the Name of the Lord.  Now and forever.  Amen. 

Catholics Who Are Evil

There's Still Time to Join OC-Travel in the Holy Land this Winter!

Request an application today!

"Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus" Tour.

Daily Mass in the Extraordinary Form.

The tour guide is a native Christian from Nazareth - tracing his family lineage back to the time of the earliest Christians.  He is a proud  Knight of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and speaks perfect English.  

Description:

Living an intensive pilgrimage experience focusing on the life of Jesus in the Holy Land.  Participants read important texts from the Bible.  Daily readings are paired with visits to important historical and spiritual sites in Jerusalem and its environs near and far.  Both on site and in the bus, participants are encouraged to pray and to see the Scriptures come alive.

Prerequisites:

Be ready for something big.
Expect an outpouring of grace, miracles and conversion.   
Participants must register by November 15, 2015.
You should know that this tour is totally Catholic and that your life will be changed forever.
You will never read the Bible the same way again.  
Flights from Vancouver and Toronto.    

Accommodations:

4 / 5 star hotels. 

Notre Dame Center in Jerusalem - 6 nights. 

Golden Crown Nazareth - 6 nights. 

Costs:

Total Cost Double Occupancy: $4,199
Single Supplement : $720
Land-Only: $3,120

Request an Application:

Send me an e-mail without delay: info@oc-travel.com. 

Do not miss out.  Seating is limited.  This is a small group tour: 25 max.  

Application HERE.