As the song from the Broadway Musical begins O What a Beautiful Morning. Our flight from JFK to Frankfort, Germany was uneventful. We left at 4:10 in the afternoon and arrived in Germany at 11:30pm NY time that is 5:30 in the morning. All 20 us met our tour guide Irene after a long walk through the airport, customs and then to our tour bus. We boarded the bus at 9:00 and headed to Mainz. A truly beautiful city along the Rhine river here I am with Parishioner Kathy Dorney and her sister in law Lynn. We had a guided tour and took in the charm of this truly remarkable city. We visited the Cathedral of St. Martin’s and celebrated Mass at St. Peter’s church where I was surprised by a visit from my cousins. I have included some pictures for your enjoyment. After a delicious lunch it was off to Rudesheim. We enjoyed a short ferry ride across the Rhine River and checked into our hotel. Please enjoy the pictures and be assured of my prayers.
God bless, Fr. Joe
To see pictures - click on this link or hightlight it and hit enter
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZyHzNdb5mWjq3nKaA
Today has been a very special day it started off with morning Mass at St. James church in Rudesheim. The church is about two blocks from the hotel. The local parish welcomed us by playing the church bells or call to worship bells 15 minutes before Mass. During the consecration, those same bells are rung again. The entire community knows that Jesus is made present. We proceeded to take a magnificent bus ride along the Rhine river taking in some amazing castles and scenery along the way. I could not help but think of my father. As many of you know I have been to Germany numerous times. I will never forget the first time I took the car ride along the Rhine river. My father insisted that we take that trip. I am glad I listened to him he was right. As we took our ride, I led the rosary on the bus. Not only do you see the castles but also the numerous vineyards along the way as well as the famous Lorelei. The Lorelei is located In the most narrowest spots along the river.The urban legend of the beautiful woman with long blond hair that caused the shipwreck of many a ship. We made it to Koblenz and enjoyed an hour boat ride along the river. It was a nice trip and saw many new things. There was a water ride park similar to Splashdown Beach by us. Koblenz is known as the Deutsches Echt. It is the confluence of three rivers, the Mosel and the Rhine. We were lucky to take the boat ride as of tomorrow, the will be postponed because of the drought. The Rhine is down 46 centimeters of water. There is a huge party or fest going on in Koblenz this weekend and I was able to enjoy my first of I am sure a lot of Brautwurst. While walking around in Koblenz I found a memorial in honor of the Berlin Wall. I could not help but appreciate the profoundness of that monument and paused and sad a prayer for Peace, peace in our families, community, nation and world. I have returned to Rudesheim for the night and look forward to tomorrow’s trip to Heidelberg.
God Bless, Fr. Joe
To see pictures - click on this link or highlight it and hit enter
https://photos.app.goo.gl/wLB4zd4uC6a9eznR9
Today we traveled to the beautiful city of Heidelberg and toured the famous castle of Heidelberg. We took a cable car ride up to the castle and saw the World’s Largest Barrels for wine. The fass has the capacity to hold 58,000 gallons of wine imagine the party you could host. I can imagine the ease in which Jesus could have filled it with the Miracle of Cana. We continued our tour of Heidelberg and lunch was on our own. One of our former parishioners Magdalena Stimmel recently moved back to Germany and had the opportunity to share lunch with her. It was so good to see her again. We left Heidelberg for Rottensberg. Our first stop in Bavaria. Again I celebrated Mass as was greeted and surprised by family members. My cousin his, wife and his children they came to Fishkill to celebrate my 25th anniversary. My Uncle and Aunt joined us that evening. My cousin’s family are like the Von Trapps of the Sound of Music and they entertained us and dinner. It was beautiful! I would like to share some of the video with you. We all enjoyed the night. Keep us in your prayers as we do you in ours. Tomorrow we continue the tour to Regensberg and Garmish l.
God Bless, Fr. Joe
To see pictures - click on this link or highlight it and hit enter
https://photos.app.goo.gl/LvSVvdJmujq8pHvA6
Cloud link (may or may not work): https://share.icloud.com/photos/08cuKTgKeWQfZ5Q9o67m0UMPw
Day 5:
Well after four years of planning we finally made it to Oberammergau. Our day started of beautiful with a private Mass at St. Nicholas church in Unterammergau at 9:30 and we arrived in time to take in the the beauty and charm of Oberammergau. Many of us helped to boost the economy and purchased some beautiful hand carved statues. Other then the Passion Play,Oberammergau is famous for their first class wood carvings. The buildings in the town have charm all their own as you will see from the pictures. How do I describe the beauty of the Passion Play. I suppose it is best to start this way, at 1:30 this afternoon 20 people entered into a theater that holds 5,000 people and have their lives changed forever. The first part begins in daylight and the last part starting at 7:00pm ends in darkness. I supposed it is only fitting this way because the love our Lord conquers, sin, death, and darkness. The words which the character Mary Magdalene are quite touching and I share the English translation with you: “I will proclaim His resurrection to my brothers, in the midst of His congregation I will praise Him! Wake up, Zion! Put in your best garments, Jerusalem, you holy City! People of Mount Zion, you who live in Jerusalem, wake up! Your eyes will behold the king in his beauty! Your ears will hear him! He was condemned, shunned by people, a man in pain. But God freed him from the sorrow of death and raised Him up. I know that my Savior lives! He is with us every day until the end of the World! That is why my heard rejoices, and my tongue exults! Oh, if only I could shout it through all the world, so that mountains and rocks and heaven and earth would echo with it: Hallelujah! He is Risen! As tears filled my eyes and ran down my cheek, I am reminded that my Redeemer lives!
