FutureChurch Presents:
A Journey Of Discovery:  ROME & OSTIA
A Pilgrimage to Archaeological Sites of Women Office Holders in the Early Church
Dr. Carolyn Osiek RSCJ, Educational Director
Sr. Christine Schenk CSJ, Spiritual Director
March 20-27, 2014
$3,279  ALL INCLUSIVE! from  New York
*Fares from other US or Canada Airports click here
 
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Dr. Carolyn Osiek RSCJ
Dr. Osiek

About Sr. Carolyn Osiek:
Sr. Carolyn is a past president of the Catholic Biblical Association and Catholic Professor of New Testament emerita at Brite Divinity School. She is also an author of many books including A Women’s Place: House Churches in Earliest Christianity, co-authored with Margaret Y. MacDonald and Janet H. Tulloch, and Ordained Women in the Early Church, co-authored with Kevin Madigan.


About Sr. Chris Schenk:
Sr. Chris is the Executive Director of FutureChurch, a coalition of parish centered Catholics working to address critical issues in the Church, especially the priest shortage and the systemic inequality of women. She has Master’s degrees in midwifery and theology and has given hundreds of presentations and media interviews. In 2008 she coordinated an international effort to “put women back in the biblical picture” at the Synod on the Word.


About FutureChurch:
Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, FutureChurch is a national U.S. coalition of 3500 parish centered Catholics striving to educate fellow Catholics about the seriousness of the priest shortage, the centrality of the Eucharist (the Mass), and the systemic inequality of women in the Catholic Church. In 1997 FutureChurch began special international celebrations of the Feast of St. Mary of Magdala to educate about Jesus’ inclusive practice and to model gender balance in worship. Each year about 350 international celebrations are held in mid July. This is the third FutureChurch pilgrimage to sites of early women leaders in Rome and Ostia.


Your Trip Includes:
crossbullet Round-trip economy class airfare (Depart from all North America Airports via special addon airfares)
crossbullet All airline fuel surcharges and airport taxes INCLUDED
crossbullet 6 nights at a centrally located first class Religious Home:

      ~ Former Convent - Basic Amenities, close to all Roman Sites
crossbullet Transfers as per itinerary
crossbullet Breakfast daily
crossbullet Lunch in Ostia Only
crossbullet 3 Dinners at Casa Bonus Pastor (includes glass of wine/water)
crossbullet Transportation by air-conditioned motor coach
crossbullet Professional tour escort throughout your time in Italy
crossbullet Assistance of a licensed local guide(s)
crossbullet Sightseeing and admissions fees as per itinerary
crossbullet
Prayer Service honoring Women Leaders

crossbullet Lectures in the evening with Dr. Carolyn Osiek, RSCJ

crossbullet Luggage handling ( 1 piece per person)


Not Included:
Meals and beverages not mentioned, Optional traveler’s insurance (www.206tours.com/insurance), optional Extended Cancelation Protection Plan @ $299 (www.206tours.com/cancellationprotection), Tips to your guide & driver, items of a personal nature. 3.5% Credit card processing fee



Sample Day-by-Day Itinerary:


Day 1, Thursday March 20: Depart from New York or Newark

Make your way to your airport (New York or Newark) and board for your overnight flight to Rome. For a small additional fee, you will fly from your hometown airport and connect to an overnight flight to Rome. Dinner and breakfast will be served on board.

 

Day 2, Friday March 21: Arrive Rome

Upon arrival your escort will warmly welcome you to Italy. Transfer to your hotel and enjoy a free afternoon for rest, relaxation, or exploration. Time permitting, we will make a stop at Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, the only public Gothic Church in Rome. It houses the tomb of St. Catherine of Siena, and we will have a prayer service honoring this great woman leader. The tomb of the Dominican painter Fra Angelico is also here. The Church is close to the Pantheon which you may also visit, time permitting. Once you arrive at the guesthouse, your tour escort can suggest sights or walks for you to enjoy. After dinner together, we enjoy Dr. Osiek’s lecture: Introduction to the Study of Women in Early Christianity.

 

Day 3, Saturday March 22: San Clemente Basilica, the Roman and Imperial Fora and the Market of Trajan.
After breakfast we enjoy Dr. Osiek’s lecture: Women in Martyrdom and view slides of the famous Veneranda and Petronilla fresco. Then Dr. Osiek guides our tour of the fascinating Basilica of San Clemente, site of one of the earliest Christian house Churches, next to an ancient Mithraic altar at the lowest level. Sr. Chris leads our prayerful reflection honoring early martyrs and women leaders, Saints Perpetua and Felicity. Lunch is on your own at one of the many restaurants enroute to the Roman Forum. Then we have a guided tour of the Roman and Imperial Fora and the Market of Trajan. Evening free with dinner on your own.

