An
Invitation to Attend the 50th International
Eucharistic
Congress 2012 in Dublin, Ireland
with Most Reverend G.P. Bergie DD
Bishop of the Diocese of St. Catharines
June 8 –
18
Dear
Friends:
The
50th International Eucharistic Congress will be held in Dublin,
Ireland, June 10 –
17, 2012. It is an opportunity for Catholics from
around the world to come together in faith and celebration. The organizers
are expecting 25.000 people daily. We challenge you too to be transformed!
The
theme of the Eucharistic Congress is The Eucharist: Communion with
Christ and with one another. Catholics from every parish in Ireland are
engaged in a common project. Not only that, but you will be joined by
Christians of other traditions, in bearing common witness to Christ.
Most
Reverend G. P. Bergie DD, Bishop of the Diocese of St. Catharines plans to
attend and invites all, priests, religious and laity to join him. Bishop
will set time aside to be with you, to celebrate Mass and for social
gatherings.
Brinkman
Travel is registered with the Congress and is able to secure hotel rooms
in the city of Dublin with easy transfers to and from the RDS (Royal
Dublin Society) grounds. To secure your space we recommend you complete
the attached registration form soon, as Congress registrations, air and
hotel reservations will be on a first come, first served basis.
We
look forward to welcoming you.
Sincerely
yours,
Ineke
Brinkman, CTM, Owner, Brinkman Travel Inc, Organizer of Journeys in Faith
since 1993
Why Attend the
Congress?
-
An immense opportunity of renewal for all Catholics; the world is watching and joining us in prayer:
-
One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism
-
Held once every four years, somewhere in the world; 25.000 participants, 12,000 international pilgrims from five continents; 80.000 participants at the Closing Ceremony; two main venues: RDS grounds and Croke Park; 2,000 to 3,000 volunteers; over 100 exhibition stands; over 150 workshops and discussion groups; 18 keynote addresses by international speakers; Masses, prayers and liturgical celebrations in seven languages; Eucharistic Procession; Adoration and Benediction; film, music, concerts, theatre; hundreds of choirs; dedicated space and events for over 2,500 young people.
Daily Itinerary
The
program of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress is built
around the daily celebration of the Eucharist and each day has a theme of
its own, related to the main Congress theme The Eucharist: Communion
with Christ and with one another.
The
main events of the program take place in the RDS Arena. On most days these
will be in the afternoon with a gathering at 13:00 hours and will include:
- The
Catechesis: a "teaching" moment, usually presented by a Bishop,
reflecting on the theme of the day and its challenges (at 14:00)
- The
Testimony: words of encouragement and inspiration from a lay-person
with a story of faith to tell (at 14:40)
- Celebration
of the Eucharist: Mass celebrated with all the Congress delegates,
presided over by a Bishop (at 15:30)
Alongside
the program in the arena, there is a full program of workshops and
cultural events. In addition there is the Youth Space which has its own
dedicated program.
There
are some variations from day to day, which you can see below.
Day
1
Friday,
June 8, 2012
Depart Buffalo/Toronto. We
gather at the Catholic Centre in Thorold for a coach transfer to the
airport to catch the international flight to Dublin, Ireland
Day
2 Saturday, June 9
Arrive in Dublin and transfer to the hotel to rest, meet other
delegates and enjoy an evening in Dublin City.
Day
3 Sunday, June 10
Attend the Opening Ceremony of the 50th International
Eucharistic Congress. Feast
of the Day: Corpus Christi; Theme: Gathering; Main Liturgy:
Celebration of the Eucharist.
Day
4
Monday,
June 11
Feast of the Day: St. Barnabas; Theme: Communion in One Baptism; Main
Liturgy: Ecumenical Liturgy of Word and Water. Morning Mass (by Language
Group) at 09:30.
Day
5
Tuesday, June 12
Family Day. Feast of the Day: ordinary weekday; Theme: Communion in
Marriage and Family; Main Liturgy: Celebration of the Eucharist.
Day
6
Wednesday, June 13
Feast of the Day: St. Anthony of Padua; Theme: Priesthood and Ministry in
the Service of Communion; Main Liturgy: Celebration of the Eucharist.
Evening Eucharistic Procession.
Day
7
Thursday, June 14
Feast of the Day: ordinary weekday; Theme: Reconciliation in Our
Communion; Main Liturgies: Liturgy of Reconciliation (morning) and
Celebration of the Eucharist (afternoon)
Day
8
Friday, June 15
Feast of the Day: Sacred Heart of Jesus; Theme: Communion in Suffering and
in Healing; Main Liturgy: Celebration of the Eucharist with Anointing of
the Sick
Day
9
Saturday,
June 16
Feast of the Day: Immaculate Heart of Mary; Theme: Communion in the Word
through Mary; Main Liturgy: Celebration of the Eucharist
Day
10
Sunday, June 17
Statio Orbis (in Croke Park) at 15:00; Main Liturgy: Celebration of
the Eucharist
Day
11
Monday, June 18 After
a last fine Irish breakfast, we must pack and prepare ourselves for the
airport transfer and flight from Dublin to Buffalo/Toronto with a same day
arrival home.
