Pilgrimage itinerary for World Youth Day 2005
Below is the most recent itinerary (via Grueninger Tours) for archdiocesan pilgrims attending World Youth Day 2005 in Cologne, Germany. The group of about 170 youth and adult chaperones is split into three groups for travel and accomadations.
Wednesday, August 10 - Indianapolis / Overnight Flight
Depart on your overnight flight to Italy. (See posted lists)
Indianapolis flight
12:10 p.m. Depart via US Airways flight #886 to Philadelphia and arrive 2:57 p.m.
Change planes. Turn watches up one hour.
6:10 p.m. Depart Philadelphia via US Airways flight #2 to Rome. Turn watches up 6 hours.
Dinner on the flight.
Cincinnati flight
4:25 p.m. Depart on Air France flight #383 to Paris. Turn watches forward 6 hours.
(It’s an additional hour forward from Indianapolis.) Dinner on the flight.
Detroit flight:
7:15 p.m. Depart on Air France flight #373 to Paris. Turn watches forward 6 hours.
(It’s an additional hour forward from Indianapolis.) Dinner on the flight.
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Thursday, August 11 - Rome
Cincinnati flight
6:25 a.m. Arrive Paris (continental breakfast before landing) and change planes.
7:15 a.m. Depart Paris via Air France flight #1204. Breakfast on this flight.
9:20 a.m. Arrive Rome. (continental breakfast before landing.)
Indianapolis flight
8:40 a.m. Arrive Rome (continental breakfast before landing.)
Depart on Sightseeing of the Eternal City, Rome. A stop will be made for lunch (on own.)
In the afternoon visit the Catacombs , burial grounds of many of the first Christian believers.
Afternoon Mass and tour at St. Paul Outside the Walls , one of Rome’s four great patriarchal churches for Mass; it is believed to have been erected over the tomb of St. Paul.
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Detroit flight .
8:50 a.m. Arrive Paris and change planes (continental breakfast on the plane.)
11:05 a.m. Depart Paris via Air France flight #1604 – a brunch on the flight.
1:10 p.m. Arrive Rome
Depart on sightseeing tour visiting the Catacombs and meet the others for Mass at St. Paul Outside the Walls.
* * *
Late afternoon everyone check into the hotel located adjoining the Vatican:
HOTEL CASA BONUS PASTOR
Via Aurelia 208,
00165 Roma, Italy
Tel: 011-39-06-6987-1282
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Friday, August 12 - Assisi day trip
We have continental breakfast at the hotel before departing on a beautiful full day excursion to Assisi, another major pilgrimage destination, second only to Rome. Visit the interesting Cathedral of St. Francis which is really two churches – one above the other built atop St. Francis’ tomb. be privileged to have Mass in this important Basilica.
A noon lunch is included in Assisi.
Return to Rome early evening. (Supper on own tonight.)
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Saturday, August 13 - Rome
Enjoy continental breakfast at the hotel before taking a guided tour of the Vatican Museum with the very impressive Sistine Chapel. This Chapel is particularly famous for the wonderful frescoes by Michelangelo on the ceiling and walls that took him many years to complete. It is also where the Cardinals recently met to choose Pope Benedict XVI.
Following the visit to the Vatican, you have a guided tour of beautiful St. Peter’s Cathedral, built over St. Peter’s grave. Visit the tomb of Pope Paul II and see Michelangelo’s great statue, The Pieta, as well as the impressive high altar.
Mass is being arranged for this day. (Lunch on own.)
Dinner at the hotel.
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Sunday, August 14 - Rome / Overnight train
Continental breakfast at the hotel and then check out of the hotel. Wear something very comfortable today.
We depart by motorcoach for morning Mass followed by a drive past the well-known Spanish steps and a stop at the Fountain of Trevi (to throw in a coin us of a return trip to Rome.)
A stop is made at a fast food restaurant (on own) before taking us to the Main Train Station for departure to Germany.
12:47 p.m. Depart Rome by train through the Italian and Tuscan countryside.
6:50 p.m. Arrive at Milan and disembark.
Dinner in Milan is included.
9:35 p.m. Depart Milan by rail for overnight ride.
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Monday, August 15 - Frankfurt / Rhine River Cruise / Cologne
6:30 a.m. We arrive Frankfurt Main Rail Station where our motorcoaches will be waiting to take us first to Mainz where we board the Rhine River steamer for Mass and breakfast. (Our luggage stays on the coaches.)
8:45a.m. The Rhine River Steamer departs Mainz for a leisurely ride down one of Europe's most important rivers. We pass the most scenic part of the river with vineyard covered hills, quaint medieval villages, and castle ruins. A restaurant is on board serving sandwiches or full lunches (on own).
