Fr. Lito P. Abad
June 25, 2024
Spain, France
Beneath Spain’s colourful and spectacular exterior is a country bursting with history, heritage and culture. It has personality and a chic flair, and it’s both wild, passionate, and endearing. Therefore, you can’t help but fall madly in love with Spain if you are enthralled with culture, history, magnificent monuments, medieval towns, splendid churches, and mouth watering cuisine. So put on your travel boots and join Fr. Lito Abad on a travel adventure to discover the Hidden Gems of Spain and France on June 25 to July 11, 2024.
Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and famous for Gaudí and other Art Nouveau architecture, Barcelona is one of Europe’s trendiest cities. It’s a hub of new trends in the world of culture, fashion, and cuisine. It combines the creativity of its artists and designers with respect for and care for local traditions. Enjoy a city tour of Barcelona including a guided tour of Barcelona Old Town and take an enjoyable walk through the Gothic Quarter and Ramblas.
Head for Montserrat, where a magnificent monastery is nestled in the cliffs of the beautiful Montserrat mountain range. The Basilica, next to the Monastery ofMontserrat, is home to the revered image of Our Lady of Montserrat. Not to be missed is a chance to offer prayers and petitions before her miraculous image. Next stop is Manresa, the cradle city of the Jesuit Order, where St. Ignatius lived in a cave and wrote his famous Spiritual Exercises. Take a full-day excursion to Andorra La Vella, a UNESCO World Heritage site for its exceptional flora and fauna. An unmissable destination for shopaholics, Andorra La Vella is a shopping paradise.
Return to Barcelona to visit the city’s most famous sights, including the Basilica de la SagradaFamilia (Holy Family), a towering neo-Gothic church built by Antoni Gaudi. The unfinished, amazing monument is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Next stop, Zaragoza, is renowned for its imposing Basilica-Cathedral dedicated to Our Lady of the Pillar. The basilica dates back to the dawn of Christianity in Spain, attributing itself to an apparition of the Blessed Mother to St. James, an apostle of Jesus.
Proceeding to Monteagudo, the Augustinian Recollect Novitiate Monastery Chapel houses the incorrupt body of St. Ezequiel Moreno, the patron saint of cancer patients. Continue your travel adventure to Pamplona, one of Spain’s greenest cities, ensuring nature lovers a pleasurable time. Pamplona is best known for the Running of the Bulls festival (Feast of St. Fermin), celebrated every July.
Head for Bilbao in the Basque Country, northern Spain, to visit the world-famous Guggenheim Museum, a museum of modern and contemporary art. Drive to the top of Mount Artxanda for a panoramic view of the city of Bilbao. Not to be missed is a walking tour of the old town, “El Casco Viejo.”
Next stop is a visit to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Arantzazu, where St. Ignatius of Loyola spent a night in vigil and made his vow of chastity. St. Ignatius referred to this night vigil at this sanctuary as a time of great grace for strengthening his resolve to follow Christ. Proceed to Loyola and celebrate mass at the Chapel of Conversion in the Sanctuary of Loyola, the family home of St. Ignatius, founder of the Society of Jesus.
Proceed to Lourdes for your overnight stay at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, an apparition site of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1858. Here, 18 apparitions were reported. Pray the rosary and spend time in quiet reflection at the Grotto of Massabielle, the Blessed Mother’s apparition site. Not to be missed is the evening rosary and candlelight procession, where the “Ave Maria” is sung in unison and the rosary is recited in different languages.
Return to Bilbao, making a stop in the picturesque city of Bayonne, located in southwest France. Visit the Cathedral Ste-Marie. Head to Spain’s gastronomic capital, the charming coastal city of SanSebastian. A full-day trip to the Basque Countryside is a great way to end your travel adventure.
Spain boasts a multitude of stunning landscapes, rich historical treasures, and hundreds of charming cities to explore. Uncover the Hidden Gems of Spain and France with Fr. Lito Abad on June 25 – July 11, 2024 and discover for yourself why Spain awaits you as a must-see, unforgettable travel destination.
Visit the Monastery of San Millan de Suso (6th century) and the Monastery of San Millan de Yuso in La Rioja; both have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites since December 1997.
