ECÔNE TO PRAGUE WITH BISHOP BERNARD FELLAY
A 13-DAY FULLY-ESCORTED PILGRIMAGE
ECÔNE TO PRAGUE WITH BISHOP FELLAY
A 13-Day Pilgrimage for SSPX Faithful
June 24 - July 6, 2024
Starting at $4250
TRIP SYNOPSIS
A unique opportunity to travel with His Excellency, Bishop Bernard Fellay. Attend the SSPX priestly ordinations at Ecône, Switzerland, visit Lucerne, Einsiedeln, Prague, and much more!
HIGHLIGHTS AT A GLANCE
Geneva: Basilica of Notre Dame
Ecône: relics of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, SSPX Seminary, priestly ordinations
Sion: St. Maurice Abbey, cave and waterfall “La Grotte aux Fées”, Notre Dame du Scex, SSPX Oblate Novitiate, Château de Tourbillon, Valère Basilica
Flue: Sites related to St. Nicholas of Flue
Menzingen: Main house of the SSPX
Einsiedeln: St. Meinrad Archabbey, most famous monastic village in Switzerland
Zaitzkofen: SSPX Seminary
Regensburg: St. Peter’s Cathedral and the historic city center
Prague: Holy Infant of Prague, Prague’s Cathedral, St. Wenceslas, St. John Nepomuk, St. Vitus, St. Ludmilla, Golden Lane, Charles Bridge, Old Town Square
ITINERARY
Day 1. Monday, June 24: Transatlantic flight to Geneva, Switzerland
Day 2. Tuesday, June 25: Geneva – Saillon
After a morning arrival in Geneva, visit the Basilica of Notre Dame in Geneva before driving to your hotel in Saillon near Econe. Along the way, catch glimpses of the beautiful view as you travel along the shores of Lake Geneva. The day is meant to be a leisurely one before settling into your hotel in the evening, your home for the next four nights. Meet your fellow pilgrims at a welcome dinner at your hotel. Overnight in Saillon. (WD)
Day 3. Wednesday, June 26: Saillon - Ecône – Sion – Saillon
Following an early breakfast, head to Society of St. Pius X Seminary in Ecône. There, pray at the crypt of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, dear founder of the SSPX. Head to visit St. Maurice Abbey and the church that houses the saint’s relics. See the ruins of the ancient church. Nearby, visit the cave and waterfall “La Grotte aux Fées”. Afterwards, climb on foot to Notre Dame du Scex (Our Lady of the Cliff). Continue to visit to the SSPX Oblate Novitiate in Salvan. Transfer back to your hotel in Saillon for dinner and overnight. (BB, D)
Day 4. Thursday, June 27: Saillon - Ecône
Today, attend the priestly ordinations at the SSPX Seminary in Ecône, followed by a celebration with fellow faithful. Head back to your hotel in Saillon. (BB, D)
Day 5. Friday, June 28: Saillon - Sion
This morning, attend one of the First Masses at the SSPX Seminary in Ecône. Continue to Sion to visit and hike along one of Sion’s water canals “bissés”. After lunch, visit le Château de Tourbillon and the Valère Basilica. Travel back to Saillon for dinner and overnight. (BB, D)
Day 6. Saturday, June 29: Travel Day: Saillon - Interlaken - Flue - Lucerne
Celebrate the Feast of Sts. Peter & Paul with Mass at the SSPX Seminary in Ecône. Then, drive a splendid route through the lakes, mountains, and tunnels (Tunnel of Lötschberg) of the Valais to Interlaken. Stop for lunch overlooking the lake in the beautiful Interlaken region. Continue to visit Flüeli Ranft and Sarnen, to visit the birthplace and patronage locations of St. Nicholas of Flue. Transfer to Lucerne for dinner and overnight. (BB, L, D)
Day 7. Sunday, June 30: Lucerne - Menzingen - Einsiedeln - Lucerne
After an early breakfast, drive to Menzingen, where the main house of the SSPX is located. After this visit, travel to Einsiedeln to explore the magnificent Monastery with its elaborately decorated pastel ceilings, marble side altars, and large high altar. The most important part of the Basilica is the Lady Chapel, which is reminiscent of Christ’s tomb in Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Above the chapel’s altar is the Black Madonna, resplendent in rich robes and surrounded by gold clouds. Head back to Lucerne for an afternoon at leisure to explore this beautiful city and enjoy an independent dinner. Overnight in Lucerne. (BB, L)
Day 8. Monday, July 1: Lucerne - Mount Pilatus - Lucerne
After Mass for the Feast of the Precious Blood, journey to Alpnachstad and board the world’s steepest cogwheel railway to Mount Pilatus. After enjoying lunch at the restaurant on the mountain, return to Lucerne via cable car and boat. Dinner and overnight in Lucerne. (BB, L, D)
Day 9. Tuesday, July 2: Travel Day: Lucerne – Oberriet - Regensburg
Leave for Regensburg with a stop in Oberriet for Mass. Cross into Germany to reach Regensburg for dinner and overnight. (BB, D)
Day 10. Wednesday, July 3: Regensburg – Zaitzkofen - Regensburg
Head to Zaitzkofen for a morning visit to the SSPX Seminary there. Then, return to Regensburg for an afternoon tour of the city. Visit Regensburg Cathedral, the finest Gothic church in south Germany, and the Altes Rathaus, the center of medieval Regensburg. Pope Benedict XVI was Professor of Theology at the University of Regensburg and also served as Vice President of the university. Dinner and overnight in Regensburg. (BB, D)
Day 11. Thursday, July 4: Regensburg - Prague
Today, travel from Germany to the Czech Republic and arrive in Prague. After a panoramic orientation tour, enjoy an afternoon at leisure in this marvelous city. Tonight, dinner is on your own. Overnight in Prague. (BB)
Day 12. Friday, July 5: Prague
Today’s visits begin at the Church of Our Lady Victorious, which houses the miraculous statue of the Holy Infant of Prague. Continue to visit Prague’s Cathedral dedicated to St. Vitus, a 3rd-century martyr of the Christian persecutions. The relics of King St. Wenceslas, the first Czech saint, and of St. John Nepomuk, martyr of the seal of the confessional, are enshrined in the cathedral. Next, visit the Royal Palace, seat of Bohemian princes. Outside the palace is St. George’s Basilica, housing the relics of the martyr St. Ludmilla, grandmother and tutor of St. Wenceslas. Next, walk along the Golden Lane, named after the goldsmiths that lived there in the 17th century, and cross the famous Charles Bridge. Afterwards, enjoy a guided tour through the beautiful Old Town. Visit the Old Town Square, the Town Hall with its famous Astronomical Clock. Lunch on your own and afternoon at leisure. Tonight enjoy a farewell dinner to celebrate the end of a beautiful pilgrimage. (BB, FD)
Day 13. Saturday July 6: Prague - Flight Home
After breakfast, transfer to Prague’s international airport to catch your homebound flight. (BB)
Buffet Breakfast (BB); Dinner (D); Lunch (L); Welcome Dinner (WD); Farewell Dinner (FD)
* In case of unforeseen events, this itinerary is subject to change.