 

Day 4, Sunday March 23: the Catacombs of Domitilla & Church of Santa Sabina

Morning free. In the afternoon we visit the Catacombs of Domitilla to view the beautiful Veneranda and Petronilla fresco that gives strong evidence for women’s leadership in the early Church. We then visit the Basilica of Santa Sabina at the Aventine, built on the site of an early Christian house Church owned by the Roman matron, Sabina, who was later declared a Christian saint. Here we will experience a special prayer service honoring Anonymous Women. Dinner together, followed by Dr. Osiek’s lecture on Patrons and Catacombs.

 

Day 5, Monday March 24: Vatican City

We have a guided tour of the world renowned Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and the Pio Cristiano Museum where we will view fourth century sarcophagi friezes depicting early women leaders. After lunch on your own at the Vatican cafeteria, we meet again to tour St. Peter’s Basilica and hopefully, the excavations
below. Remaining afternoon and evening free with dinner on your own.

 

Day 6, Tuesday March 25: Christian Rome

After breakfast we enjoy Dr. Osiek’s lecture on Women in Ritual including slides of meal scenes from the catacombs of Petrus and Marcellinus, We then tour the Basilica of St. Pudentiana, built over a second century House Church, and see the famous apse mosaic from about 400 CE. Then at nearby St. Praxedes Basilica, we view gorgeous mosaics of early women leaders including the famous “Theodora Episcopa” mosaic. Time permitting we visit the Basilica of St. Mary Major before lunch on your own. In the afternoon we tour the Catacombs of Priscilla, site of famous frescos of early women leaders, followed by a prayer service in the catacombs honoring St. Prisca. Dinner together, followed by Dr. Osiek’s final lecture on Women’s Everyday Life.

 

Day 7, Wednesday March 26: Ostia

We depart for Sr.Carolyn’s guided tour of nearby Ostia, a completely excavated early Roman community in a more rural setting on the shores of the Mediterranean. Sr. Chris will facilitate a prayer service honoring St. Monica, the mother of St. Augustine, who died in Ostia. After a farewell lunch together, you have a free afternoon and evening with dinner on your own before an early departure the next morning.

 

Day 8, Thursday March 27: Return to USA

We bid farewell and return home filled with memories of the beauty of Rome and our rich history of women’s leadership in the earliest Church. Early departure to Rome Airport for our return flight to the USA.

 



Additional Information & Travel Tips: 
What to Know Before You Go

Any Questions?  For more information, please contact: Liz tel: 800-206-TOUR (8687) or email: [email protected] with any questions or to register.

For general information, please contact: Christine Schenk csj, FutureChurch, Executive Director, 17307 Madison Ave
Lakewood, Oh 44107, tel: 216-228-0869 fax: 216-228-4872 email: [email protected]

www.futureChurch.org

click here for a printable flyer  
Office Use Only
FC032014

 



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Options:  
Single Supplement / Solo Traveler $800
Business Class Trans-Atlantic Upgrade (one-way) - pending availability $1,750
Business Class Trans-Atlantic Upgrade (round trip) - pending availability $3,500
First Class available upon request
Children's discounts for children under 12 upon request
 
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ABOUT ROME:
Rome has been one of history's most powerful and important cities, along with home to the Roman Catholic Church, the Pope, and the site of the Vatican City. First built in 337, St. Peter's Basilica lies over the tomb of St. Peter. Contained within is a vast array of the most beautiful artwork ever assembled, reflecting the immensity, beauty, vastness, majesty, glory and awesomeness of God.



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Santa Sabina Basilica, Rome, Italy
 
Woman leader with Peter & Paul, Pio Cristiano Museum
     

Ancient Ruins, Ostia, Italy
 
Ancient Theatre, Ostia, Italy
 

Catacombs of Priscilla, Rome


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Italy Pilgrimage Map


Prayer Service, Catacombs of Priscilla, Rome, Italy


Woman preaching, Pio Cristiano Museum


The Colosseum, Rome, Italy


Woman teacher, Pio Cristiano Museum


St. Paul & St. Praxedes


St. Pudenziana Basilica, Rome, Italy


Women of St. Praxedes


Crispina, Pio Cristiano Museum

Mosaic of Mary St. Praxedes