Sunday, July 22, 2018, was a historic day in Medjugorje, as they finally welcomed Archbishop Henryk Hoser to St. James Church. Thousands of locals and Catholic Pilgrims came to witness the celebration of Mass led by His Excellency, who was appointed the “Apostolic Visitor” to Medjugorje by Pope Francis on May 31, 2018.

Here is an excerpt from Archbishop Hoser’s homily:

“Let us now ask the fundamental question: Why do so many people come to Medjugorje every year? The clear answer is this: they come to meet someone, to meet God, to meet Christ, to meet His Mother. And then to discover the path that leads to the joy of living in the house of the Father and of the Mother; and ultimately to discover the Marian way as the more certain and sure one. This is the path of the Marian devotion that has been taking place here for.”

-Archbishop Henryk Hoser | St. James Church in Medjugorje July 22, 2018

His Excellency was born in 1942 in Poland and was elevated to Archbishop as personam in 2005 by Saint John Paul II – before being appointed to lead the Roman Catholic Diocese of Warszawa-Praga by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in 2008. On February 11, 2017 – Pope Francis assigned him to be the special envoy to Medjugorje, with the mission to determine the pastoral needs of the Parish seeing its popularity as a place for prayer and pilgrimage.

After reporting his findings, Archbishop Hoser resigned as the Archbishop of the Diocese of Warzawa-Prage on December 7, 2017. Later, Pope Francis went on to appoint him as the Archbishop to his post in Medjugorje for an indefinite period of time.

Medjugorje has a particularly special role in 206 Tours as it was the inspiration for the company’s founding and mission to help Catholics connect with their faith through Pilgrimage. Join us in prayer for Medjugorje, for Archbishop Hoser, and for world peace!

Learn more about Medjugorje here: www.206tours.com/medjugorje

Rapid travel through multiple time zones can take its toll on your physical and mental well-being. “Jet Lag” is the phrase used to describe the condition when your body’s internal clock is out of sync with the actual time in the region to which you have traveled. It is important to try to adjust your internal body clock to get the most out of your tour. Here are some tips on how to prevent jet lag:

1. Rise and Shine

On the day of the flight, consider getting out of bed earlier than usual. Waking up earlier, followed by a busy day spent in the airport, will surely help to tire you out so that you can easily fall to sleep on your overnight flight.

2. Hydrate

It is common to become dehydrated on long flights. Make sure to drink lots of water, before you travel, to compensate for the possibility of dehydration. Keep drinking water during the flight, and after you arrive. Staying hydrated will help you to stay feeling well – dehydration can take a huge toll on the body and make us feel fatigued, dizzy and confused. This can even lead to muscle soreness and headaches.

3. Eat Well

All of our Pilgrimages (except Mexico) require an overnight flight. In this case, you will likely be served an evening meal during your flight. Try to avoid foods that are very fatty or high in sugar or carbohydrates – these foods can keep you awake or impact the quality of your sleep.

4. Change your Clocks

After you eat, set your watch ahead to the actual time of your final destination. This way, you are prepared and in sync when you land which will help to combat any grogginess or confusion you may experience.

5. Catch Some Zzz’s

On your overnight flight, try to get to sleep as soon as you possibly can.

Stick to Your Nighttime Routine

Try to follow some resemblance of your nightly routine – if you watch a TV Show, read a book, take melatonin, or have a cup of tea before bed at home, do that on the plane as well.

Get Comfortable

We all know that airplane seats are not the most comfortable of spaces to sleep, so try to prepare ahead of time by making sure you have everything you need to get as comfortable as you can on your flight so that you can get to sleep quickly. Wear comfortable clothing, bring a travel blanket, neck pillow, eye mask, and earplugs or noise-canceling headphones.
This is the most important step! Take advantage of this time to get as much rest as possible so that you can start your trip refreshed and ready!

6. Stretch

If sleep is evading you, try to stretch as much as you can. Get out of your seat and move about the cabin a bit. Stretching will keep your muscles from cramping or becoming stiff and will increase your circulation and oxygen flow.

7. Get Moving

When you get to your final destination, do not check in to your hotel for a nap! Get active right away and try to stay awake until 10:00 PM local time so that you adjust to the local time.

Touring often begins on the day that you arrive, so don’t miss some of the experience by sleeping or suffering through exhaustion. Proper preparation, and following these steps, will help you to take advantage of your travel time for rest so that you can make the most of your trip!

For more helpful travel information like this, check out our Final Instruction Booklets (included with your Travel Documents) or the specific Web Links to different countries entitled, “Know Before You Go”