México
Suggested Itineraries
México
*Can be modified by request
DAY MEALS ACTIVITY (Subject to change)
1 Depart for Mexico
2 BD Journey to Guadalupe, pray before the Tilma of Juan Diego at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, visit the Aztec pyramids of Teotihuacan
3 BD Take in the sights of Mexico city, its plazas, palace and cathedral
4 BD Travel to the suburbs of Mexico city and spend the day in missionary service with the Missionaries of Charity
5 BD Travel to Puebla and visit Our Lady of Ocotlán along the way, pray before the incorrupt body of Blessed Sebastian de Aparicio
6 BD Depart Puebla for Mexico City and return home
1 Depart for Mexico
2 BD Journey to Guadalupe, pray before the Tilma of Juan Diego at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, visit the Aztec pyramids of Teotihuacan
3 BD Take in the sights of Mexico city, its plazas, palace and cathedral
4 BD Travel to the suburbs of Mexico city and spend the day in missionary service with the Missionaries of Charity
5 BD Travel to Puebla and visit Our Lady of Ocotlán along the way, pray before the incorrupt body of Blessed Sebastian de Aparicio
6 BD Depart Puebla for Mexico City and return home
Significant Feast Days
Feb 25 - Feast of Blessed Sebastian of Aparicio
Sep 29 - Feast of St. Michael the Archangel
Dec 9 - Feast of St. Juan Diego
Dec 12 - Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Sep 29 - Feast of St. Michael the Archangel
Dec 9 - Feast of St. Juan Diego
Dec 12 - Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
6-Day Pilgrimage
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DAY 1: Home - Mexico City (U.S. Departures)
Depart home for Mexico City. Upon arrival, meet your JMJcatholic Guide and transfer to your accommodations. Arrival time permitting, take a brief walking tour to familiarize yourself with the neighborhood, then gather as a group for your first authentic Mexican dinner as a group. Overnight in Mexico City. |
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DAY 2: Guadalupe & Teotihuacan Pyramids
Journey to Guadalupe and enter the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Begin your pilgrimage with Mass in the brilliantly colored modern Basilica (pictured in the header above). Join your prayers with those of others as you kneel before the altar displaying the astounding Tilma, the actual sackcloth bearing the miraculous image of the Holy Virgin. See the Old Basilica (1709) with its twin towers, one of the most beautiful in Latin America.
Continue your pilgrimage to Tepeyac Hill (pictured left). Pray inside El Cerrito, the chapel built at the site of the first apparition. In this holy place, ask for the intercession of La Vírgen, Patroness of the Americas. Before departing, climb the stairs rising to the summit, and reflect upon the significance of Guadalupe’s message for our time.
Journey to Guadalupe and enter the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Begin your pilgrimage with Mass in the brilliantly colored modern Basilica (pictured in the header above). Join your prayers with those of others as you kneel before the altar displaying the astounding Tilma, the actual sackcloth bearing the miraculous image of the Holy Virgin. See the Old Basilica (1709) with its twin towers, one of the most beautiful in Latin America.
Continue your pilgrimage to Tepeyac Hill (pictured left). Pray inside El Cerrito, the chapel built at the site of the first apparition. In this holy place, ask for the intercession of La Vírgen, Patroness of the Americas. Before departing, climb the stairs rising to the summit, and reflect upon the significance of Guadalupe’s message for our time.
In the afternoon, head north into the ancient world of Teotihuacan and its monumental archaeological discoveries. At a time when most European cities were little more than villages, Teotihuacan was the largest city in the pre-Columbian Americas and most likely the world. This pre-Aztec city contains the Pyramids of the Sun, an amazing 215 foot high pyramid, the awesome Pyramid of the Moon, the Temple of Quetzalcoatl with its enormous ornamental snake heads, and the grand Avenue of the Dead running the length of the city. Return to Mexico City for dinner and overnight.
DAY 3: Mexico City
Visit the great sites of the Capital City. Take a stroll around the Zócalo (pictured right), one of the world's largest city squares. See the National Palace, and the Metropolitan Cathedral, where we will celebrate Mass later in the week. Continue on to the Plaza of Three Cultures where Aztec, Spanish, and modern Mexican cultures meet.
Take in the sights and sounds of the city as you cross through this famously busy metropolis. Discover the hidden beauty of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, a masterpiece of Spanish baroque architecture where you will celebrate Mass. Conclude the evening with a delicious local dinner. Overnight in Mexico City.