Join the candlelight procession in Lourdes and pray the rosary with thousands of pilgrims in different languages.
The Benedictine Monastery of Leyre’s architecture has influenced the evolution of monastic architectural tendencies in Spain. Forgotten until the 19th century, the Benedictine monks of Santo Domingo de Silos revived monastic life within its walls in 1954.
The Javier Castle in Javier is where St. Francis Xavier was born.
Pray for a miracle for your loved ones who have cancer, and ask for the intercession of St. Ezekiel Moreno.
The whole pilgrimage is a new and fulfilling moment in my life. It’s a nice feeling being with the Lord in His important day. And also, gaining new friends and becoming my new extended family is something I will treasure. I hope that this is just the beginning and we’ll continue to get in touch with one another despite the distance.
Brenda
Hello Co-Pilgrims,
It was indeed a wonderful Pilgrimage: very rich in history, a thanksgiving of blessings, a spiritual renewal and nourishment, and finally ending in a test of Faith.
Thank you so much Pilgrim Leader, Ging Igual, for standing beside us up to the last stretch of our 13-day journey - more particularly in the handling of an unexpected situation (cancelled flight in Mexico and re-direction of flights to make sure the 38 Pilgrims reach LA for their respective flight bookings). Ging, you were an angel to us so blessed with energy, passion, love and Milagrosa. We really felt the presence of Our Lady of Guadalupe fielding angels every step of the way.
The Pilgrimage to California Mission Churches and Our Lady of Guadalupe gives me personal inspiration for the work and activities of the next chapter of my lifetime: farming with promotion of agriculture for millennials (inspired by the scenic view of farms in California), tourism (which is a major industry in all places we visited), and support for a favourite major seminary in Tagaytay and a scholarship fund for deserving individuals (thru a non stock non profit institution).
Thank you to my Co-Pilgrims and prayer partners for the prayer support, sharing of life experiences and friendships; Fr. Tony, thank you for your spiritual reflections and service; Fr. Jerry Orbos for an overflowing spiritual reflections and enabling us to have the needed personal encounter with Jesus and Mama Mary (it was like a 12-day Holy Retreat); and the Executive Resources for making a very nice pilgrimage package a part of our lifetime.
Ms. Emma
Lord, we cannot find words enough to say how grateful we are to You. Our pilgrimage made us realize that Your love for us is more than what we deserve.
To all our co-pilgrims, thank you for making us feel we belong to this new family. To Fr. Dante, thanks for your prayers and pieces of advice for our spiritual nourishment. To Sis Lea, for taking care of each one of us. To Sis Joy, thanks for the contagious joys and laughters.
To our prayer partners, Sis Maribel, Melvy and Didick and Bro Mon and Sis Jot, thank you for your prayers. We will pray for you, too!
To The Pilgrim’s Center - Executive Resources, thank you for accommodating us in this Eastern Europe Pilgrimage.
God bless us all always!
Albert and Adee
Dear Pilgrims' Center:
My husband Aldo & I would like to praise & commend our Pilgrim Chaplain Fr. Dante Venus & our Tour Leader Bro. Monty for the very successful & memorable pilgrimage to Italy & the Holy Land we were very fortunate to join on March 26-April 8, 2018.
It was very hectic to be sure, but still they managed our time very well that we were able to visit more places than was promised in the itinerary, and we are very appreciative of that. Likewise, the solemnity of the whole pilgrimage experience was still observed despite many of us in the group, myself included, often forgetting that we were pilgrims & not tourists 😉😉, taking photos, selfies, etc. instead of, or before focusing on what the local guide was explaining or on the scripture readings. I cannot fault us pilgrims on this because for many of us seniors, and I speak for my husband & I, that trip might be our first & last time to visit those places, so we made sure they were properly documented. Nonetheless, it was a truly spiritually uplifting & life-changing experience for us. We continue to thank our Lord for making that experience of a lifetime possible. Indeed, nothing is impossible for God! Thank you very much to Fr. Dante, Bro. Monty & to each of us pilgrims in the group for the prayers, love, care & concern shown to each other. Let us continue to pray for and with each other. It is my hope that we meet each other again soon, to strengthen our bonds of friendships.