BISHOP FELLAY
His Excellency, Bishop Bernard Fellay was born in Sierre, Switzerland in 1958. In 1977, he began studies for the priesthood at the Society of St. Pius X’s International Seminary of Saint Pius X in Ecône, Switzerland. On June 29, 1982 he was ordained a priest by Archbishop Lefebvre. After his ordination, he was named Bursar General of the SSPX. On June 30, 1988, he was consecrated bishop by Archbishop Lefebvre and Bishop Antônio de Castro Mayer. Bishop Fellay served as Superior General of the SSPX from 1994 to 2018. Today, he resides at St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary in Dillwyn, Virginia. He is fluent in French, English, German, Italian, and Spanish. The bishop is looking forward to traveling on this pilgrimage and sharing the beauties of Catholic Switzerland, Germany and the Czech Republic.
TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS
Currently there are no travel restrictions to any of the countries on the itinerary.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Accommodations for this pilgrimage are in first-class hotels.
Rooms in double occupancy are for two people to share; they have two twin beds or one double bed. Rooms in single occupancy have a single bed and are for one person to occupy; a “single supplement fee” is added for single occupancy rooms.
Saillon: 4 nights - Bains de Saillon or similar https://www.bainsdesaillon.ch/en/
Lucerne: 3 nights - Radisson Blu Lucerne or similar https://www.radissonhotels.com/en-us/hotels/radisson-blu-lucerne
Regensburg: 2 nights - Best Western Premier Hotel Regensburg or similar https://www.bestwestern.de/hotels/Regensburg/Best-Western-Premier-Novina-Hotel-Regensburg/hotel
Prague: 2 nights - Radisson Blu Hotel Prague or similar https://www.radissonhotels.com/en-us/hotels/radisson-blu-prague
FLIGHT SCHEDULE
The group air reservation is with Delta/KLM. The outgoing flight departs from New York (JFK) airport. Please do not purchase any air tickets until we notify that the group is fully formed with at least 25 travelers. The group air schedule could undergo minor changes from the airlines; if a major change occurs, we will modify the listed flight schedule.
Delta Flight 100 JUN24 departs New York (JFK) at 8:30PM, arrives Geneva (GVA) at 10:45AM JUN25
KLM Flight 1356 JUL06 departs Prague (PRG) at 2:20PM, arrives Amsterdam (AMS) at 3:50PM
KLM Flight 643 JUL06 departs Amsterdam (AMS) at 5:05PM, arrives New York (JFK) at 7:10PM
TRIP PACE
The pace for this pilgrimage is “moderate”. There is daily walking and standing. Pilgrims must be in active enough condition to walk 3-4 hours and stand for 2-3 hours per day. We strongly recommend preparing oneself by walking before the trip, building up to at least 2-3 miles per day.
Sometimes walking is up or down slopes, and at times sidewalks and terrain will be uneven. Pilgrims must have full mobility and be able to climb several stairs, since many of the visited places have no other access. A certain pace must be kept by all pilgrims in order to cover the scheduled sightseeing. Some days may have several hours on the motor-coach.
Also see the “PHYSICAL HEALTH & FITNESS” section in the General Terms & Conditions.
PRICING INFORMATION
Pilgrimage price per person (pp) with air from New York (JFK): $5775 (includes estimated air taxes & surcharges of $1520 as of January 2024, subject to change)
Land-only pilgrimage price in double occupancy: $4250 pp
Single supplement: $1220
Non-refundable deposit of $250 pp is due by: March 21, 2024 for air-inclusive package and May 19, 2024 for land-only package
Balance due by: April 24, 2024
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Scheduled roundtrip transatlantic flight New York (JFK) to Geneva (GVA) then returning from Prague (PRG) to New York (JFK)
Accommodations in first-class hotels
Daily Holy Mass
Deluxe motor-coach for scheduled transfers and sightseeing
Daily breakfasts, 3 lunches and 9 dinners.
Services of a professional English-speaking tour escort
Admission fees for all included sightseeing
Porterage for one suitcase per person at the hotels
Service charges, government fees
What’s not included:
Travel insurance
All lunches but 3 and then 2 dinners, to give you the freedom to do this on your own.
Gratuities to tour escort, local guides, driver, and church stipends
Also see the “NOT INCLUDED” section in the General Terms & Conditions.