12:50 p.m. Arrive in Boppard where we reboard our motorcoaches and continue to our hotels.
We pass Coblence and Bonn (former West German capital) before arriving at our hotel in the Cologne area.
Cologne, situated right on the Rhine River, is the fourth largest city in Germany and has just over one million inhabitants. Founded by the Romans, it is the oldest city in Germany and was one of the important cross roads of Europe during the ages. The beautiful Cologne Cathedral is the most visited building in Germany. (If you have free time you can climb the 509 steps up to the observation platform for a marvelous panorama of the city.) The Romans brought Christianity to Cologne and it quickly became know as “Hillije Köln” (Holy Cologne.) There are excavations of Roman times next to the Cathedral. Cologne (and Duesseldorf & Bonn) were badly damaged in World War II but have been rebuilt.
We are staying in three different hotels (see lists)
Hotel Victoria Parkhotel City
Kaiser-Friedrich-Strasse
41460 Neuss, Germany
Hotel Neuss
2 Adolf Flecken Strasse
41460 Neuss, Germany
Hotel Eden Duesseldorf Centre
18 Aders Strasse 29
40215 Duesseldorf, Germany
Dinner included tonight.
Our arrangements are now part of the World Youth Day organization. The theme of this World Youth Day is “We have come to worship him.”
Virgin Mary celebrations tonight.
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Tuesday, August 16 - Cologne or Duesseldorf
Morning prayer.
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Spiritual Centre, “Culture in the City” Permanent Centers
5 – 7 p.m. We have the opening Mass with Cardinal Joachim Meisner.
7 – 10 p.m. Welcome! Festival
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Wednesday, August 17 - Cologne or Duesseldorf
Morning prayer
9 a.m – 1 p.m. Catechesis, together with the sacrament of reconciliation and a closing Mass.
2 – 5 p.m. Musical picnic
2 – 10 p.m. Youth Festival
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Thursday, August 18 - Cologne or Duesseldorf
Morning prayer
9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Catechesis, together with the sacrament of reconciliation and a closing Mass.
In the afternoons Introductory program with music and prayers
4 – 6:30 p.m. Welcome celebration with the new Pope
7 – 10 p.m. International Festival in Cologne city center
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Friday, August 19 - Cologne or Duesseldorf
Morning prayer
9:00 a.m. –1:00 p.m. Catechesis, together with the sacrament of reconciliation and a closing Mass.
2:00 p.m. – 6 p.m. Youth Festival
7:00 p.m. Way of the Cross
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Saturday, August 20 - Cologne
7:30 a.m. Final service
From 11:00 a.m. Access granted for Vigil
From 12 noon Sacrament of reconciliation
In the afternoons Introductory program with music and prayers; Sacrament of reconciliation.
Everyone sleeps overnight (with sleeping bags) at Marienfeld (a field near Frechen – south of Cologne.)
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Sunday, August 21 - Cologne
7:00 a.m. Lauds
10:00 a.m. to about 12:30 p.m. Holy Mass with Pope Benedict XVI
Box Lunch provided.
Indianapolis group
Depart shortly afternoon Mass for a drive by coach to Munich Airport area.
A stop is made en route for supper (on own.)
Evening arrival at Munich Airport area.
Overnight at:
Best Western Munich Airport Erding
Cincinnati group
Transfer from Marienfeld to Dsseldorf Airport.
4:25 p.m. Depart Düsseldorf via Air France flight #1907. Light meal on flight.
5:40 p.m. Arrive Paris.
Be transferred to our hotel: IBIS HOTEL, Paris
Detroit group
Transfer from Marienfeld to Düsseldorf Airport.
5:45 p.m. Depart Düsseldorf via Air France flight #2207. Light meal on flight.
7:00 p.m. Arrive Paris.
Be transferred to our hotel: IBIS HOTEL, Paris
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Monday, August 22 - Return Home
Indianapolis Group
10:30 a.m. Check in with US Airways, Munich International Airport
12:35 p.m. Depart on US Airways flight #15. Lunch and snack on the flight.
3:55 p.m. Arrive Philadelphia.
5:45 p.m. Depart Philadelphia via US Airways flight #169
6:51 p.m. Arrive Indianapolis.
Cincinnati Group
10:20 a.m. Depart Paris via Air France flight #382. Lunch and snack on flight
1:25 p.m. Arrive Cincinnati. Go through customs and proceed home.
Detroit Group
10:30 a.m. Depart Paris via Air France flight #374. Lunch and snack on flight
1:05 p.m. Arrive Detroit. Go through customs and proceed home.
Arrangements by: GRUENINGER TOURS, 201 W. 103 RD St. Indianapolis, IN 46290
Tel: (317) 465-1122 (800) 844-4159 Email: Info@grueningertours.com www.grueningertours.com