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December 13, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

" Circles, Cycles and Coming Home: The Sacred Inner and Outer Landscapes
in the Celtic and Desert Spiritual Traditions"

Regina Roman, founder of Sapira, Inc. and Marcus Losack founder of Ceile De will be co-leading a workshop on April 21, 2006 at the Spiritual Directors International 17th annual Symposium and Conference. The conference is being held at the Hilton Costa Mesa in Southern California April 19-23rd, 2006.

This workshop will explore through images, history, and mythology the many circles of wisdom based on the archetypes of the sacred landscape; journey throught the cycles of the Celtic calendar and the Christian liturgical year as a decisive influence on spiritual formation; and come home in the discovery of spiritual companioning through the Abbas/Ammas and Anamchara (soul-friend).

Regina Roman is the founder. director of Sapira, Inc. based in Alexandria, Virginia, USA. She guides pilgrims in the Sinai Desert, New Mexico and Ireland. Marcus Losack, from Ireland, is the founder/executive director of Ceile De, an ecumenical organization specializing in programs and pilgrimages in Celtic Spirituality.

For further information Spiritual Directors International at www.sdiworld.org.

November 22, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“A Journey into Advent through Icons--Window into Heaven”

An Advent Quiet Day with Regina Roman, director of Sapira, Inc.,a resource for contemporary pilgrimages.Join Regina Roman for an Advent Quiet Day that will weave together the history, culture, and spiritual practice of iconography with periods of quiet reflection at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Arlington from 10:00AM-4:00PM on December 3. The day will include periods of study, sharing, and times for silence. Cost: $10 donation (lunch included). Regina Roman is founder and executive director of Sapira, Inc. (a spiritual and educational resource for contemporary pilgrimages, providing journeys with purpose to explore the sacred in the world and oneself), and is also a spiritual director, icon writer, and workshop leader. Ms. Roman holds a Theological Lay Degree from Virginia Theological Seminary, and she has studied with the modern day Russian icon writer Vladislav Andrejev. She was also trained at the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation in Bethesda. She is co-author of Journey With Purpose, a Guided Journal to Discover your Way and Through Exile into the Heart of God. All are welcome to participate in this quiet day of preparation for Advent. Please bring a journal and wear comfortable clothes.St. George's is located at 915 N. Oakland St. in Arlington, on Fairfax Drive just west of the Virginia Square Metro stop on the Orange Line. For further information call 703-525-8286 or visit

http://www.saintgeorgeschurch.org or http://www.sapira.com

Contact: St. George’s Episcopal Church (703-525-8286)

TRAVELERS RETURNING TO THE MIDDLE EAST

Chicago, Illinois-April 13, 2005 Good news for those who desire a pilgrimage to the beginning places of the Christian, Judeo and Muslim traditions. According to iExplore, a website sponsored by National Geographic that offers highend adventure travel opportunities with online booking, the demand for travel to the Middle East is on the rise. In the latest issue of the electronic newsletter Hotel Interactive the company reported "Demand for travel to the Middle East is on the rise this year, with more bookings to Egypt, Morocco, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Jordan over this same period last year" The company attributed the growing demand to decreasing hostilities in Iraq, efforts to get Syria to pull its troops from Lebanon and improving relations between Israel and the Palestinians. "With an improved perception of safety in the Middle East, U.S. travelers are beginning to act upon their pent up demand for travel to this region,” said George Deeb, iExplore’s founder and chief executive.Egypt has grown to iExplore's number two best selling destination in 2005, behind perennial bestseller Peru. Morocco, a traditional best seller before 9/11, is seeing renewed demand in 2005, currently ranked iExplore's number 13 bestseller and up from number 30 last year. Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Jordan, which saw little demand from iExplore's travelers over the last three years, are all starting to show dramatic increases in 2005, the company said."

TAKE A JOURNEY THAT WILL CHANGE YOU AND THE WORLD

ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA – April 2, 2004 – Since 9/11, fears have devastated much of the travel industry, however, according to a recent Washington Post article, there is one niche market that is projected to grow in the coming years (ironically, most likely due to the traumas of 9/11)-pilgrimages. Sapira, Inc., an innovative company based in Alexandria, Virginia, is poised to meet this growing demand.

Pilgrimages are intentional journeys with purpose that allow the outer landscapes that are visited to inform and change the inner landscapes of the soul. Traveling in a community of other pilgrims and with professional guides who not only are familiar with the cultural and historical sites but also are spiritual guides allows for remarkable transformational experiences to happen. In Egypt, Ireland and New Mexico travelers are hosted by local people of the area. This unique opportunity has changed how travelers view the world and how the world views Americans. These exchanges are a powerful means to overcome the fears and trauma of 9/11 and nourish the spiritual hunger that has resulted from terrorism. Through these journeys we meet people from the heart to the heart. We may realize that what connects us as humans is far greater than what divides us, namely the well-being of our families, a dignified means to put food on the table and the hope for peace beginning within our hearts, our families and eventually the greater world.

As of April 2, 2004, interested people can begin such a journey virtually at Sapira, Inc.’s new website www.sapira.com. This site, designed by New Target Inc., is inviting and luring and offers many features specific to allow visitors to the site to experience pilgrimage just through viewing the site. The flash introduction with its photos, music and words appeals to every sense. “It is something that makes you want to stop and take a deep breath before entering the site,” one viewer said. The site includes a unique interactive self-test to help viewers assess what type of pilgrimage experience matches their needs. There are articles and beautiful photos, and opportunities to register for pilgrimages of varying length in Egypt, Ireland, New Mexico and Washington, D.C. Products from the countries Sapira visits, as well as spiritual music and a journal will be available in the products section.

About Sapira
Sapira, Inc. an innovative travel company based in Alexandria, Virginia, that is reintroducing the concept of pilgrimage as a viable practice and travel option after the 9/11 attacks. The focus of our pilgrimages is the spiritual foundation of service and leadership for the everyday – how our spiritual formation affects the decisions we make, the people we serve, the actions we take and our overall well-being.

The name Sapira is an Aramaic word meaning ripe, healthy, or well and is related to the words for clarity and “the first glimmer of light.” Through a Sapira pilgrimage we hope to give our clients the opportunity to experience those first glimmers of light pointing the way to clarity and ripeness for change and renewal.