Pilgrimage to Oberammergau & Medjugorje
September 20 - October 1, 2010
Four days / three nights in Germany
Seven nights in Medjugorje
Cost: $3059 plus $488 airline taxes - Total: $3547
Full payment is due at booking.
Oberammerau History
The Oberammergau Passion play was first performed in the time of the plague that decimated central Europe in the 17th Century. Although the villagers kept guard to prevent the plague reaching the village, a man from Oberammergau working as a farm laborer in another village carried the disease home. Within a year, the Black Death had claimed over a fifth of the approximately 1,500 inhabitants of Oberammergau. With no end to the plague in sight, the village vowed on October 27th, 1633 in the parish church to perform Passion plays depicting the passion of Christ every ten years if God would show mercy and release their village from the clutches of the plague. From that hour on no more villagers in Oberammergau died or became infected with the plague. The Passion play was performed for the first time in 1634. Throughout the centuries - despite many dangers and threats, historical and cultural changes - the villagers of Oberammergau have maintained their solemn promise. More than 2,000 villagers take part in the Passion plays. The play, stage in a theater for around 4,600 spectators, is performed from May through the end of September every 10 years. Tickets are sold out well in advance.
Pilgrimage Itinerary
Sept. 21: Arrival in Munich
During the day, we will arrive in Munich and transfer to our hotel. In the evening, we will attend a Bavarian folklore show and enjoy typical Bavarian Gemütlichkeit with a traditional dinner.
Sept. 22: Munich - Oberammergau
After breakfast, our morning sightseeing tour of Munich will include the Marienplatz with the famous glockenspiel and an outside visit of Nymphenburg Palace. After lunch, we will enjoy a wonderful ride through the Bavarian countryside to Oberammergau.
Sept. 23: Oberammergau (Performance Day)
The highlight of our tour will take place when we attend the performance of the world-famous Oberammergau Passion Play.
Sept. 24: Departure from Oberammergau
During the morning, we will transfer to the Munich airport to continue our pilgrimage to Medjugorje, where we will be for seven nights.
Sept. 25-31: Medjugorje
During your stay in Medjugorje, you will have the opportunity to share the religious cermonies with thousands of pilgrims from all over the world. Each morning at 10, we assemble at St. James Church for the concelebrated English-language Mass. At 6 p.m., we will join the villagers and pilgrims to pray the rosary. At 6:40 p.m., we will be present in the church when the apparitions appear. At 7 p.m., there is a Croatian Mass and the Blessing of the Sick. Your guide will arrange for you to hear the visionaries share the messages of Our Lady.
During the week you will have the following opportunities:
- Follow the same path up Apparition Hill where the young visionaries first encountered Our Lady.
- Climb Krizevac Mountain, where in 1933 the villagers built a 30-foot high cross on the anniversary of Jesus' crucifixion.
- Visit and pray at "Blue Cross," which is a place of great healing and grace.
Oct 1: Departure from Medjugorje
We leave for Dubrovnik or Split Airport for return flights to the U.S.
Image of Oberammergau stage by Nancy