Priest
About Fr. Shawn Roberson, TOR:
Hi there! I’m Fr. Shawn Roberson TOR and I am the University Chaplain at Franciscan University of Steubenville. I’ve been at the university for 12 years now and have had such an incredible time experiencing these young people with their Catholic faith so rooted in the Love of the Lord and Our Lady.
I have been asked to be the Spiritual Director for this pilgrimage to Medjugorje In April ’25. I could not be more excited to be with you on this trip! This will be my 8th time traveling to Medjugorje since 1993. It is a very special place that is so alive with the Grace of God and love of Our Lady. It will be a time where you will receive gifts of Grace and Peace by knowing the Blessed Mother’s love in a very personal and special way.
Your trip includes
- Round-trip airfare from New York (JFK) and all other airports per https://www.206tours.com/airports/
- Airport Taxes and Fuel Surcharges
- Hotel accommodations: (or similar) in double occupancy
- ~ 6 nights: Apr 24 - 30: Hotel Grace, Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina
- ~ 2 nights: Apr 30 - May 2: Hotel Lero, Dubrovnik, Croatia
- Breakfast and Dinner daily
- Wine and mineral water with dinners
- Transfers as per itinerary
- Transportation by air-conditioned motor coach
- Whisper headsets where needed
- Assistance of a professional local Catholic Guide
- Visits to Siroki Brieg, Tihaljina and Surmanci
- Meeting with visionaries (Pending availability)
- Visit to Community Cenacolo
- Sightseeing and admissions fees as per itinerary
- Mass daily & Spiritual activities
- Luggage handling (1 piece per person)
- Flight bag & PDF digital confirmation of all travel documents
Not Included
- lunches and beverages not mentioned, tips to your guide and driver.
Itinerary
Day 1 | Wednesday, April 23: Depart for Medjugorje
Make your way to your local airport, where you will board your overnight flight. Your meals will be served on board.
Day 2 | Thursday, April 24: Arrive Medjugorje
Upon arrival in Europe, change gates to board your short connection flight to either: Dubrovnik, Split, or Sarajevo airport. Upon arrival, collect your luggage in the baggage claim area, and continue to the arrival’s hall, where you will be greeted by a tour guide and/or driver, who will take you on the 2.5-hour drive to the village of Medjugorje. Enjoy dinner before retiring for the evening.
Days 3 - 7 | Friday - Tuesday, April 25 - 29: Experiencing Medjugorje
The most beautiful features of Medjugorje are its simplicity and peace. While in Medjugorje, you may experience your faith grow, and share in the faith journey of pilgrims from all over the world. A local guide will accompany your group throughout your stay in the village.
Some activities that will accompany you in your spiritual journey:
Attend Daily Mass: Each morning at 10:00 AM, your group will assemble at St. James Church for Mass (English-Speaking). At the end of each Mass, regardless of language, there is a blessing of religious articles pilgrims can attend.
On Feast Days and Sundays: English Mass is at noon.
Climb Apparition Hill: This mountainous hill is where the visionaries first encountered Our Lady. At the base of this hill is a Blue Cross, where Our Lady appeared to the children while they hid from the communist police in the early days of the alleged apparitions. While climbing, pilgrims are invited to recite the Rosary, pausing five times for each decade of the Rosary. At the top of the hill is the exact location of the first alleged apparition of Our Lady – enjoy private time for prayer in this Holy place.
Climb Mt. Krizevac (Cross Mountain): In 1933, the villagers built a 30-foot high cross atop the mountain to commemorate Jesus’ passion and death on the cross. You will have the opportunity to climb this mountain and venerate that very cross. While climbing, pilgrims pray the Stations of the Cross to meditate on Jesus’ suffering Road to Calvary, pausing fifteen times for each Station.
Apparitions: Each evening at 5:00 PM your group can join the villagers and fellow pilgrims of Medjugorje at either St James Church or Apparition Hill to commemorate the time Our Lady appears to the Visionaries. There you can pray the Rosary, as you all await that time 5:40PM
*Afterward, Croatian Mass is held at St. James Church and is free to all to attend. It is broadcasted by the radio, simultaneously in order to translate the services from Croatian into many languages. Following the Croatian Mass, there is a Blessing of the Sick.
**For details about the Visionaries, please visit: www.206tours.com/visionaries
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: Our Lady has always called us to be close to her Son. In response to her call, pilgrims will have the opportunity to adore the Blessed Sacrament at the altar outside of St. James Church. Adoration is on Tuesdays and Saturdays; Veneration of the Cross is on Fridays inside the church. Additionally, there is an Adoration Chapel on the grounds of St. James Church, where Adoration is held in the afternoon hours.
Visit the Community of Cenacolo: Pilgrims will have the opportunity to visit the community of Cenacolo, founded by the Sisters of Charity, for young men and women who have taken the wrong path and are on the road to recovery. You will be able to listen to their inspirational words about their journeys back to Jesus Christ.
Prayer at the Statue of the Risen Christ: The bronze statue of the Risen Christ, located on the grounds of St. James Church. Many pilgrims sit and pray on the benches surrounding this peaceful statue. This statue miraculously seeps droplets of water at all times of the day out of Christ’s right knee.
Day 8 | Wednesday, April 30: Medjugorje – Dubrovnik
After breakfast, you will transfer to Dubrovnik also known as the Pearl of the Adriatic. Meet our local guide who will take us on a walking tour of the Old City. It will begin at St. Blaise Church, the Patron Saint of Dubrovnik. Continue to the Gothic and Renaissance styled Rector’s Palace. Next, you will stroll by the iconic Bell Tower Clock and Orlando’s Column. To the left of this column, you will see the Sponza Palace. In the sixteenth century, members of the Academia dei Concordi met to discuss literature and to this day, the palace is the most important cultural institution of Dubrovnik. Lastly, you will visit the Dominican and Franciscan Monasteries. The location of the Dominican Monastery is strategically placed at the most sensitive point of Dubrovnik’s defense barriers. While at the Franciscan Monastery, you will have the opportunity to visit one of the first Pharmacies still in existence. Dinner and overnight in Dubrovnik.
Day 9 | Thursday, May 1: Dubrovnik
After Mass enjoy exploring timeless streets in Dubrovnik. No cars are allowed inside the wall city (deliveries are made during the night), stop at the market, or at one of many small family-owned shops and restaurants. You can buy a ticket to walk on top of the wall, from there you can watch one of the best preserved 600 year old cities in the world, still occupied by 5,000 inhabitants. Enjoy a farewell dinner and overnight in Dubrovnik.
Day 10 | Friday, May 2: Dubrovnik – Return Home
After an early breakfast and heartfelt farewells, you will leave by motor coach for Dubrovnik Airport for your return flight(s) home.
*206 Tours Disclaimer:
Occasionally local religious and national holidays, weather, traffic conditions and other events may necessitate changes in the sequence of events or the missing of certain events/places. Though every effort will be made to follow the itinerary, it should be considered as an indication, rather than a contract of events and places to be visited.
Would you like to arrive earlier or stay later?
Let us know at the time of registration if you would like to arrive earlier, or stay later, than the scheduled tour dates, and pending availability, we will change your airline reservations accordingly, additional fees may apply. Pre- and/or post-stays at the hotel will cost an additional fee. These options should be available to you when registering online, or simply contact us: sales@206tours.com