I just recently returned from the Envoy Cruise to Alaska, where over 500 Envoy readers joined us for a week of fun and faith enrichment. It was absolutely fantastic. My wife, Nancy, and several of our children were there, and it was one of the best family times we’ve ever enjoyed together. The excellent talks by well-known Catholic speakers, time for study and reflection, prayer, and meeting new friends made it a family vacation we’ll never forget. And that’s why I’m excited to tell you about our next Envoy Cruise, what we call our Floating Family Conference — February 4-11, 2001, departing from Miami, Florida. You’re invited to join us. 

You’ll spend a marvelous week on board the spacious and comfortable Norwegian Sky cruise ship, enjoying a rest for your mind and body. It will be a wonderful, wholesome, experience for the whole family. The Norwegian Cruise line is widely regarded as the most family-friendly and wholesome cruise line available. My wife and I certainly think so.

Look at who will be joining you on the cruise: Invited speakers include several of today’s leading Catholic writers and speakers. Steve Wood is founder of St. Joseph’s Covenant Keepers and a popular speaker and writer. Marcus Grodi is a convert from Protestantism to the Catholic Church, the host of EWTN’s smash hit television show The Journey Home, and a well-known speaker. Dr. Paul Thigpen is Envoy’s associate editor and the author of many popular books. A convert from Protestantism, Paul is an expert in Church history and will be giving fascinating talks on the Faith. Marie Bellet is a popular new Catholic singer who will be performing her music for us — see the profile about her in Envoy’s 4.3 issue. Marie’s husband, Bill Bellet, is a family practice psychologist who specializes in family issues and parenting. Raymond Arroyo is host of EWTN’s news program The World Over and a popular commentator on culture and media issues. 

The wide range of talks and workshops is ideally suited for you and your family, ensuring that your vacation will be more than just a week of fun. The Envoy Floating Family Conference will be as well a week of renewal for you, in mind, spirit, and body. Besides enjoying the warm beauty of the Caribbean (that’s right: white sands, clear azure water, soft, tropical breezes), you’ll make new friends, take much needed time to study Scripture under the direction of Marcus Grodi, brush up on apologetics, listen to deeply moving family life talks by Steve Wood and Bill Bellet, and discover more about what’s happening “behind the scenes” from Raymond Arroyo. 

We’ll have music, recreation and plenty of time for rest, private prayer, and just enjoying the beauty of God’s creation from the deck of the ship. But in addition to the R&R, you and your family will also have time to be a family, to attend daily Mass and rosary together, and to enjoy a leisurely week of fun, study, and personal growth. Consider this your perfect chance to invest in your family.

In addition to families, the latest Envoy cruise also was privileged to have some fifteen Catholic priests as passengers. These priests need some vacation time just as you and I do, so the Envoy Cruise was the perfect way for them to blend a week of rest and personal renewal with apostolic ministry to the Catholics on board. Our priests were available for confessions, prayer, and spiritual direction for any who asked. 

Please join us on this cruise, and tell your friends about it, too. These events directly help Envoy’s apostolate of “Bringing Christ to the World.” We need your prayers and support to enable us to grow and serve the Church, and I can’t think of a better, more restful way for you to help Envoy than by joining us on our unforgettable Floating Family Conference. I want personally to invite you and your family to join us! I know you’ll be glad you did. It will be your best family vacation, ever! 

To reserve your space on Envoy’s 2001 Floating Family Conference in the Caribbean, please contact Pat Baker at Bon Voyage Travel at 888-343-8121 or 208-888-1284. Or you can get information at http://www.envoycruises.com. 

Pope Fiction Hits the Airwaves

Starting September 2, my new television series Pope Fiction begins airing on EWTN, Sundays at 5:00 p.m. ET, Tuesdays at 1:30 a.m. ET, and Saturdays at 10:00 p.m. ET. I hope you’ll tune in! It’s a 16-week series that follows the major themes of my book, Pope Fiction, offering answers to the many myths and misconceptions people have about the papacy. 

The show will give you a wealth of biblical and historical information that will help you better understand the papacy — what it is, what it does — and how you can explain it more effectively to those who pose questions or challenges to you. I think you’ll find it to be a useful “crash course” in this area of apologetics, a good resource for RCIA classes, homeschoolers, and Catholic study groups.

If your cable or satellite service doesn’t offer EWTN, don’t worry. You can watch Pope Fiction (and all the EWTN shows) live via the internet at their website: www.ewtn.com. By the way, EWTN loves to get feedback from their viewers. This helps them plan and produce the kinds of shows their viewers want. So, if you enjoy Pope Fiction, please let EWTN know. 

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