Gerry's Mega Tour continues March 24 - May 3
Dear Friends:
Please forgive me once again for having delayed so long in updating my website! I've written, and intended to post, many essays since my last posting (at Thanksgiving!) -- essays on the need to keep Advent as a penitential season, on the incarnational implications of Christmas, on the rigors of Lent, on the glories of Easter, on various favorite saints whose feast days have come and gone during the past few months, on Church teaching on the necessity of abjurations, on the truth regarding the baptism of desire/baptism of blood controversy, on legal vs. illegal clergy during the current crisis, on the latest Ratzinger razzle-dazzles (which, astoundingly, are bamboozling so many supposed "traditionalists"; witness, for instance, what The Remnant and others have been saying about the revised Good Friday prayer for the Jews!), and many other critical issues. I had hoped to be posting these during Advent, then Christmastide, then Lent, then at Easter, and in on each occasion I was stymied by some rather remarkable circumstances, which I will recount in my next essay.
I hope to post all of these recently-written essays during the coming days. But right now it is imperative that I let you know that I am already on the next leg of my mega tour -- one of my longest segments of this tour, in fact: I am currently speaking in 35 cities ithroughout nine states (Maryland, Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas), putting nearly 10,000 miles on my car from March 24 through May 3. My topic at each of these locations (except one, Lynchburg VA on April 18; see below) is, as always, "Counterfeit Catholicism: How Faithful Catholics Come to Realize That Vatican II, The New Mass, and Benedict XVI Are Not What They Claim to Be."
Here below, without further ado, is my current itinerary. If you (or any of your family, friends, or loved ones) live near any of these cities, I hope to see you (or them) there. As with all segments of my megatour, this is absolutely the last time I plan on ever speaking in these cities.
Please keep this grueling, breakneck-pace trip in your prayers. And any donation, large or small, you might wish to send via check or money order, Visa or MasterCard, to help put gas in my car or pay for a meal or a motel room, would be greatly appreciated. Though we pinch every penny, select the least expensive locations, and eat groceries in the car to avoid the costs of restaurants as much as possible, when one adds together the cost of renting even inexpensive meeting space, mimimal advertising, a budget hotel or motel sleeping room, gas, and groceries, every stop on this megatour easily costs a minimum of $250 - $300 a night. AS always, we remember every donor and all his or her loved ones, living and deceased, in our daily rosaries and other prayers. Please help support this urgent speaking tour, and may God richly reward you, both now and in eternity!
1. Mon, March 24, 7 pm: Winston-Salem (Clemmons) NC
Holiday Inn Express
6320 Amp Dr, Clemmons NC 27012 • (336) 778-1500
Exit 184 off I-40 (right off ramp if westbound, left if eastbound), 1st right onto Amp Dr, hotel is on right.
2. Tues, March 25, 7 pm: Greenville SC
Holiday Inn Express
1036 Woodruff Rd, Greenville SC 29607 • (864) 678-5555
Exit 51 to exit 51-A off I-85 (right off ramp if westbound, left if eastbound), proceed ½ mile down Woodruff Rd (Rt 146 west), hotel is on left past Target.
3. Wed, March 26, 7 pm: Atlanta GA
Staybridge Suites - Atlanta Perimeter Center West
760 Mt. Vernon Hwy, Atlanta GA 30328 • (404) 250-0110
Take route 400/Rt 19 north (Turner - McDonald Pkwy; if you're taking the I-285 perimeter to get to it, the parkway is exit 27 off I-285) to exit 5-B (Sandy Springs exit, only 1 mile north of the perimeter), left at 2nd light onto Barfield Rd, right at next light onto Mt. Vernon Hwy, hotel is on right.
4. Thurs, March 27, 7 pm: Jackson MS
Holiday Inn Express Jackson - Coliseum/Downtown
310 Greymont Ave, Jackson MS 39202 • (601) 948-4466
Take exit 96-B (High St) off I-55 (1 mile north of I-55 & I-20 interchange), hotel is on left at corner of High St & Greymont Ave, adjacent to MS Fairground/Coliseum. Free parking.
5. Fri, March 28, 7 pm: Shreveport LA
Holiday Inn Express - Shreveport Airport
5420 Interstate Dr, Shreveport LA 71109 • (318) 686-8328
Located at exit 13 off I-20 next to Shreveport Regional Airport. Take exit 13, south on Monkhouse Dr (towards airport), 1st right onto Interstate Dr, hotel is down 1 block on right.
