I’m sorry to announce that the AMS Holy Land pilgrimage for this coming November has been cancelled by our tour company, Consolidated Tours. Only 5 people registered for that trip with one month left to finalize the trip. I am disappointed to see this trip get cancelled. But it is a casualty of a growing trend in our AMS trips; namely a decline in attendance.

In the last two years we have had the following trips and attendee numbers:

• January 2008 – Caribbean cruise, 60+ people
• June 2008 – Malvern Retreat, 170+ people
• November 2008 – Holy Land Pilgrimage, 45+ people
• January 2009 – Caribbean cruise, 40+ people
• June 2009 – Malvern Retreat, 100+ people
• October 2009 – Rome Pilgrimage, 30+ people
• January 2009 – Caribbean cruise, 15+ people
• March 2010 – Lourdes/Fatima Pilgrimage – 15+ people
• June 2010 – Malvern Retreat, 75+ people
• July 2010 – Alaska cruise, 25+ people
• November 2010 – Holy Land Pilgrimage, 5 people – CANCELLED

The groups who attend have been fantastic. However, the more who attend, the better; particularly for the hope of actually meeting your future spouse. Ironically, there seems to be a growing interest in our trips (as our AMS Trips Facebook page proves). So perhaps there is a lot of interest, but too few who are able to make the commitment. There is no doubt that our economic times are probably causing some of this decline in attendance. But it has to be more than that. Our retreats are under $400 and the Caribbean cruise is pretty cheap for a week’s vacation. I am skeptical about it being only a money issue because I see people are still spending money on things that matter to them.

Whatever the reasons are, I would like to find them out, and I would like your help in deciding what to do next. Sadly, this decline over the last year made me wonder how much time I should devout to putting together these trips. It is also put me in a position where I am not sure I can personally attend. It is important for me to attend our trips, but it has to make sense for me to leave my family and spend that kind of time away. The 2010 Caribbean cruise and Lourdes/Fatima pilgrimage I was not able to attend.

AMS trips are an incredible offering. The hundreds who have attended the trips and retreats can attest to that. I am more than willing to put these trips together for the sake of helping single Catholics have an offline experience that allows them to interact in person with great Catholic individuals in the context of a well-organized experience they all can benefit from. However, you have to want them. There has to be a demand for them, and a growing demand at that.

I am calling out to you all at this time to come forward and share your comments on this post and on the AMS Trips page to dialogue with us and with other members about the trips. So please come forward at this time and share your thoughts and suggestions. Talk to the other members . Ask your questions about these trips. Tell us why you can’t attend. Let those who have been on trips share with you why they are worth attending.

Let’s have constructive dialogue about this. I am very open minded and want to find a way to make our trips work so that many, many more people will attend them.

I hope that many of you will be joining us for our June retreat in just three weeks in beautiful Malvern, PA.  There is something very peaceful about that area and the Malvern Retreat House is truly beautiful.  

I love the format of our June retreat - we start by allowing attendees to arrive on Thursday evening.  It's a flexible arrival time, get here whenever you can and unpack, unwind, meet the other people attending.  Adoration is available, as well.  On Friday we begin our day with the Rosary, followed by a welcome.  Then the retreat gets started with a couple of talks.  

I want to invite and encourage you to register for our pilgrimage to the Holy Land this November 3-10, if you have not done so already.  We have only (50) spots.  There really is no spiritual travel experience like walking in footsteps of Jesus.   

Our tour brings us through Galilee, Jerusalem, Judea, and Bethlehem.  A highlight of the trip is celebrating Mass in the Garden of Gethsemene like we did last time. Truly indescribable! 

HOW TO PAY FOR IT
We realize that in these challenging economic times it is difficult to justify a trip such as this.  Maybe you can use your tax refund toward the deposit or to pay for the entire trip.  Also, Consolidated Tours has a payment plan to make it easier to pay it off by September.  It's $3,300 total, including everything.  No surprises!    You get the round trip flight out of NY, hotels, all transportation for the tours, all taxes and tips included, two meals per day, and even the hidden fuel charges. So that's $600 per month payment plan, if you are starting now.  The deposit is only $300 to reserve your space.

NEED COMMITMENT BY MID-JUNE
Though the deadline to pay for this pilgrimage is September 1, we need your commitment by mid-June.  Consolidated Tours needs to keep making payments on the great hotel and airfare deals they got for us.  Their distributors need to see most of the down money by mid-June in order to keep the discounts.  SO  PLEASE....if you are serious about going, make the commitment by putting in your $300 deposit now (or by mid-June).   You can call Consolidated Tours at 404-767-2727 to ask any questions.  You need the registration form to print out and mail in, which you get on the AMS website for this trip.

Just a reminder again that Fr. Benedict Groeschel is giving several talks on love and marriage this Saturday, July 25, at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown, PA (outside of Philadelphia), starting with Mass at 10 a.m. It is a day retreat that ends at 4 p.m. This is being sponsored by Ave Maria Singles and it is a fund-raiser for us. No pre-registration is required. Just show up and register at the door. There is no set cost, either. We are just taking donations that day. Click here to read more about the day retreat and the schedule. Bring your own lunch, or you can pay for lunch at the Shrine's cafeteria.

I hope to see you there!

Just a reminder that AMS is sponsoring a day retreat with Fr. Benedict Groeschel on July 25 at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown, PA (outside of Philadelphia). For a full schedule of the day, go to:
http://www.avemariasingles.com/Ave-Maria-Single-Catholics-Retreat-Fr-Groeschel.cfm

Fr. Groeschel called me on the phone a month ago and insisted that he do this retreat for me to make up for having to cancel being at our June retreat. So I hope you will all appreciate his efforts to make himself available for you by attending this special opportunity.

Father will present 3 talks and give the homily at the Mass. The talks relate to what makes for a truly happy and holy marriage. The talks are not just for singles but apply to everyone, so please let everyone know about this opportunity to see and listen to Fr. Groeschel.

To get a printable flyer to put in your church vestibules or to give to your pastor, click here or go to:
http://www.avemariasingles.com/pdfs/FrGroeschelRetreatFlyer.pdf
The retreat ends at 4 p.m. Bring your own lunch, or the shrine will provide lunch you can purchase.

There is no set charge for this event. We are only taking donations at the door. No need to register. Just show up. This is an AMS fund-raiser, so we are hoping people will be generous at the door. Again, bring your friends and relatives, or your church groups. All are welcome.

Please spread the word about this day retreat. I would be grateful. And hopefully I will see you there.