Medjugorje 2011 Special Deaf Group October 6 – 15, 2011 Detroit Departure  $2595.00* * Price Subject to Change. Price shown is for Detroit departure. Lunches and Tips are not included.

For those of you who have never been to Medjugorje, you will experience one of the most spiritual, and peaceful places on earth. One of the best descriptions of Medjugorje we have ever heard is: “Medjugorje is a place where Heaven touches the earth”. After visiting Medjugorje we are sure you will agree.

We have excellent accommodations in Medjugorje and will be providing an outstanding itinerary of events throughout our Medjugorje pilgrimage, so please, try not to miss this special trip!!!

The visionaries in Medjugorje tell us that no one goes to Medjugorje by accident. We are all called individually by Our Lady. If you feel you are being called to Medjugorje, then answer Our Lady’s invitation! Traveling to Medjugorje is truly a life changing experience! Your pilgrimage begins the moment you say yes, I will go.

Steve and Ana Shawl, The Medjugorje Web

http://www.medjugorje.org   sshawl@medjweb.com

Your Pilgrimage Will Include:

• Round-trip air from Detroit via Delta, United, or other and Croatia Airlines.
• Transfers by private modern motor coach.

Accommodations:

• 7 Nights at the home of Mirjana Brecie (sister of Vicka) if available.
• Breakfast and dinner daily in Medjugorje
• Assistance of our local Medjugorje guide
• Talks with priests and visionaries (dependent upon availability)
• Holy Mass in English Daily at 10:00 am, 6:00 pm Croatian
• Portfolio of all travel documents & Medjugorje Web backpack

Not included: Lunches, Tips to guide, house, and bus driver ($40 total per person recommended). Items of a personal nature.

Here’s the Basic Itinerary:

Day 1:  US – Frankfurt. Depart Detroit for Frankfurt, Germany.

Day 2:   Frankfurt – Split – Medjugorje. Upon early morning arrival in Frankfurt, you will connect with your 1 hour 30 min flight to Split. Upon arrival in Split, you will be greeted by our local guide and bus driver who will then take you on a beautiful scenic 3 hour ride by private motor coach to the village of Medjugorje. Once there, you will be introduced to the family where you will be staying for the next seven nights.

Day 3-8:  Medjugorje. The beauty of this simple village is enhanced by the opportunity to share our faith with thousands of pilgrims from all over the world. Each morning at 10 am you assemble at St James Church for the English-language Mass. Your guide will accompany you throughout the week as you follow the same path up Apparition Hill where the young visionaries first encountered Our Lady. Touch and pray before the cross which commemorates the spot where Mary first appeared to the visionaries. At 5 pm each evening you will join the villagers and pilgrims to pray the rosary. Be present in the church when the apparitions occur at 5:40 pm and then stay for the Croatian Mass and the Blessing of the Sick. Our guide will arrange meetings with the visionaries at their own homes. You will have the opportunity to climb Krizevac Mountain, where in 1933 the villagers built a 30’ high cross on the anniversary of Jesus’ crucifixion. You will also visit the beautiful adoration chapel of the Oasis of Peace, and the drug rehab center Cenacolo.

Day 9:  Medjugorje/Split/Frankfurt. After an early breakfast and heartfelt farewells, you will leave Medjugorje by private motor coach for the city of Split for our flight to Frankfurt. We will arrive in Frankfurt at about 4:30 pm and any adventurous people in the group can take the train or taxi to downtown Frankfurt for some sightseeing and many places to eat. For those who want to relax and catch up on some sleep there is good food available at the hotel.

Day 10: Frankfurt/Detroit. After an early morning breakfast, it is back to the airport for your flights back to Detroit.

For More Information Contact:  The Medjugorje Web Special Group Contact:, 772 N Peace Road, DeKalb, IL 60115

Fr. Michael Depcik (815) 748-0410   Depcik@desales.org

We welcome Father Joe Bruce, S.J. recently moved from Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.A. as he comes to spend a few months sabbatical leave with me at my Jesuit community. We hope it will be an enriching and restful time for him. He will do some cooking for us which he enjoys and we will appreciate (smile!).

During the Fall session we are reminded to give thanks for God's many blessings to us as individuals as well as to our Catholic Deaf Community. I am particularly grateful for the many generous volunteer workers and members in our church who have taken up ministry and serving roles. I notice that the Deaf community in Ottawa & Gatineau is a very supportive one, especially when a person is sick or in need of help.

Je suis bien reconnaissant que notre communauté sourde est très habile et généreuse surtout envers les malades et les personnes isolées. Continuons donc en cet esprit de coopération et amour. Merci!

Pictures of Winnipeg's National Conference of the ICDA Canadian Section

click the picture left to see more pictures

"Why would newspapers carry on a vendetta on one of the most important institutions that we have today in the United States , namely the Catholic Church?

Do you know - the Catholic Church educates 2.6 million students everyday at the cost to that Church of 10 billion dollars, and a savings on the other hand to the American taxpayer of 18 billion dollars. The graduates go on to graduate studies at the rate of 92%.

The Church has 230 colleges and universities in the U.S. with an enrollment of 700,000 students.

The Catholic Church has a non-profit hospital system of 637 hospitals, which account for hospital treatment of 1 out of every 5 people - not just Catholics - in the United States today

But the press is vindictive and trying to totally denigrate in every way the Catholic Church in this country. They have blamed the disease of pedophilia on the Catholic Church, which is as irresponsible as blaming adultery on the institution of marriage.

Let me give you some figures that Catholics should know and remember. For example, 12% of the 300 Protestant clergy surveyed admitted to sexual intercourse with a parishioner; 38% acknowledged other inappropriate sexual contact in a study by the United Methodist Church , 41.8% of clergy women reported unwanted sexual behavior; 17% of laywomen have been sexually harassed. Meanwhile, 1.7% of the Catholic clergy has been found guilty of pedophilia. 10% of the Protestant ministers have been found guilty of pedophilia. This is not a Catholic Problem.

A study of American priests showed that most are happy in the priesthood and find it even better than they had expected, and that most, if given the choice, would choose to be priests again in face of all this obnoxious PR the church has been receiving.

The Catholic Church is bleeding from self-inflicted wounds. The agony that Catholics have felt and suffered is not necessarily the fault of the Church. You have been hurt by a small number of wayward priests that have probably been totally weeded out by now.

Walk with your shoulders high and you head higher. Be a proud member of the most important non-governmental agency in the United States . Then remember what Jeremiah said: 'Stand by the roads, and look and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is and walk in it, and find rest for your souls'. Be proud to speak up for your faith with pride and reverence and learn what your Church does for all other religions.

Be proud that you're a Catholic."