God Bless, Fr. Joe
To see pictures - click on this link or highlight it and hit enter
https://photos.app.goo.gl/DHnSqAjpnuwaecrm8
Cloud link (may or may not work): https://share.icloud.com/photo
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 6:
Today we continued our journey through Bavaria. I started my day by saying my prayers outside my hotel room while looking the magnificent Zugspitze Mountain. The highest peak in Bavaria.I have been here four times before and this was the first time the mountain was visible. It still has snow on the top of the mountain. Great way to begin the day in prayer.
We traveled this morning to the Cloister Ettal, again I cloister or church I am familiar with however this was the first time I celebrated Mass in this Rococo era church. A very humbling experience.
We traveled further on through Bavaria to a church I really wanted the people to see, the Wieskirche or In English the Church of the fields. Again a very sacred moment to gaze upon an image of our Lord being scourged at the pillar and then looking up into the ceiling and seeing the artwork of Christ’s suffering leading us through the sacred doors into heaven.
Our journey then took us to Castle Neuschwanstein. Cinderella’s castle. I would say yes it is a place where fairy tales do come true. It is an long walk to the castle but worth it in the end. The view is breathtaking! I could not help but appreciate the moment.
I remember once asking my nephew what his image of heaven is? He told me that heaven is a place above the clouds where everyone has their own room, and every one is happy. A great way to describe today.
We pressed on in our trip and after a three hour bus ride we are now in Salzburg, Austria.
Our adventure continues tomorrow
God Bless, Fr. Joe
To see pictures - click on this link or highlight it and hit enter
https://photos.app.goo.gl/GHcgFzWCQ3sXrhV77
https://photos.app.goo.gl/YjftA47R91Ba8NcbA
https://photos.app.goo.gl/siwH2QEJmJZ8tRBm6
https://photos.app.goo.gl/YFHjWqnsWssf7QadA
Our visit to Regensburg - https://photos.app.goo.gl/VDPB6F1SjDC4LF2H6
Garmisch-Partenkirchen - https://photos.app.goo.gl/HE5mxK6mYfLRTELf6
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 7
A pilgrimage is a beautiful opportunity to take a change of pace from a normal vacation and reflect on God’s Presence in our lives. The German phrase for pilgrimage is “Himmel Fahrt” heaven trip.
After a long day yesterday we reached Salzburg, Austria. I started my din prayer and looked outside my window to quote Julie Andrew’s from theSound of Music, “the hills are alive with the sound of music with songs they have sung for a thousand years.
We journeyed to Berchtesgaden and dressed up in miner outfits and took a tour of an salt mine. It was quite educational and fun. Our driver who appeared to be “Grumpy” from Snow White and the seven dwarfs became quite “Happy” by the end of your and posed for a picture.
We made it to the town and again I enjoyed an other Brat. I think I have had a Bratwurst in every town I have visited.
We celebrated Mass at the beautiful church of St. Francis and the on to Obersalzberg to visit Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest. It is amongst the highest peaks in the area and the views are magnificent.
At one point I imagined I was above the clouds. It was cool weather wise on top on the
mountain so it made for some breathtaking scenery. We were fortunate in that a little tan
passed through and we did not get wet.
We return to Salzburg for dinner and tomorrow will be a long day a walking tour and then on to Munich. My prayer is that we don’t get wet.
God Bless, Fr. Joe
Salzburg and Salt Mine - https://photos.app.goo.gl/zMc7ZJCBFZTKDTj77
Berchtesgaden and Obersalzberg - https://photos.app.goo.gl/fQ1JUPKVDWA88QzUA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 8 (Our Last Day):
What a beautiful and fortunate day we had. The forecast was for rain and we were able to take in the walking tour of Salzburg and Munich and were caught in about a total of 10 minutes of rain.
Our day started with a new Mass at the Shrine of Maria Plain in Salzburg. It was a beautiful drive up to the top of the hill and then we walked a set of stairs another 36 steps to the upper part of
the hill. The church had a magnificent view of the valley below. This would be our last Mass together and we prayed a special intention for our loved ones at home, a member of our group who was celebrating their birthday and for a safe weather day. Like I said above the forecast was for a rain filled day and all we experienced was 10 minutes in Munich.
We then took in the beauty of the city of Salzburg. Salzburg as we know is the setting for the movie the Sound of Music and we walked through this incredible garden which was the setting for the Doe Ray Me song. Our tour guide Irene played as we strolled through the gardens and
encountered a couple getting Married there. We then took our time and took in the sights and sounds of Salzburg. Mozart’s birthplace.
I really enjoyed the ice cream and Black Forrest cake for lunch. We left Salzburg at 2:00 for our trip to Munich. We hit traffic along the way, while praying the Rosary, we were stopped at the Border of Austria and Germany. Our Lady was watching over us and the guard became very
pleasant when he saw me and our pilgrims.
We then hit traffic on the Autobahn and missed the hearing of the Glockenspiel by fifteen
minutes. We began our walking tour of Munich made it to the town square saw the Glockenspiel and heard the cathedral bells calling to worship. It rained about ten minutes in us and we made
it to the Hofbrau Haus.
We enjoyed beautiful music and a great German meal. Tomorrow is the end of our pilgrimage. We met some amazing people along the way. Made new friends, strengthen our relationships and celebrated the awesomeness of the love that Jesus Christ has for us. It was an awesome journey.
I pray tonight that our Lord will protect us and guide us safely home.
God Bless, Fr. Joe
Munich - https://photos.app.goo.gl/UGENYTnn3Ht3Gp477