Emmaus Spirituality Center

### Context Profile for Emmaus Spirituality Center

1. **Organization Mission & Cause**:
   - **Mission**: Emmaus Spirituality Center is dedicated to fostering spiritual growth and development through various programs and services, particularly focusing on spiritual direction and lay ministry. The center aims to support individuals in their spiritual journeys and enhance their roles within the Church.
   - **Cause**: The organization emphasizes the importance of spiritual direction and lay ministry, helping individuals deepen their faith and understanding of ecclesial service.

2. **Type of Activities**:
   - **Events**: The center hosts workshops, professional development sessions, and retreats aimed at spiritual enrichment and education for ecclesial ministers and spiritual directors.
   - **Fundraising Campaigns**: Specific campaigns are organized to support their programs and outreach efforts, such as the recent campaign on "Spiritual Direction and the Call to Lay Ministry."
   - **Community Programs**: They offer ongoing spiritual direction services and training for lay ministers, fostering community engagement and support.

3. **Tone of Voice**:
   - The tone of the website is **inspiring**, **professional**, and **friendly**. It communicates a sense of warmth and encouragement, inviting individuals to explore their spiritual paths while maintaining a respectful and knowledgeable approach to spiritual matters.

4. **Emoji Usage**:
   - The website does not utilize emojis in its communications. The tone remains formal and respectful, aligning with the spiritual and professional nature of the organization.

5. **Key Facts**:
   - **Founding Info**: Specific founding details were not available on the website. Further research may be necessary to gather this information.
   - **Scale**: The organization has a total of 16 forms and 16 email campaigns, indicating active engagement with its community.
   - **Impact Metrics**: While specific metrics were not detailed on the website, the focus on professional development and community support suggests a commitment to measurable outcomes in spiritual growth.
   - **Volunteer Info**: Information on volunteer opportunities was not explicitly mentioned on the website, but the emphasis on lay ministry suggests potential for volunteer involvement.

6. **Writing Guidelines**:
   - **Style**: Use clear and accessible language that reflects the organization's mission of spiritual growth. Aim for a balance between professional and warm tones.
   - **Content Structure**: Organize content with headings and bullet points for clarity, especially when outlining events or key information.
   - **Engagement**: Encourage reader participation and reflection, inviting them to join programs or events.
   - **Personalization**: Use personalized greetings in communications, as seen in the thank-you email template, to foster a sense of community and connection.

This context profile should guide the creation of personalized and relevant content for Emmaus Spirituality Center, aligning with their mission and communication style.

Final Payment (DUE JULY 19)

Hi <span data-custom-variable="{{firstname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip" fr-original-style style="background-color:rgb(248, 248, 255);border:1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255);border-radius:4px;color:rgb(42, 42, 196);padding:1px 8px;font-size:11px;display:inline-block;margin:0px;overflow-wrap:anywhere;user-select:none;box-sizing:inherit">First name , Thank you for registering for our event and supporting our cause. Your registration greatly helps our mission. 🚀 If you would like to contribute further, contact us to become a volunteer, or talk to your friends about our cause! Mary Piersoninfo@emmausspiritualitycenter.com

