Relax and discover: This is how your vacation in 2025 will be completely relaxed!

Relax and discover: This is how your vacation in 2025 will be completely relaxed!

It's July time and the anticipation of the holiday is increasing among people who are looking for rest and relaxation. Natalia Löster from “Pastoral Care by the Sea” gives valuable tips in the July issue of the Diocese of Osnabrück’s newsletter on how to start the most wonderful time of the year with a dose of calm, curiosity and laziness. “Vacation is like a sacred time, especially given the fast pace of everyday life,” she explains. Despite all the planning, she recommends maintaining openness and accepting that not everything can be planned. Because even the unexpected can be part of a beautiful journey.

Pastoral care by the sea is supported by the diocese of Osnabrück and offers faith-based activities in popular holiday resorts such as Borkum, Juist and Norderney. According to Löster, many people no longer have a classic Sunday, which makes the vacation all the more valuable. To avoid disappointment, she advises not to burden the holiday season with too high expectations. Go light and enjoy the unpredictable moments that may come. Information about the offers can be found on the Osnabrück diocese website, which regularly provides information about life support and spirituality.

Holiday pastoral care for encounters

During the peak season for holiday pastoral care, which is particularly popular in summer, holiday pastors in northern Germany as well as in other regions such as the Black Forest and Lake Constance are available to accompany people during their vacation. Your goal is to create spaces for encounters with God, yourself and others, so that your vacation can not only be a break from everyday life, but also a spiritual journey. The Baden regional church, for example, offers special offers in beautiful communities such as Gaienhofen or Hinterzarten, which is considered by many to be the “most beautiful time of the year”.

Travelers also find spirituality in the monasteries, which are considered oases of peace. Monasteries such as the Benedictine Ettal Abbey or the Arenberg Wellness Monastery offer special programs that combine relaxation and contemplation. Anyone looking for peace and spirituality is in good hands here.

Special tips for holiday souls

But you can't just treat yourself to a spiritual break on site; There are also ways to plan your vacation consciously in advance. An article from katholisch.de presents five tips on how to bring spirituality on vacation. These range from a travel blessing that is said together, to daily good deeds, to moments of gratitude.

• Tipp #1: Segen vor der Abreise – “Guter Gott, segne unsere Reise. Sei du mit uns auf unseren Wegen.”
• Tipp #2: Täglich etwas Gutes für sich oder andere tun.
• Tipp #3: Löcher in den Himmel schauen – die Natur bewusst erleben.
• Tipp #4: Tägliche Dankbarkeit äußern und festhalten.
• Tipp #5: Ausschalten zum Abschalten – das Handy in den Flugmodus versetzen.

A great vacation is not only a time for relaxation, but also an opportunity to get closer to yourself and the world again. Use the time to gain new experiences and enjoy the peace and quiet.

Further useful information can also be found in the Diocese of Osnabrück's newsletter, which appears on the first Wednesday of the month and covers helpful topics on life support and spirituality. This lays the foundation for a relaxing, spiritual vacation this summer. Because sometimes it's just that: just being relaxed, curious and lazy.