Visit the great sites of the Capital City. Take a stroll around the Zócalo (pictured right), one of the world's largest city squares. See the National Palace, and the Metropolitan Cathedral, where we will celebrate Mass later in the week. Continue on to the Plaza of Three Cultures where Aztec, Spanish, and modern Mexican cultures meet.
Take in the sights and sounds of the city as you cross through this famously busy metropolis. Discover the hidden beauty of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, a masterpiece of Spanish baroque architecture where you will celebrate Mass. Conclude the evening with a delicious local dinner. Overnight in Mexico City.
DAY 4: Mission Day
Travel through the eye-opening Mexico City suburbs for a missionary day of service at a Missionaries of Charity shelter*. Hearts will be moved by the infants, children, teenagers, and elderly who have been abandoned by their families due to an array of disabilities. There will be time to play and enjoy their company, but also time to serve them by cleaning, helping at meal times, and responding to other needs and requests. At day's end, pray and give thanks for your missionary experience while celebrating Mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral. Dinner and overnight in Mexico City.
*Your group may serve an alternate Missionaries of Charity project, depending upon where the need is the greatest.
Travel through the eye-opening Mexico City suburbs for a missionary day of service at a Missionaries of Charity shelter*. Hearts will be moved by the infants, children, teenagers, and elderly who have been abandoned by their families due to an array of disabilities. There will be time to play and enjoy their company, but also time to serve them by cleaning, helping at meal times, and responding to other needs and requests. At day's end, pray and give thanks for your missionary experience while celebrating Mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral. Dinner and overnight in Mexico City.
*Your group may serve an alternate Missionaries of Charity project, depending upon where the need is the greatest.
DAY 5: Tlaxcala, Ocotlán, & Puebla
Venture east of Mexico City towards Puebla, passing by the Great Pyramid of Cholula (and no, we don't mean the hot sauce). Visit the holy shrine of San Miguel del Milagro. Celebrate Mass at this site where St. Michael the Archangel appeared to Diego Lazaro in 1631, directing him to the Grotto and to a well of miraculous curative waters. In the Basilica of Our Lady of Ocotlán, see the perfectly preserved statue of Our Lady that was burnt into a tree trunk after she appeared to Juan Diego Bernardino in 1541.
In the afternoon, explore the UNESCO World Heritage city of Puebla. There are 365 churches in this, Mexico's fourth largest city. You will be sure to see the ornate Capilla del Rosario inside Santo Domingo and the golden organ of the Puebla Cathedral. Make a special pilgrimage to St. Francis of Assisi Church to pray before the incorrupt body of Blessed Sebastian de Aparicio.
Work up an appetite browsing the markets of Puebla (pictured right), then end the day with a delicious local dinner. Many of Mexico's tastiest dishes originate from Puebla, including the famous mole poblano - the invention of a local woman trying to clean out her pantry. Overnight in Puebla.
Venture east of Mexico City towards Puebla, passing by the Great Pyramid of Cholula (and no, we don't mean the hot sauce). Visit the holy shrine of San Miguel del Milagro. Celebrate Mass at this site where St. Michael the Archangel appeared to Diego Lazaro in 1631, directing him to the Grotto and to a well of miraculous curative waters. In the Basilica of Our Lady of Ocotlán, see the perfectly preserved statue of Our Lady that was burnt into a tree trunk after she appeared to Juan Diego Bernardino in 1541.
In the afternoon, explore the UNESCO World Heritage city of Puebla. There are 365 churches in this, Mexico's fourth largest city. You will be sure to see the ornate Capilla del Rosario inside Santo Domingo and the golden organ of the Puebla Cathedral. Make a special pilgrimage to St. Francis of Assisi Church to pray before the incorrupt body of Blessed Sebastian de Aparicio.
Work up an appetite browsing the markets of Puebla (pictured right), then end the day with a delicious local dinner. Many of Mexico's tastiest dishes originate from Puebla, including the famous mole poblano - the invention of a local woman trying to clean out her pantry. Overnight in Puebla.
DAY 6: Depart for home
Depart Puebla for Mexico City and your flight home after a week of new experiences.
Mass will be celebrated daily, except on air travel days.
Depart Puebla for Mexico City and your flight home after a week of new experiences.
Mass will be celebrated daily, except on air travel days.