DETAILS: Date: September 20 - 29, 2025 Price: $3,500 ($500 deposit at time of registration)                                                                                                      First payment of $1250 due before April 10. Final payment due July 19.  Price includes: Round Trip, 4 star hotels, Private motor coach, Breakfast and dinners, entrance to sites, tour guide.          Please note:            - Additionally, we recommend that you buy travel insurance on the side.            - When checking out, the system will ask for an OPTIONAL additional charge. Please take a moment to select "other" if you do not wish to contribute.  ITINERARY:DAY 1: Depart aboard overnight flight(s) to Madrid to begin your Ignatian pilgrimage. Breakfast and dinner are served aboard the transatlantic flight. DAY 2: ARRIVAL IN MADRID. Upon arrival in Madrid, you will meet your local tour escort and transfer to your hotel located in the heart of Madrid’s historic center. In the afternoon you will have a guided tour of the city.  Overnight in Madrid with Dinner. DAY 3: MADRID -BURGOS-SAN SEBASTIAN. This morning you will depart for Burgos, the historic capital of Old Castile and the hometown of the most important converso in the Society of Jesus, Juan Alfonso de Polanco, who served as the order’s secretary and Ignatius’s collaborator in composing the Constitutions. You will have Mass at the Santa Maria Cathedral, the burial place of Spanish Kings, and El Cid Spain’s famous hero. He is buried in the cathedral of Burgos, the third largest church of Spain and one of the country’s most striking for its beautiful Spanish gothic style. Everyone is free to enjoy lunch in this charming medieval city, before making their way to St. Sebastian for dinner and overnight.  DAY 4:  LOYOLA-AZPERIA- ARANZAZU- After breakfast you will depart to Loyola. In the mistic town of Loyola you have a guided tour of Ignatius’s childhood home. The tour culminates with Mass and a private visit to the room where Ignatius experienced his spiritual conversion. The readings include some of the very texts that Ignatius read leading up to his conversion as well as accounts of how Ignatius later assisted others through spiritual conversation. You will also visit the basilica adjacent to the castle—together forming much of the Sanctuary of Loyola—as well as the Loyola family archives. In the afternoon, you venture into the town Azpeitia to visit the church in which Ignatius was baptized as well as the church outside of which he preached and the hospital in which he lived and worked upon his return after his studies in Paris. In the afternoon you travel to the Hermitage of Olatz and to Aranzazu, a popular shrine to Our Lady at the time of Ignatius, where we know Ignatius prayed for strength to overcome his former temptations.  Dinner and overnight in San Sebastia o PamplonaDAY 5: ST. SEBASTIA- PLAMPONA-XAVIER-HOUSCAS.  This morning you will travel to Pamplona to the birthplace and childhood home of St. Francis Xavier the great Evangelist of the 16th century. After the battle of Pamplona, the young St. Francis Xavier was sent to the University of Paris where he would meet his roommate, Ignatius, with whom he would later co-found the Society of Jesus, commonly known as the Jesuits. Visit the site where Ignatius was wounded defending the city against the French in 1521 visit Xavier (Navarre) where you will tour the castle in which Francis Xavier was born and which contains a sculptured Crucifix, The Smiling Christ. Continue to the city of Zaragoza for dinner and overnight. DAY 6: ZARAGOZA- OUR LADY OF PILAR- VERDU-BARCELONA. Begin the day with Mass and a visit to the shrine of our lady of Pilar, built to commemorate the place where the Virgin Mary standing atop a pillar carried by Angels, appeared to St. James. The basilica’s small, wooden statue of Our Lady of Pilar has been a regular stopping point for pilgrims, both now and during Ignatius’s life. Continue to Verdu for a short visit of the village, birthplace of St. Peter Claver, SJ. Continue to Barcelona for dinner and overnight.   DAY 7: MONSERRAT. After breakfast you will travel to Monserrat, home to the dramatically set Benedictine monastery known as the Santa Maria de Monserrat Abbey. On a rugged mountainside, you will visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Monserrat. Since the 12th century, pilgrims have been drawn to the mountain to venerate the miraculous statue of the Black Madonna. According to Catholic tradition, the statue of the Black Virgin of Montserrat was carved by St. Luke around 50 AD and brought to Spain. It was later hidden from the Moors in a cave, where it was rediscovered by shepherds in 880 AD. They saw a bright light and heard heavenly music that eventually led them to the grotto and the statue. The Bishop of Manresa, present at the discovery, suggested that it be moved to Manresa, but the small statue was discovered to be so heavy it could not be lifted. Thus, the Virgin had indicated her will to stay in Montserrat to be venerated there.  In the 11th century, the abbot-bishop Oliba founded a monastery on the mountain of Montserrat next to one of the chapels, where the Benedictine Abbey is still preserved.  Upon his recovery from battle wounds Ignatius of Loyola was determined to join the army of Christ and on his way to Jerusalem he visited Monserrat to make his consecration. Before the black Madonna Ignatius transformed the ancient ceremony for the making of a knight into the “new soldier of Christ”.  He kept an all-night vigil and place his sword before the statue of the mother.  After the visit you will go back to Barcelona for dinner and overnight.  Day 8: MANRESA-CAVE OF ST. IGNATIOUS-. This morning you will travel to Manresa, a place of profound conversion for Ignatius. and visit the cave of St. Ignatius where the saint retired to meditate and write his Spiritual Exercises. You will see the Chapel of the Rapture where St. Ignatius remained motionless in ecstasy for eight days and visit the Basilica of la Seu, the large Gothic Church that has come to symbolize Manresa. You will enjoy an audiovisual presentation and a tour of the museum at Manresa. Ignatius remained in Manresa for about a year and a half before continuing his journey to Barcelona. In the afternoon you will make your way back to Barcelona for dinner and overnight.  Day 9: BARCELONA- LA SAGRADA FAMILIA. After breakfast you will have a guided visit of Gaudi’s and UNESCO Heritage site the Basilica “La Sagrada Familia”. In the afternoon you will have free time to explore Barcelona’s town center or visit the Cathedral. Dinner and overnight in Barcelona.   DAY 10: BACK HOME TERMS AND CONDITIONS Cancelation:The consumer can withdraw from the services requested or contract at any time, having the right to a refund of the amounts he has paid, but must compensate the agency for any cancellation costs consisting of: Penalty of $100 for canceling your reservation any time before June 18th.30% of the total value of the trip if the withdrawal occurs after June 18th. 100% of the total value of the trip if the withdrawal occurs between the last 40 days before the date of the start of the trip which is August 10th.The non-presentation at departure, without prior cancellation, will not be entitled to any refund, resulting in a loss of all tour cost. All cancelations must be received in writing via E mail.  Note: American Airline policies This group booking and all travel undertaken hereunder are subject to American’s applicable conditions of carriage and all applicable fare rules and restrictions. Any passenger’s ticket when issue by the carrier shall constitute the sole contract between the carried and the passenger. Also, ticket prices are subject to change. 1 passenger name-change per ticket is free of charge. No passenger name-changes are permitted within 48 hours of the After ticketing, ticket changes are subject to the applicable change fee plus any fare difference in the case of date, time or routing changes. commencement of travel. Deviations Rules: Deviations rules are determined by the airlines. They usually only allow deportation on the flight and the return city itself. There is a $150 per person fee for the change plus the difference in ticket cost. All aviation must be requested in writing and at least 90 days before departure.  Responsibilities: Our agency assist individuals and groups with the necessary arrangements of their trip, tour or pilgrimage, including plane tickets, hotels, meals and other forms of transportation. They are not responsible for accidents, material losses, additional expenses on flights or hotel services caused by cancellations, weather conditions, illness, strikes, wars, quarantine and other inconveniences beyond our control. Once the plane ticket is purchased this constitutes a contract between the passenger and the airline for which the agency is not responsible. Additionally, is not responsible for the fulfillment of itineraries and services (where it does not act directly) of the contracted agencies of the destination countries. This may include, but is not limited to; tourist guides, meals, visits to tourist sites, change of hotels, change of itinerary, accidents. In this case, the consumer submits to the corresponding laws and legislations of the place of visit and the contracted agency.

Emmaus Spirituality Center

Pilgrimage Through Ignatius' Spain

Final Payment (DUE JULY 19)

$1,750