6. Sat, March 29, 12 noon - 6 pm: Tyler TX
Holiday Inn Select - Tyler
5701 S. Broadway Ave, Tyler TX 75703 • (903) 561-5800
From I-20: Take either exit 556 (if coming from west) onto Hwy 69 south, or exit 571-A (if coming from east) onto Hwy 271 south, turn right onto Loop 323 around Tyler, after approx. 15 minutes turn right off 323 loop onto Broadway (Hwy 69), go south 1 mile on Broadway Ave, hotel is on right just past Reick Rd, behind Sonic and across from Lowe's.
7. Sun, March 30, 1-3 pm: Dallas (Plano) TX
Holiday Inn Express - N. Plano
3101 Dallas Parkway, Plano TX 75093 • (973) 403-1112
Dallas North Parkway/Tollway (exit 22 off I-635 beltway) to Parker Rd (approx 9 miles north of beltway), make U-turn, hotel is on right.
8. Sun, March 30, 7 pm: Ft. Worth (Arlington) TX
Holiday Inn Express Arlington I-20 / Parks Mall
1721 Pleasant Place, Arlington TX 76015 • (817) 784-8750
From I-20: Exit 449 onto Cooper St North (FM 157), left at next light onto Pleasant Ridge, hotel is on left between McDonald's & Comerica Bank.
9. Mon, Mar 31, 7 pm: Austin TX
Holiday Inn Express - Austin North Central
8500 North Interstate Hwy 35, Austin TX 78753 • (512) 821-0707
From I-35: Exit 241 (Rundberg Ln), make U-turn under I-35 (if exiting I-35 northbound) and go ½ mile south on access rd, hotel is on right.
10. Tues, Apr 1, 2008, 7 pm: San Antonio TX
Holiday Inn Express San Antonio - Airport North
16315 US Hwy 281 N, San Antonio TX 78232 • (210) 402-3300
From downtown or airport: US Hwy 281 north to Thousand Oaks Dr, take turn-around, hotel is on right.
From C.W. Anderson Loop (1604): US Hwy 281 south, stay on access road, cross over Thousand Oaks Dr, hotel is on right.
11. Wed, Apr 2, 2008, 7 pm: Corpus Christi TX
Holiday Inn Airport/Padre Island Dr - Corpus Christi
5549 Leopard St, Corpus Christi TX 78408 • (361) 289-5100
From I-37: Exit 4A, south on 358 (Padre Island Dr), immediate left onto Leopard St, hotel is on right (visible from I-37).
12. Thurs, Apr 3, 2008, 7 pm: Houston (Sugar Land) TX
Holiday Inn - Sugar Land
14444 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land TX 77478 • (281) 565-6655
From 59 (Southwest Freeway): take Dairy-Ashford/Sugar Creek exit (go through light if exiting 59 southbound, make U-turn at light if northbound), hotel is on right behind FedEx/Kinko's.
13. Fri, Apr 4, 2008, 7 pm: Lafayette LA
Holiday Inn Lafayette-US 167
2032 NE Evangeline Thruway, Lafayette LA 70501 • (337) 233-6815
From I-10 (exit 103-A) or I-49: take US 167 (Evangeline Thruway) south, left at 1st light (Castille St), left again onto frontage rd, hotel is on right.
From south: take Rt 167 (Evangeline Thruway) north, past the light at Castille St (past Home Depot and Albertson's on right) and just before I-10 take next right onto Chalmette Dr, immediate right onto frontage rd, hotel is ¼ mi on left.
14. Sat, Apr 5, 2008, 7 pm: New Orleans (Gretna) LA
Holiday Inn New Orleans - West Bank
100 Westbank Expressway, Gretna LA 70053 • (504) 366-2361
From I-10: exit 234-C (Westbank /Business Rt 90 West), cross Mississippi River Bridge, take Lafayette St exit off Business 90, make U-turn at light, hotel is 4 blocks down on right.
15. Sun, Apr 6, 2008, 7 pm: Savannah GA
Holiday Inn Savannah - Midtown
7100 Abercorn St, Savannah GA 31406 • (912) 352-7100
From I-16 east: Exit 164-A (W.F. Lynnes Pkwy), right at 3rd light (approx. 5 mi.) onto Abercorn St (Rt 204), hotel is 1.5 mi on left at intersection of Abercorn and Eisenhower St (near Hunter Army Airfield and Oglethorpe Mall).
