Catholic Travel
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Catholic travel involves groups of the faithful who seek spiritual renewal and motivation from pilgrimages to holy locations across the world. Catholic travel is not unlike normal modes of travel by any other religious or tour groups; it simply focuses on those sites that bear greater meaning to the Roman Catholic denomination. There are travel agencies who cater directly to the Catholic and affiliated organizations that take into consideration the policies and guidelines of the Catholic culture when planning tours. Tour packages are available and are customized to the needs of the group involved in the trip.
Locations that are significant to faith-centered groups include The Vatican; the major shrines of Italy - Rome, Assisi, Milan, Venice, Florence; the Holy Land - Nazareth, Bethlehem, Jerusalem; Spain's Road to Santiago Compostela, Bilbao, Santo Domingo, Loyola, Madrid; Marian Shrines in Fatima, Lourdes and Paris; other major shrines in France - Lisieux, Ars, Taize; England and Scotland's holy sites; Greece and Turkey - following the footsteps of Paul; among many others that are frequented by faith-centered groups.
These faith-oriented pilgrimages are subject to the same travel restrictions and arrangements as other travel tours. The airline and hotel accommodations are best prearranged, and travel agents attempt to provide the best for the least amount of money. The agents will offer package tours for Catholic travel to reach as many of the desired holy locations within the time frame the group has specified and will seek tour guides who will best serve the group in language needs as well as hospitality and unique services to include sites not assumed to be part of the package. Church-related travel in Bible times was about spreading the faith. "Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch." (Acts 11:22)
Many faithful of the Roman Catholic Church who desire a spiritual lift and renewal in their faith by personally being in the places where their saints lived and walked take these trips. The incredible sense of the spiritual presence in these holy places cannot be attained by any other means, and it is as though the pilgrims participating in these groups have plunged back into time and can almost see the people of the ancient world; feel the touch of holy hands; and hear the cries of the civilizations who really did see and touch the masters of old.
Such an experience that comes through groups participating in Catholic travel cannot be substituted by any other experience. The overwhelming spiritual revival inspires the travelers to return to their homes excited and eager to tell others of the reality of those holy places, and the good news of their faith. They seek more than ever to spread the news of Faith-oriented as a means to spiritual renewal.
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