I would invite you to join us on this pilgrimage, which will leave Columbus on Saturday February 13th, 2016 and return on Saturday February 20th. This is not the typical packaged pilgrimage, as each day has been developed specifically to unite our prayers for life to the cultural, historical, and theological roots of abortion and ending abortion.
The trip itself will start and end with a visit to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Our first full day will kick off with a prayer vigil at a local Marie Stopes abortion clinic* followed by a trip to the Plaza of Three Cultures – a representation of the indigenous, Christian, and modern Mexico City. After that, we will join an introductory guided tour of the Old and New Basilicas and their surrounding grounds – including Tepeyac Hill Indian Church, the Church of the Well, and the Monument of offerings. Mass will be celebrated in the Basilica at a side altar. Our second day will also start with prayer at a clinic, from which we will proceed to Tulpetlac and the Monastery of Acolman. Later that day, we will visit Teotihuacan to visit the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon and the Temple of Tlaloc. Day four of the trip will include a visit to San Miguel del Milagro, sight of apparitions of St. Michael to Diego Lazaro and a trip to the healing waters of San Miguel before venturing to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Octolon. We will also visit Puebla, famed for its pottery and tiles. Finally, we will stop in Cuernavaca for the evening. Enjoy some down-time in the beautiful city of Cuernavaca – the City of Eternal Spring. The following morning we will travel to Taxco, home of the famous silver mines and the world-famous Santa Prisca Cathedral. We will return to Cuernavaca for a trip to the Cathedral and Juarez gardens and some free time before dinner at the famous Las Mananitas restaurant, which has been considered one of the top 25 restaurants in the world. On day six, we will return to Mexico City for a visit to the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Zocalo, the Palacio Mayor, and other sites of Mexico City. Our last full day in Mexico will begin with prayer at the abortion clinic, a return to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe – with ample time for personal reflection and prayer. We will celebrate Mass atop Tepeyac Hill where Juan Diego collected the roses. That afternoon, we will visit the world famous Anthropological Museum and have an opportunity to see the famous Aztec Calendar. We are excited that Fr. Nick Droll will be joining us on the pilgrimage to serve as spiritual director. The trip is incredibly affordable - $1785 per person, which includes flights, accommodations, transportation and guides, and breakfast and dinner daily. The cost does not include airline surcharges (currently about $150 but subject to change until ticketing), lunch costs, drinks, tips, and those expenses of a personal nature.
To lock in this trip at the guaranteed price, we are asking for reservations to be made no later than October 1st, although space may be available after that time. For those of you who are not familiar with why Greater Columbus Right to Life would lead a pilgrimage to Mexico with the specific intention of praying for an end to abortion, there is a rather complex historical and theological intersection in Mexico. You can read more about it here. If you are not Catholic but would like to join the trip, please contact us with any questions or concerns. Also, feel free to check out our Pinterest feed of the trip sights!