16. Mon, Apr 7, 2008, 7 pm: Asheville NC
Holiday Inn Asheville - Biltmore East at the Blue Ridge Parkway
1450 Tunnel Rd, Asheville NC 28805 • (828) 298-5611
From I-40: Exit 55, left off ramp if eastbound (right if westbound), right at 1st light, hotel is on left.
17. Thurs, Apr 17, 2008, 7 pm: Roanoke VA
Holiday Inn Tanglewood
4468 Starkey Rd SW, Roanoke VA 24018 • (540) 774-4400
From I-81: exit 143 to I-581 south to Tanglewood Mall/Salem exit, take Rt 419 north to 4th light, turn right onto Starkey Rd, hotel is on right.
From south of Roanoke: take US 220 north to Franklin Rd exit, take Rt 419 north to 4th light, turn right onto Starkey Rd, hotel is on right.
18. Fri, Apr 18, 2008, 7 pm: Lynchburg VA
Holiday Inn Express
5600 Seminole Ave, Lynchburg VA 24501 • (434) 237-7771
From US 460 east or west or US 29 south: take exit 8-A onto Candlers Mt Rd, at light next to Chick-Fil-A turn left onto Seminole Ave, hotel is on left.
From US 29 north: right onto Seminole Ave immediately before Goodwill store.
Note: This is the only time on this 36-city tour that the talk will NOT be my "Counterfeit Catholicism" talk, but instead will be "How the Bible Converted Me to Catholicism: One Protestant Minister's Surprising Journey of Faith." The hotel was selected because it is adjacent to Jerry Falwell's Liberty University, the primary purpose of the talk being to make the Biblical case for Catholicism to any faculty and students of that school who may be willing to come, as well of course as any other interested persons in the area, Catholic or non-Catholic. The talk is free of charge and will include a Q & A session.
19. Sat, Apr 19, 2008, 1-3 pm: Charlotte NC (Concord)
Holiday Inn Express
7772 Gateway Ln NW, Concord NC 28027 • (704) 979-7900
From I-85: Exit 49, right off ramp if northbound (left if southbound), take Speedway Blvd 1 block, left onto Weddington Rd, 1st left onto Gateway Ln NW, hotel is on right.
20. Sat, Apr 19, 2008, 7-9 pm: Blythewood SC (just north of Columbia)
Holiday Inn Express
120 Creech Rd, Blythewood SC 29016 • (803) 333-0315
From I-77: Exit 27, right off ramp onto Blythewood Rd if northbound (left if southbound), 1st right onto Creech Rd.
21. Sun, Apr 20, 2008, 7-9 pm: Tallahassee FL
Staybridge Suites
1625 Summit Dr, Tallahassee FL 32317 • (850) 219-7000
From I-10: Take exit 209-B, merge onto Hwy 90 east, take 1st right into Summit East Office Park.
22. Mon, Apr 21, 7-9 pm: Ocala FL
Holiday Inn Express - US 441 Midtown
1212 South Pine Ave, Ocala FL 34474-4040 • (352) 629-7300
From I-75: Take exit 350, take Hwy 200 east for 3.5 miles, turn right onto S. Pine Ave (Hwy 441), proceed 2 blocks, hotel is on right next to IHOP.
23. Tues, Apr 22, 7-9 pm: Tampa FL
Holiday Inn Express - Tampa Fairgrounds
8610 Elm Fair Blvd, Tampa FL 33610 • (813) 490-1000
From I-75: Take I-4 west (exit 261) to exit 7, take US 301 south, hotel is on left.
From I-275: Take I-4 east (exit 45-B) to exit 7, take US 301 south, hotel is on left.
24. Wed, Apr 23, 7-9 pm: Ft. Myers FL
Holiday Inn Historic Downtown
2431 Cleveland Ave, Fort Myers FL 33901 • (239) 332-3232
From I-75: Take exit 136, west on 884 (Colonial Blvd), right onto Rt 41 (Cleveland Ave), go north approx. 2 miles, hotel is on right next to Dunkin Donuts and across from Lee Memorial Hospital.
25. Thurs, Apr 24, 7-9 pm: Ft. Lauderdale FL (Sunrise)
Holiday Inn
3003 N. University Dr, Sunrise FL 33322 • (954) 748-7000
From I-595: Take exit 5, north on University Dr (Rt 817) 4.5 miles, hotel is on left just before Oakland Park Blvd.
