Join Father John on a 10 day, 8 night pilgrimage to Germany and Austria, from July 17 to July 26, 2010, including an Oberammergau Passion Play ticket on Thursday, July 22, 2010.  Our pilgrimage includes, in addition to the Passion Play, the great Bavarian capital of Munich; the romantic and amazing Neuschwanstein Castle built in the 19th century by King Ludwig II of Bavaria; Mozart’s city of Salzburg; the alpine city of Innsbruck; and lovely, cosmopolitan Vienna in Austria.  A preliminary day-by-day itinerary is now available, designed in January 2009, and subject to modifications and will be finalized in October 2009.

Historically, worldwide demand for Oberammergau Passion Play tickets is extremely high and the 2010 performances are no exception.  Our original reservation request for the Passion play was submitted in May 2008 and our requested performance date of July 2, 2010 was already sold out.  So our ability to secure a limited number of additional tickets for our July 22, 2010 performance date is nothing short of a miracle.

Reservations for the Oberammergau Passion Play 2010 and hotel accommodations are administered and controlled by the Oberammergau Passion Play Committee in Germany (the Committee).  The Committee has strict rules and regulations governing the reservation process for the performance and accommodations.  These rules and regulations have strict due dates when deposits and final payment are due to the Committee in Germany and must be followed in order to maintain and hold the group reservation.  Reservations are subject to cancellation if payments are not received by the published due dates.

Brief History of the Oberammergau Passion Play

The first Passion Play took place in a meadow in 1634 with the parts played by local villagers. The deadly and contagious disease known as the Black Plague had broken out in Europe, but one town in the south of Germany escaped: Oberammergau. The townspeople of Oberammergau made a vow that if they were spared, they would give a play about the “Passion of Christ” every ten years.  The fact that they were saved, remains one of the most amazing mysteries in history.  The tradition remains to this day, with all of the roles played by locals.  The last performances were held in the Great Jubilee Year 2000 to sold out crowds from all over the world.  Now preparations are in full swing for 2010!  The play is an 8 hour event performed into the evening:  Part 1 from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Part 2 from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., with dinner served during the intermission. Like an opera, it is in German with English playbills.

The village Oberammergau is a fantastic tourist destination every year. It has breath-taking alpine scenery, a clear, healthy climate, excellent food, comfortable accommodations, lovely paths for strolling, outdoor cafes, wine cellars, cultural events such as concerts and opera performances.

If you would like to learn more about the play, visit the official web site at
www.passionplay-oberammergau.com.