PilgrimJourneys.bid
Pilgrim Journeys
Ministry to Tourism
Saskatoon
by Ralph Kleiter
Ministry to Tourism Director
Spiritual Travel Designer
Merry Christmas Pilgrims
Christmas Message-Advent 2025
Dear Travel Friends:
Mother Nature takes over Angkor Wat, Cambodia
I have just returned from touring the Ancient and Mysterious World of the Kingdoms of Southeast Asia. Our journey by Collette highlighted Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. This time, however, I just joined a small party of wonderful and interesting couples all truly reflective of North America. I had no organizational responsibilities and I avoided as much as possible all the “social communications” on our devices through high tech and what often seemed to be superficial sharings. In short, I just watched and listened!
We discovered some profoundly rich cultures and a deeply spiritual people who have been exposed to many “Kingdoms” during the centuries. Each has impacted their values and it seems that this must be the plan of our Creator. People seem to live a certain “deep ecumenism” and they practise customs of each and respect each other by even greeting one another and using acclamations accordingly—“Oh, my God”, “Oh, my Buddha”, “Merry Christmas” etc.
In my travels, I have come to “discover the Sacred in reflective travel. The process of reflection, especially before and after the experience, is paramount. Hence, it is impossible not to be enriched and even changed through travel.
In central Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Vietnam one finds the French Colonist’s Cathedral now fully wrapped in exterior restoration and the landmark Post Office Building. Both are requiring full re-imagining for the 21st century. There, with Notre Dame Cathedral and the Post Office I found a message.
The Christmas Tree in the Post Office and the couple seemed undoubtedly moved by what their future home must become. The portrait of Ho Chi Minh in the distant background fades as the revival of the current city rises in the midst of the symbolic Christmas Tree (frequently found today in southeast Asia).
The story of new Light continues to be born anew with the Christmas Tree.
“Behold, the Lord will come to save the nations, and the Lord will make the glory of his voice heard in the joy of your heart” Isaiah 30.19.30
Have a Blessed Christmas and enriching travels!
Ralph
A Book from the Prairies of Western Canada
Ralph Leo Kleiter, priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon, Canada shares the unique story of one who experienced the time before the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) and the following years that energized him. With the help of his daily journal, files and memory he writes candidly and high- lights his "steppingstones" and "turning points".
Pilgrim Journeys by Fr. Ralph Kleiter is truly an opus magnum, a story that takes us from his childhood in the Prud'homme Cudworth region of Saskatchewan to his present life as a retired priest in Saskatoon. It is an embodiment of an insight of St. Irenaeus, "The glory of God is the person fully alive." This memoir was difficult to put down as I read about Ralph's journey from his early years as a child of farming parents and a descendant of pioneer grandparents, the education and parish experiences of his youth and the seminary life which led him to his ordination as a priest of the diocese of Saskatoon.
This was a time of great transition, from the time of pre-Vatican II to the excitement engendered by Pope John XXIII, who was committed to opening the windows of the Church to the world of the 20th century. It was an exciting time and a difficult time, both of which are communicated well by Ralph as he lived a very creative life as a pastor in both rural and urban situations. His ability to remain positive and committed to his life's work, maintaining his affirmation of the vibrancy of life is, of itself, a gift to the reader. After the read, as we hopefully enter post-pandemic times in 2022 and 2023, you will be enticed to join the author again in travels, all “Marvelous Masterpieces of Experience”. He hopes you would also find them to be truly a taste of life’s Pilgrim Journey. Indeed, this is also your time to choose an incredible “Pilgrim Journey” experience. Any local bookstore can order the book for you.
In twelve chapters, with meticulous details, his narrative outlines his rural Saskatchewan formation and religious institutional education; the background and interesting events in all the parishes he served; and his global experiences and outreach through a Ministry to Tourism he established. In several sections, the reader will be able to really feel the author's presence within the narrative.
The most compelling and intriguing aspects of the author's story are:
* The "behind-the-scenes" accounts within church ministry, from the pre-Vatican II schooling to his faith -related struggles within the structures of the church. Some readers can attain a deeper appreciation of their role in the church and the author hopes that his story might serve as a teaching vehicle for clergy and laity.
* His approaches in parish and health-care ministries, as well as his visionary personal charism in developing a "Spirituality in Travel" and a "Ministry to Tourism". Most evident, is his belief that the sacred is all around, making our leisure time matter in a spiritual way. The reader will be especially impressed in a final chapter presenting the richness of his travels and how life-changing they were because of his organization and determination.
Fr. Kleiter has written a voluminous Memoir, enhanced with over one hundred and twenty colour photographs in a pleasing volume of classic design. The work is a worthwhile read, because it describes a priest with a mission during the challenging years of reading the "signs of the times". By understanding the past, we can move into the future.
One very unique aspect of his ministry has been his ministry to tourism. As a young man he was drawn to the possibilities of photography, an avocation that trained him to be perceptive and aware of the beauty and uniqueness of this world. It appears that this was continued in his love of travel and, after ordination, his desire to open others to this world of wonder, beauty, and sacredness. This commitment to travel was both unusual and challenging but certainly within the challenge of the Church to be open to the modern world. His hope was to open the eyes of fellow parishioners and travellers to be attentive to the mysteries that surrounded them rather than glance at life with a somewhat jaundiced perception.
This memoir is a gift and a challenge to all who desire to increase their ability to see beyond the ordinariness of life to the wonders that surround us.
James Schmeiser, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Western University, London, Ontario
Order instructions
For travel details and booking procedure contact:
Rev. Ralph Kleiter Ministry to Tourism 314-619 Saskatchewan Cres. W, Saskatoon, SK S7M 0A5, Canada Email: kleiter20@gmail.com www.pilgrimjourneys.bid
Cell: +1-306-262-4120
Marianne (Anni) De Lima Professional Senior Travel and Cruise Consultant Tel: 1-866-810-9991 Ext. 8152 Merit Travel Toronto, Email: mdelima@dt.com | VISIONTRAVEL
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Ralph enjoying a glass of wine on Danube
Mailing address:
Ministry to Tourism
Fr. Ralph Kleiter
314-619 Saskatchewan Cres. W
Saskatoon SK S7M 0A5 CANADA
Cell: +1-306-262-4120
Email: kleiter20@gmail.com
Website: www.pilgrimjourneys.bid