From I-95: Take exit 31, head west on Oakland Park Bvd, turn left onto University Dr (Rt 817), hotel is on right.
26. Fri, Apr 25, 7 pm: Melbourne FL
Holiday Inn Melbourne - Viera Conference Center
8298 N. Wickham Rd, Melbourne FL 32940 • (321) 255-0077
From I-95: Take exit 191, turn right off exit ramp onto Wickham Rd if northbound (left if southbound), left at next light, hotel is behind McDonald's.
27. Sun, Apr 27, 12 noon - 2 pm: Orlando FL
Crowne Plaza Orlando Airport
5555 Hazeltine National Dr, Orlando FL 32812 • (407) 856-0100
From Orlando Airport: Take north exit, go north on Semoran Blvd (Rt 436), hotel is at 2nd light, 1 mile on left.
From I-4: Take exit 72, east on 528 (Martin Andersen Beachline Expwy) to exit 11 (Semoran Blvd / Rt 436), proceed as above.
From Florida's Tpke: Take exit 254, east on 528 to exit 11 (Semoran Blvd / Rt 436), proceed as above.
From Central Florida Greeneway (Rt 417): west on 528 to exit 11 (Semoran Blvd / Rt 436), proceed as above.
28. Sun, Apr 27, 7-9 pm: Jacksonville FL
Holiday Inn Express
4675 Salisbury Rd S, Jacksonville FL 32256 • (904) 332-9500
From I-95: Take exit 344, turn left off ramp if southbound (right if northbound) onto Rt 202 east / J. Turner Butler Blvd, immediate right onto Salisbury Rd S, hotel is on left.
29. Mon, Apr 28, 7-9 pm: Charleston SC
Holiday Inn Express
8975 Elms Center Rd, North Charleston SC 29418 • (843) 569-3200
From I-26: Take exit 205-B, merge right onto Hwy 78, go through 2 lights, hotel is on left behind Arby's in Elms Plantation.
30. Tues, Apr 29, 7-9 pm: Wilmington NC
Holiday Inn Wilmington
5032 Market St, Wilmington NC 27892 • (910) 392-1101
From I-40 east: take Market St (US Business 17) exit, left onto Market, hotel is 0.9 mi. on left.
From US 17 north: take Business 17(Market St) into town, hotel is 0.4 mi past Kerr St, on right.
From US 17 south: take Business 17 (Market St.) into town, hotel is 0.9 mi past I-40 crossover, on left.
31. Wed, Apr 30, 7-9 pm: Durham NC
Holiday Inn Express - Research Triangle Park
4912 S. Miami Blvd, Durham NC 27703 • (919) 474-9800
From I-40: Take exit 281 (left off ramp if eastbound, right if westbound), hotel is ¼ mi on right.
32. Thurs, May 1, 7-9 pm: Virginia Beach VA
Crowne Plaza
4453 Bonney Rd, Virginia Beach VA 23462 • (757) 473-1700
From I-264 (VA Beach-Norfolk Expressway): Take exit 17-B, north on Independence Blvd (Rts 225 & 410), right at 1st light onto Bonney Rd, hotel is ½ mi on right.
33. Fri, May 2, 7-9 pm: Richmond VA (Ashland)
Holiday Inn Express
107 S. Carter Rd, Ashland VA 23005 • (804) 752-7889
From I-95 north or south: Exit 92-B, left at 1st light, hotel next to Cracker Barrel restaurant.
34. Sat, May 3, 1-3 pm: Arlington VA
Holiday Inn Rosslyn at Key Bridge
1900 N. Fort Myer Dr, Arlington VA 22209 • (703) 807-2000
From I-66 east: Exit 73 (Lee Hwy), hotel is ¾ mile on right.
From I-66 west: Exit 73 (Lee Hwy), go 2 blocks, left onto N. Fort Myer Dr, hotel is on right.
35. Sat, May 3, 7-9 pm: Frederick MD
Holiday Inn Express - Francis Scott Key Mall
5579 Spectrum Dr, Frederick MD 21703 • (301) 695-2881
From I-270: Exit 31A to Rt 85 N, right at first light onto Spectrum Drive, left after Bob Evans restaurant into hotel. From I-70: Exit 53-A to I-270 south, then proceed as above.