TOUR FEATURES
- Round trip airfare from Phoenix.
- $220 Government taxes/airline surcharges.
- Accommodations at first class/select hotels, based on two persons sharing in twin-bedded rooms with private bath.
- Most meals.
- Services of a professional English-speaking tour director.
- Comprehensive sightseeing throughout.
- All admission fees, porterage at hotels, hotel taxes and service charges are included.
- Transfers to/from airports by private motorcoach including meeting/assistance.
- Masses daily
Rev. Fr. Showri Raju Narra was ordained a Catholic priest for the Diocese of Guntur, India.
In India, he served as secretary to the bishop and worked in the diocesan chancery office. He also served as a chaplain to hospitals and convents and spent a short period as a parish pastor. In addition, he was responsible for media and technology and served as a promoter of a Catholic television channel.
Fr. Showri came to the United States and has served in the Diocese of Tucson, Arizona, including ministry at the Cathedral and in Maricopa. Since 2018, he has also served in chaplaincy ministry, providing spiritual and sacramental care.
Fr. Showri currently resides at Santa Cruz Church in Tucson and continues to serve faithfully in priestly, pastoral, and chaplaincy ministries. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, exploring new places and experiences, and visiting churches and pilgrimage sites.
Dear Pilgrims,
I want to personally invite you to join us for an unforgettable tour of Mexico City and other historic cities and sights in the surrounding area.
Together we will explore beautiful Mexico City and visit the New Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe and more! Our pilgrimage promises to expand and deepen our faith as we learn more about our Catholic heritage, gain a biblical & historical perspective and enjoy the beauty, landscape, cuisine, hospitality and traditions of the region! We guarantee you will experience the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in a dynamic and intimate way that will enrich, impact, and inspire your spiritual journey forever.
Erin
DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY
MON, APR 26 – ARRIVE MEXICO CITY
Fly today to Mexico City, a huge, sprawling metropolis with an exciting combination of Aztec, Spanish colonial and modern art and architecture. It is one of the world’s most populous and is considered to be a world-class city. (D)
TUE, APR 27- MEXICO CITY
This morning depart for the Templo de la Sagrada Familia, where you will celebrate Holy Mass and pray before the remains of Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro. Continue to Three Cultures Square, so called because of the different stages of Mexican History that can be clearly appreciated there: an Aztec ruin, the Church of Santiago Tlatelolco with the baptismal font of Juan Diego, modern skyscrapers and a housing unit. This afternoono visit the Metropolitan Cathedral on the Zócolo and also see the National Palace from the outside. (B/D)
WED, APR 28 – MEXICO CITY/TULPETLAC/
TEOTIHUACAN/PUEBLA
This morning travel to Tulpetlac, the site of the Fifth Guadalupan Apparition. Celebrate Mass at this holy site. Then head to San Juan Teotihuacan, one of the
best-preserved ancient cities in Mexico, the archaeological ruins of Teotihuacan. Teotihuacan was the most important city in North America around 500 A.D. The mile-long Avenue of the Dead is framed by countless monumental structures, including the pyramids of the Sun and Moon. Continue to Puebla southeast of Mexico City and Mexico’s fourth largest city packed with ornate churches. Here is a showplace of Spanish colonial architecture; much of it adorned with the beautiful hand painted Talavera tiles for which the region is famous. (B,D)
THU, APR 29- PUEBLA/OCOTLAN/TLAXCALA/PUEBLA
This morning visit Ocotlan to see the beautiful Basilica and image of Our Lady that was miraculously burned into the wood after her appearance in 1532 to Juan Diego Bernardino. Continue to Tlaxcala, the “Lourdes” of Mexico and the Shrine of San Miguel del Milagro, site of the miraculous apparitions of St. Michael the Archangel to Diego Lazaro de San Francisco in 1631. This afternoon continue to Cholula, a magical town where two great symbols of two cultures coexist just a few meters apart: the Great Pyramid and the Franciscan Ex-Convent of San Gabriel, one of the oldest convents in the Americas. From there, we’ll admire the Church of Our Lady of the Remedies, a Catholic sanctuary built atop the ancient pyramid. Pilgrims will have free time to make the ascent (approximately 25 minutes, uphill) and enjoy the view from the top. Return to Puebla where you will visit the Cathedral and the Rosary Chapel with its stunning tiled and gold-leafed walls. There will be time in the market and in the beautiful center of Puebla. (B,D)
FRI, APR
North America around 500 A.D. The mile-long Avenue of the Dead is framed by countless monumental structures, including the pyramids of the Sun and Moon. Continue to Puebla southeast of Mexico City and Mexico’s fourth largest city packed with ornate churches. Here is a showplace of Spanish colonial architecture; much of it adorned with the beautiful hand painted Talavera tiles for which the region is famous. (B,D)
THU, APR 29- PUEBLA/OCOTLAN/TLAXCALA/PUEBLA
This morning visit Ocotlan to see the beautiful Basilica and image of Our Lady that was miraculously burned into the wood after her appearance in 1532 to Juan Diego Bernardino. Continue to Tlaxcala, the “Lourdes” of Mexico and the Shrine of San Miguel del Milagro, site of the miraculous apparitions of St. Michael the Archangel to Diego Lazaro de San Francisco in 1631. This afternoon continue to Cholula, a magical town where two great symbols of two cultures coexist just a few meters apart: the Great Pyramid and the Franciscan Ex-Convent of San Gabriel, one of the oldest convents in the Americas. From there, we’ll admire the Church of Our Lady of the Remedies, a Catholic sanctuary built atop the ancient pyramid. Pilgrims will have free time to make the ascent (approximately 25 minutes, uphill) and enjoy the view from the top. Return to Puebla where you will visit the Cathedral and the Rosary Chapel with its stunning tiled and gold-leafed walls. There will be time in the market and in the beautiful center of Puebla. (B,D)
FRI, APR 30 – PUEBLA/TAXCO
Just two hours from Mexico City, in the State of Guerrero, lies the historic town of Taxco, one of the most amazing towns in all of Mexico and world renowned for its beautiful colonial architecture and its narrow, cobbled streets. Located in the heart of the country between Acapulco and Mexico City, today Taxco is Mexico’s top silver center. In fact, here you will find over 500 silver shops to entice you. (B,D)
SAT, MAY 1 – TAXCO/XOCHIMILCO /MEXICO CITY
On the way back to Mexico City, stop for Mass. The next stop will be Xochimilco, the famous “Floating Gardens”, a pre-Hispanic network of canals and chinampas in the south of the city, protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. We will enjoy a boat ride along the canals aboard a traditional trajinera (embarcation), while listening to festive music performed by mariachis. Later this afternoon return to Mexico City for dinner and overnight. (B,D)
SUN, MAY 2 – SHRINE OF GUADALUPE
We will spend our day with Our Mother.
This morning, visit the impressive complex and one of Mexico’s holiest shrines. This is where the Virgin of Guadalupe is said to have appeared to St. Juan Diego and honors her request that a Shrine be built in Her honor. Visit the New Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe that houses the sacred Tilma (image of the Virgin). Later, see the old Basilica, Tepeyac Hill and the surrounding gardens. Upon arrival at the Shrine you will celebrate Mass in the Basilica built in Her honor. This afternoon you will have free time at the Sanctuary to visit the Antigua Basílica (Old Basilica) and the Capilla del Pocito (Chapel of the Well), or to climb the Cerro del Tepeyac for personal prayer.
MON, MAY 3 – MEXICO CITY/PHOENIX
All too soon you have to say goodbye as you transfer to the airport today for the flight back to Phoenix. (B)
B – Breakfast D – Dinner