March 4, 2005

DANBURY, CT - With the blessing of His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas, The New England Deanery is planning a Youth Pilgrimage to Slovakia to visit the St. Nicholas Orphanage. The trip is scheduled from Wednesday July 6, to Saturday, July 16th. The cost per person is $1,899.00. Led by Very Rev. Fr. Luke Mihaly and Fr. Peter Benyo, this trip is to primarily provide an opportunity for our Youth to put their faith into practice by spending time with the orphans of St. Nicholas Orphanage. Secondarily, this trip hopes to provide a brief taste of the spiritual homeland of our diocese.

The itinerary is as follows:

Wednesday, July 6
Depart on Czech Airlines at 5:45 pm for Prague.

Thursday, July 7
Arrive in Prague change flight for Kosice arriving at 9:55 am. Check in Hotel Slovan. Tour the City, dinner and overnight.

Friday, July 8
Transfer to Presov by bus. Visiting places of interest get one day visa at Ukrainian Consulate for Uzhorod, dinner and over night in Hotel Dukla.

Saturday, July 9
Tour the City, dinner and overnight in Hotel Dukla.

Sunday, July 10 - 14
After liturgy and lunch transfer to St. Nicholas orphanage in
Medziloborce.

Thursday, July 14
Travel to Uzhorod, visit Fr. Dimitri Sedor, lunch, visit the
Cathedral and return to Mihalovce for dinner and overnight in Hotel Druzba.

Friday, July 15 -
Visit with Bishop Jan and transfer to Kosice for Tour, dinner and
overnight in Hotel Slovan.

Saturday, July 16
After breakfast transfer to Kosice airport for flight to US, arriving
at JFK 3:55 pm.,

Seating is limited and preference will be given to members of the New England Deanery. Remember that we will be staying with the orphans at the orphanage and are expecting no special treatment for us while we are there.

Please notify Fr. Luke Mihaly ASAP to let him know of your interest in traveling to Slovakia to spend time at St. Nicholas Orphanage. You may contact him at (203) 748-0671 or at padreluke@aol.com. Payments are to be made directly to Benyo Travel. A list of items and things to donate to the orphanage will be forthcoming. Passports are required.