Month: December 2020
Fr. Edward A. Murphy first went to Medjugorje on a 206 Tours Pilgrimage in 1990 and was forever changed. He credits Our Lady of Medjugorje with his conversion and call to Priesthood.
This year at Christmastime, Fr. Ed returned to Medjugorje to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of his calling. Here, he leads a prayer and provides and Christmas Blessing to all Pilgrims who were unable to visit Medjugorje this year due to the Pandemic.
He reassures us all and reminds us to continue praying and hold strong to our faith. He says, “yes, the vaccine is for the immune system” but we “need Jesus for our souls”. Watch the video below for more from Father Murphy about his connection to Medjugorje and his upcoming Pilgrimage celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Our Lady’s Apparition.
Fr. Murphy’s 1998 Ordination Prayer Cards
To Join Fr. Murphy on a Pilgrimage to Medjugorje, visit: www.pilgrimages.com/frmurphy
La Voce Di Maria, or “The Voice of Mary” is a new original Italian song by artists Roberta Torresi and Paolo Bisonni. Here, Mexican musician, Lupita Aguilar sings a beautiful rendition in Cancun, Mexico. This December, Pilgrims were unable to physically travel to Mexico City to venerate and celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Instead, watch this beautiful video and join us in prayer to Our Lady!
Enjoy!
On December 8, 2020, the Vatican released an official decree from Pope Francis announcing a Year of Saint Joseph to run through December 8, 2021. For the full announcement, see our blog post a Year of Saint Joseph.
In the decree, the Apostolic Penitentiary said that plenary indulgences would be granted to Catholics who recite any approved prayer or act of piety in honor of St. Joseph. In Latin Tradition, Wednesdays are dedicated to Saint Joseph – the decree recognizes that a Plenary Indulgence is offered each Wednesday in this year of Saint Joseph. The Indulgence can also be granted on his solemnity March 19 and on May 1, the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker. These Plenary Indulgences will act “to reaffirm the universality of St. Joseph’s patronage in the Church.”
Other opportunities for the plenary indulgence are the Feast of the Holy Family on December 29 and St. Joseph’s Sunday in the Byzantine tradition, as well as the 19th of each month.
The decree said:
“In the current context of health emergency, the gift of the plenary indulgence is particularly extended to the elderly, the sick, the dying and all those who for legitimate reasons are unable to leave the house, who, with a soul detached from any sin and with the intention of fulfilling, as soon as possible, the three usual conditions, in their own home or where the impediment keeps them, recite an act of piety in honor of St. Joseph, comfort of the sick and patron of a happy death, offering with trust in God the pains and discomforts of their life.”
The three conditions for receiving a plenary indulgence are sacramental confession, the reception of Holy Communion, and prayer for the pope’s intentions. To learn more about a Plenary Indulgence, visit: 206tours.com/plenary-indulgence
On the morning of December 8, 2020 many Catholics woke to see this Facebook post, by Father Donald Calloway, MIC:
Glorious day! The pope has officially declared a Year of St. Joseph today! Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty! Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and the 150th anniversary of the declaration of St. Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. And now, for the first time in Church history, we have a Year of St. Joseph for the entire Church! Rejoice!!!!
On January 1, 2020, Father Calloway’s published his latest book, the Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father, which was extraordinarily well-received & well sold! Fr. Calloway is a longtime valued Spiritual Director for 206 Tours – for years, his Pilgrimages are among the most popular and always sell-out. He is a convert to Catholicism who was ordained into the Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary in 2003. He has now famously released almost a dozen books, see more here.
View a Series of Videos of Fr. Calloway discussing St. Joseph while on 206 Tours Pilgrimages, here.
For an updated list of Fr. Calloway’s upcoming Pilgrimages, visit: www.pilgrimages.com/frcalloway
Fr. Calloway while on Pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 2019.
Since publishing Consecration to St. Joseph, Fr. Calloway has tirelessly been championing the mission to have a Year of St. Joseph. On May 1, 2019, Fr. Calloway penned a letter to Pope Francis asking for consideration for a year dedicated to St. Joseph which was hand-delivered to the Pontiff on May 4th by Bishop Hector Zordan of Argentina. After thousands of prayer groups, virtually led consecrations, videos online conferences, and even a letter-writing campaign – the mission has finally been realized!
Fr. Calloway and Pilgrims in Mexico in March 2020, the last 206 Tours Pilgrimage of their year due to the pandemic.
On December 8, 2020 – the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Pope Francis proclaimed an official “Year of St. Joseph”! In response to this news, we have seen an outpouring of joy on social media. Many of our pilgrims flocked to Facebook to rejoice and share stories of their experiencing consecrating themselves to Saint Joseph and writing letters to their local Bishops. We congratulate Father Calloway, all his readers, and our pilgrims, who together furthered this movement for a Year of St. Joseph!
Actor Jim Caviezel holding the Consecration to St. Joseph, and on the Sea of Galilee on a 206 Tours Pilgrimage with Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC in 2019.
The Apostolic Letter titled, “Patris corde” or “With a Father’s Heart” explained the year will span from December 8, 2020 to December 8, 2021. The letter recognizes that 150 years ago St. Joseph was named the Patron of the Catholic Church by Blessed Pope Pius IX. Read the full letter here: Patris Corde
Left, a pilgrim reads on a flight on their way to make a Pilgrimage. Right, a Pilgrim and front-line worker reads on a break from fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the letter, the Holy Father recognizes St. Joseph as “A beloved father” whose “greatness… is that he was the spouse of Mary and the father of Jesus. In this way, he places himself in the words of Saint John Chrysosthom, ‘at the services of the entire plan of salvation'”. Pope Francis essays how St. Joseph is a “beloved”, “tender and loving”, “obedient”, “accepting”, “creatively courageous”, and “working” father “in the shadows.”
