The Brothers of St. John and Campus Ministry are giving 14 Seton Hall students the opportunity to go on an 11-day pilgrimage to France this summer for a low price.
According to Campus Minister The Rev. Gabriel Mary, the ministry managed to get a group rate for plane tickets, which equals about $950 per student.
"Because we've lived in France for many years, we have many friends and monasteries where we can stay for free or at a very low cost," Mary said. "We've also received a little help from SGA and Campus Ministry, allowing us to keep the costs down."
Last year, a group of Rutgers and NJIT students was able to go to France with the religious sisters of the ministry.
Thanks to the monasteries in the country, the group was able to see France from the inside, visiting sites some tourists miss. This summer, Campus Ministers Mary and Brother Andrew James want to give University students the same opportunity.
"Not only will our students see some of the most famous cultural sites of the country, but they will also have the opportunity to meet French people, to pray with young monks and nuns, to stay in monasteries and to tour out-of-the-way country villages." Fr. Gabriel Mary said. "They will be given the opportunity to do other things that normal tourists miss."
Highlights from the trip will include a visit to Paris to view the Louvre Museum, the Eifel Tower and the famous castle of Versailles. The group will then visit the coastal region of Normandy for a trek across the sand-flats to the famous island monastery of Mount St. Michael.
Other stops on the trip will include a visit to Orleans, an opportunity to participate in the life and prayer of the young monks in Burgundy and a tour of the vineyard in Taize.
The target budget for the trip is $2000 per student, which is about half of the normal cost.
According to Mary, if the student slots fill up, the Seton Hall Campus Ministry will pay for the two brothers, keeping the total price per student down.
If any students are interested in attending, half the deposit is due March 15, and the second half by May 1.
For more information, contact the brothers at 973-674-2383 or reach them by email at brothersofsaintjohn@gmail.com.
Rawan Eewshah can be reached at rawan.eewshah@student.shu.edu.