Package
price including airfare from Buffalo/Toronto $2750 CAD**
per person based on double occupancy; a few single rooms are available for
a supplement of $750. Airport taxes and related airline surcharges are
extra and subject to change; as of December 30, 2011: $186
**
Excellent value; when comparing prices, please compare all inclusions.
Your
package includes
- Round
trip transfer from the Catholic Centre to the Buffalo/Toronto airport
- Round
trip airfare from Buffalo/Toronto
- Round
trip airport transfers to hotel in Dublin
- Nine
nights accommodation in a superior three star hotel including local
taxes
- Nine
full Irish breakfasts
- International
Congress Registration plus admission to the Statio Orbis
(Closing Mass)
- Eight
day public transport ticket for unlimited travel in Dublin
- Services
of hostess Ineke Brinkman (providing we have a minimum of 32 pilgrims
on board)
Not
included
- Airport
taxes and related airline surcharges
- Meals
and drinks other than daily breakfast
- Travel
insurance (highly recommended and can be obtained through Brinkman
Travel)
- Personal
expenses
Travel
Extension
-
Wishing to stay longer in Ireland? No problem; please request at time of booking.
Travel arrangements
made by Brinkman Travel Inc
Important
to know
Booking Complete
the booking form and mail/deliver along with a copy of your valid passport
and a cheque for $500 per person made payable to Brinkman Travel Inc, 8 Duke Street, St. Catharines, ON L2R 5W3. The day of our receipt
confirms your registration. To avoid disappointment, we recommend you book
soon. Final payment is due Thursday March 29, 2012.
Insurance Brinkman
Travel strongly recommends you purchase insurance protecting you from
penalties in the event you would need to cancel due to medical reasons to
yourself or someone in your immediate family. You will be advised of the
premium upon receipt of your registration, as the premium is pending upon
your needs, your age etc.
Cancellation
fees Cancellations
are subject to the following cancellation penalties:
-
Deposit is non-refundable
-
Cancellation fee for cancelling between date of registration and March 29, 2012 is $500
-
Cancelling on March 29, 2012 or after: 100% non refundable
Cancellations
and refunds All
cancellations, changes or refund requests must be received in writing and
shall be considered in effect as of the date notice is received. If you
need to cancel, Brinkman Travel Inc will refund all money paid towards the
tour less the applicable cancellation fee and the insurance premium. These
charges apply to the purchased tour only and do not include cancellation
charges for any other arrangements.
Pricing All
prices are based on December 30, 2011 exchange rates, supplier quotations
and a minimum of 32 passengers. In the event significant changes take
place due to circumstances beyond our control, Brinkman Travel reserves
the right to adjust the prices.
Itinerary International
travel is, by its very nature, unpredictable. Brinkman Travel reserves the
right to withdraw all or part of the tour should conditions warrant and to
make alterations in the itinerary and/or accommodation. We appreciate your
understanding.
Currency The
Republic of Ireland uses the Euro, easily obtained through Continental
Currency in the Pen Centre, St. Catharines or through ATM machines in
Ireland. Debit and credit cards are widely accepted.
Weather
and what to wear June
is a very pleasant travel month in Ireland. Expect balmy weather with
temperatures hovering in the low to mid twenties degrees Celsius. We
recommend you travel light, wear and pack clothing that can be layered and
combined, and include a light poncho and a fleece.
Shared
and single accommodation Passengers
must indicate at the time of booking whether they want to share a hotel
room or if they prefer a single room; there are a very limited number of
single rooms available. Your roommate, if known, should also be indicated.
Triple rooms, while not recommended, can usually be arranged for. Should
it not be possible to find a compatible roommate, then the single person
must be prepared to pay the single supplement no later than six weeks
prior to departure.
Unused
tour arrangements Portions
of tour arrangements, or any other service or feature of the package,
which are not used, are neither refundable nor exchangeable.
Passport Canadian
and U.S. citizens must be in possession of a passport valid for at least
six months from the return date and do not need a visa to enter Ireland.
Travel
documentation Tour
documents (detailed itinerary, airline ticket, passenger list, hotel
information, suggested packing list etc.) will be mailed and/or handed out
three weeks prior to departure.
Disclaimer
of Responsibility Brinkman
Travel Inc of St. Catharines, Ontario acts as an agent for the various
companies, owners and contractors providing means of transportation,
accommodation or other services. Brinkman Travel Inc assumes no
responsibility or liability in connection with the service of any
aircraft, vessel, carriage or other conveyance that is used wholly or in
part, in the performance of this duty to the passengers. Neither will
Brinkman Travel Inc be responsible for any act, omission or error, or for
any injury, loss, accident, delay or irregularity, or any neglect or
default of any company or person engaged in carrying out the purposes for
which tickets or coupons have been issued. We assume no responsibility or
liability for errors or omissions resulting from acts of God, strikes,
weather, quarantines, sickness, government regulations or any loss or
expense resulting from the above contingencies. Expenses for said losses
shall be borne by the tour members.
Brinkman Travel Inc, 8 Duke
Street, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada L2R 5W3
Phone: 905.988.9100 Email: mail
[at symbol] brinkmantravel.com
Website: brinkmantravel.com
TICO Reg. 4396230
© 2012 Brinkman Travel Inc.
All rights reserved.