Pilgrimage to the 50th International Eucharistic Congress in Ireland!

About Ireland & the International Eucharistic Congress:

Ireland is the third-largest island in Europe and is surrounded by hundreds of islands and islets. Long known as the "Isle of Saints and Scholars", Ireland was the epicenter of Christian learning while the rest of Europe was in the Dark Ages. As the home of Saints Patrick, Bridget, Columba, and many more, Ireland also provides many faith-based attractions- from the Book of Kells, an elaborately scripted 9th-century version of the Four Gospels, to the Knock Shrine, a leading Marian pilgrimage site, to historic abbeys, cathedrals, churches, and high crosses.



St. Patrick Cathedral, Dublin, Ireland

Pope Benedict XVI announced that the 50th International Eucharistic Congress will be held in Dublin in June 2012. This will mark the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of the Second Vatican Council. The Council marks an important moment of renewal and deepening of the Church's teaching and of her understanding as the Body of Christ and the People of God.

A Eucharistic Congress is an international gathering of people which aims to:

♣ promote awareness of the central place of the Eucharist in the life and mission of the Catholic Church

♣ help improve understanding and celebration of the Liturgy

♣ draw attention to the social dimension of the Eucharist

The Congress normally takes place every four years. The daily celebration of the Eucharist is at the very heart of the Congress. The wider program includes other liturgical and cultural events, testimonies, and workshops during the week of the Congress.The theme for the Eucharistic Congress is "The Eucharist: Communion with Christ and with one another."



Pilgrimage Map to IEC 2012

The hope is that the theme will contribute to an enriched understanding of the Eucharist as true personal Communion with Jesus Christ and to a renewed understanding of the Church. In the Eucharist we are invited to a personal act of encounter with the Lord who gives himself for us, in Word and Sacrament. That encounter opens the path for new relationships in which we, as Church and as individual Christians are invited to engage in a social mission, in which we in turn are given for others.

The Eucharist is bread for the life of the world (Jn 6:51)

Ireland Pilgrimage & the 50th International Eucharistic Congress June 9 - 19, 2012

If you would like to go on this amazing pilgrimage, simply click here for more details!

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206 Tours

333 Marcus Blvd
Hauppauge, NY 11788

1.800.206.TOUR (8687)

sales@206tours.com

206 Tours President Milanka Lackman Blessed meeting with His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI

206 Tours is proud to announce that our President & Owner Milanka Lachman was Blessed with the honor and opportunity to meet His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI!

click on images to enlarge:

Milanka Lachman's own reflection on her meeting with His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI:

"I feel so blessed and honored to have met His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI!  When I found out for certain I would be meeting Pope Benedict, I was both moved and humbled. Before I was even in his presence I kept on creating the scene of the meeting in my head.  As the day approached, I began to think about what I wanted to tell the Holy Father.

On October 26, 2011 I was escorted to Vatican City to attend the weekly Papal Audience.  In typical Italian fashion we first stopped for espresso, which did not do much to calm my nerves, before we arrived at the Vatican.  We drove slowly through the large mob of people, comprised of many pilgrims, tourists, and guards, before entering a specialized gate.  The Papal Audience took place in the Audience Hall and it was a blessing in itself to just be invited to hear His Holiness speak.  After the Audience, myself and approximately 20 other people were taken into a receiving room where we were then able to meet and speak with His Holiness one on one.  At this time, certain peace came over me and I was filled with joy.

As I knelt in front of him and kissed the ring, I was fully aware that this moment is one of the greatest events of my life. While he smiled and held my hands, with both of his hands, I spoke to him with smile tattooed on my face. I gave him a short recap of my mission and of all the wonderful 206 Tours pilgrimages I mentioned all the wonderful holy shrines and places where our pilgrimages go. I assured him that I and 206 Tours pilgrims were praying for him, and I asked him to keep me and our pilgrims in his prayers. He told me that he would.  Looking back, I am surprised that I was never rushed along or asked what I would say to him; instead I was allowed to relish the moment and have my own individual experience with the Holy Father.  It will always be good to know that our beloved pilgrims and we at 206 Tours will be in the Pope’s prayers!

I was escorted by Javier Gomez, who is in charge of 206 Tours ground operations. I’m glad and grateful that he was there.

In the past I have met celebrities and people of high importance, but they all pale in comparison to my meeting with His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.  There are simply no words to describe how special this event was to me!  In everyone’s life there are memories you will cherish and hold onto forever.  To me, my marriage, the birth of my children, and meeting the Pope are the most poignant moments that I hold closest to my heart.  I thank God for the opportunity I was given, and I know I will be forever changed by it."

Be sure to experience one of our top Italian Pilgrimages

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206 Tours
333 Marcus Blvd
Hauppauge, NY 11788
1.800.206.TOUR (8687)
sales@206tours.com