Most sincerely, Leclec Cabusora
Leclec Cabusora
My husband and I just came back from a wonderful trip to Israel - with Franciscan Fr Reu Galoy. Thank you Pilgrim Center for the arrangements. We are so happy and satisfied with all that you have done for us. Kudos to Yanyan and Monty from Pilgrim Center, and Fr Reu and Ronin for your caring services. It was a spiritual journey and we felt the abiding presence of the Lord all throughout.
Ann Arguelles Cortes
Our pilgrimage was worth all the hardships (I was having leg pains). We had an excellent leader in the person of Adrian, two priests Fathers Val and Ron, who gave us very nice pieces of advice and homilies, and of course the members of the group who were all very nice. Looking forward to join another pilgrimage.
Emily Bautista
It was the most profound experience I had in my whole life....Walking with the Footsteps where Jesus walked made my life more grateful and humble....My faith become stronger as I express it...A growing faith is a sharing faith....TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!! SHALOM!
Carmen Nierra
Vir & I would like to express our gratitude for a wonderful pilgrimage we had from Sept 5-18. From checking-in last Sept 5 & all during the tour, we felt the care from a family. No words can ever describe how thankful we are.
I almost cried last Sept 8, (my birthday) when we (2 of us have the same birthday) were given a surprise mini celebration when after our dinner, we were given a cake. I really felt the love of a family then.
All these things made possible because of your capable coordinator Ms. Ging Igual. She's such a wonderful leader. Kudos to her.
Rest assured that i will refer your company to all my friends who are planning to go on pilgrimage .
Good day & may God always guide & protect all of you in the Pilgrims' Center/ Executive Resources, Inc.
Cora and Vir Franca
I am honored to be included in this pilgrimage. The Pilgrims' Center has very good itineraries worth remembering. No hours wasted. They took very good care of us in spite of our big number of 47 people. The daily mass and homilies of Fr. Manny Cruz held in different shrines and churches were very inspirational and transforming. Accommodations were nice most especially the one on top of the Mountain with an awesome view built in 1909. It's like travelling back in time. I definitely would want to do it again with Pilgrim Center.
Peter Joseph Mapua
The Pilgrims' Center always gives you the best. They let you feel like an Executive in terms of personal service & attention especially during pilgrimage. Their choices of pilgrimages and pilgrim chaplains are outstanding. You go back home very fulfilled and immersed...
Marlene Silvestre
with Fr. Dante Venus, S.V.D.
READ MORE +NOTE: All visa applicants are required to fill-out completely the visa application form prior to the scheduling of their appointments in order to avoid unnecessary delay and additional telephone expenses.
Processing Time: 15 – 30 days
VISA FEE: Php 13,000.00
(Subject to change without prior notice)
1) A US$1,000.00 deposit is required upon reservation together with a photocopy of a passport (valid for 6 months from date of departure), Pilgrim’s Profile with a passport-size photo, copy of latest arrival stamp in Manila, visa fee (if applicable), and travel insurance payment.
2) The following cancellation charges will apply:
> 60 days before departure date – US$ 1000.00
> 45 days before departure date – 50% of the Tour Cost
> 30 days prior to departure date – Full tour cost will be forfeited.
> US$ 1000.00 Admin Fee for any visa denial.
BASIC TOUR COST DOES NOT INCLUDE: Visa fees and documentation expenses, insurance, hospitalization and other medical expenses, tours and transportation during free periods, porterage of extra pieces of luggage in excess of maximum allocation, drinks and beverages taken during meals, items of personal nature such as laundry, telephone, fax, room service, and other expenses not mentioned in the itinerary terms and conditions.
EXECUTIVE RESOURCES, INC. has arranged for the various tour services to be performed under the responsibility of various contractors. Executive Resources, Inc., its employees or its sub-agents therefore only act as agents for the contractors providing the various services described in the tour and accept no responsibility or liability in connection with losses or accidental expenses due to delays of schedule, overbooking, defaults or “force majeure.” All tours and arrangements are subject to the general conditions specified by each contractor. Tour itineraries and prices are subject to change without prior notice. When making a tour booking, the passenger acknowledges and accepts the foregoing conditions. When making a tour booking, the passenger acknowledges and accepts the foregoing conditions.
*** RATES AND ITINERARY ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE! ***