206 Tours Founder, Vice President and employees excited to receive advanced copies in late 2019.
Pope Francis ends his letter with this short prayer. Please join us in reciting this prayer to St. Joseph the Worker!
“We need only ask Saint Joseph for the grace of graces: our conversion.” – Pope Francis
Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer,
Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
To you God entrusted his only Son;
in you Mary placed her trust;
with you Christ became man.
Blessed Joseph, to us too,
show yourself a father
and guide us in the path of life.
Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage,
and defend us from every evil. Amen.
View a Series of Videos of Fr. Calloway discussing St. Joseph while on 206 Tours Pilgrimages, here.
For an updated list of Fr. Calloway’s upcoming Pilgrimages, visit: www.pilgrimages.com/frcalloway
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December 12th is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. In 2020, due to the pandemic, the annual celebrations at the Basilica are going to be held virtually as a safety precaution. Pope Francis also announced that Catholics will be able to receive a Plenary Indulgence venerating Our Lady in this Jubilee Year the 125th Anniversary of the Coronation of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
An announcement from the Vatican says: “Let us allow Our Lady to visit us in our homes this year. Let us open our doors to her and lift up our hearts so that she may bless us and cover us with her mantle. May Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Most Holy Mother, Saint Mary of Guadalupe, continue to accompany us and bless us on this painful journey for all the people of God who wander in our archdiocese and throughout the world.”
Plenary Indulgences and the Jubilee Year had already been extended by the Vatican until October 12, 2021, due to the pandemic.
Steps to Receive Indulgence
1. Prepare an altar or place of prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe at home.
2. Watch the live stream Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City on 12 December. Remember to participate as if you were there, and pay close attention to the eucharist.
3. Complete the usual conditions for an indulgence by praying for the Pope’s intentions, detailed here: www.206tours.com/plenary-indulgence
Here are some helpful links to how you can participate online:
Send Prayer Intentions:
Catholics all around the world are invited to send intentions to be offered during the Mañanitas Mass on December 12th as well as at the solemn Mass of the Roses. Click here to send intentions.
Donate & “Light” a Candle:
All who donate to the Shrine will light a virtual candle. Click here to learn more about how to donate and light a candle.
Follow on Social Media:
Watch Live
Various celebrations, prayer services, and Masses will be live streaming over the course of the Feast. Watch the Livestream on YouTube or their Website.
Our Lady of Guadalupe is also known as the “Patroness of the Americas” for her love for all the Western world, and her foreshadowing of the exploration and explosion of Catholicism that would take place in the New World.
She first appeared to visionary St. Juan Diego on December 9, 1531, at Tepeyac Hill in Mexico. Juan Diego tried to tell the Archbishop what he had seen but he did not believe him. On December 11th, Juan Diego’s uncle fell ill, and on December 12th he was cured, and the image of the Virgin Mary again appeared before Juan Diego but this time in front of the Archbishop. Her image appeared in his cloak, or the Tilma, which can still be seen at the Basilica.
206 Tours operates many Pilgrimages to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe each year, learn more about our departures to Mexico City here.
Catholics know the true meaning of Christmas, as we come together to rejoice at the coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ, born to the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem. For decades, Christmas has been largely popularized and commercialized in the Secular world. Here is the story of the Catholic Saint Nicholas, the inspiration for the secular figure, Santa Claus.
St. Nicholas is believed to have been born in Patara in 270. He is often referred to as St. Nicholas of Myra or Bari, as that is where he died and was buried, respectively. His feast day is celebrated on the day of his death, December 6th each year and he is the Patron Saint of Children.
The tradition of gift-giving is attached to St. Nicholas due to his charitable nature and several instances of giving to those in need. Nicholas was eventually chosen to be the bishop of Myra and became famous and beloved for his extraordinary piety, zeal, and several miracles.
Nicholas died and was buried in his city of Myra, however later, his relics were moved to the city of Bari, Italy, and many miracles were attributed to his intercession.
The devotion to St. Nicholas spread fiercely. By the Middle ages, there were several hundred churches dedicated to him, and even now he is still widely celebrated in European cities around Christmastime – recognized as the gift-giver, the inspiration for Santa Claus, or “Old Saint Nicholas”!
It was announced on Saturday, October 24th that His Holiness, Pope Francis, appointed Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, O.F.M, as the Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem. His Beatitude spent the last four years in service as the Apostolic Administer and has lived and served in the Holy Land for over 30 years.
On December 4, 2020, he will make Solemn Entry into the Cathedral of the Holy Sepulchre for the first time in this new role. On December 5, 2020, he will celebrate his first Pontifical Mass in this Most Holy Place. Both events will be live-streamed on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Latin.patriarchate.of.jerusalem
Learn more about Archbishop Pizzaballa and his experiences with 206 Tours Pilgrims, here.
Thank you Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, O.F.M for your service, constant leadership, championing of the Holy Land, and consistent friendship! We continue to pray for you and wish you the best in this newest appointment to Latin Patriarch – congratulations! God Bless!