A Sacred Encounters Pilgrimage
Gothic, Grape, and Gratitude
Sacred Sites, Cultural & Culinary Delights
The vision of Gothic, Grape and Gratitude
The vision of Sacred Encounters journeys was born from my own experiences of and passion for sacred art and music, and presentations and parish classes that I gave. Participants encouraged me to develop a pilgrimage that would give them a deeper, richer and more personal encounter with beauty. Over the years this trip has taken on its own charm and charism. Such offerings as sacred music concerts, evening charcuterie gatherings, guided reflections or discovering treasures found in less-visited churches make Sacred Encounters unique among pilgrimages.
Taking this idea of offering a varied, rich and unique experience one step further, Gothic, Grape and Gratitude trips were developed to integrate the various ways humans encounter the divine - through beauty, food and wine, stories of inspiration - such that participants would be invited to cultivate a life of joy. Whether one savors the rich foods and wines of France, gazes in silent awe at the Chartres Cathedral, or offers a prayer of thanksgiving while standing on the shores of the Normandy beaches, God gives each human the capacity to live a life of gratitude that can be expressed in the mundane and the magnificent. There will be days when we struggle to find God. That’s why we need experiences like Gothic, Grape and Gratitude, to remind us God is always near to us and wants to share the divine love in beauty, in food, in the narrative of the lives of those who sacrificed so that we too might live as they lived.
Taking this idea of offering a varied, rich and unique experience one step further, Gothic, Grape and Gratitude trips were developed to integrate the various ways humans encounter the divine - through beauty, food and wine, stories of inspiration - such that participants would be invited to cultivate a life of joy. Whether one savors the rich foods and wines of France, gazes in silent awe at the Chartres Cathedral, or offers a prayer of thanksgiving while standing on the shores of the Normandy beaches, God gives each human the capacity to live a life of gratitude that can be expressed in the mundane and the magnificent. There will be days when we struggle to find God. That’s why we need experiences like Gothic, Grape and Gratitude, to remind us God is always near to us and wants to share the divine love in beauty, in food, in the narrative of the lives of those who sacrificed so that we too might live as they lived.
- Fr. Tom Lankenau
Cultivating a life of beauty, bounty and joy through encounters with sacred sites and culinary delights
Meet the Gothic, Grape and Gratitude Team
Fr. Tom Lankenau
Fr. Tom Lankenau hails from Colorado, where he studied wildlife biology and conservation education at Colorado State University.
Travel was always in his DNA, from family journeys to national parks to taking his father to Normandy where he landed in 1945. In his 30 years as a Jesuit he has studied, lived and traveled throughout the United States and five continents. His frequent sojourns have also fueled his passion for sacred art, music and architecture, where every itinerary included visits to churches, museums and sacred sites. Through self study and developing parish and high school courses on the Church and the arts, Fr. Tom brings a unique eye, heartfelt passion, and an evangelizing spirit in his quest to share the ‘Gospel of Beauty.’
Travel was always in his DNA, from family journeys to national parks to taking his father to Normandy where he landed in 1945. In his 30 years as a Jesuit he has studied, lived and traveled throughout the United States and five continents. His frequent sojourns have also fueled his passion for sacred art, music and architecture, where every itinerary included visits to churches, museums and sacred sites. Through self study and developing parish and high school courses on the Church and the arts, Fr. Tom brings a unique eye, heartfelt passion, and an evangelizing spirit in his quest to share the ‘Gospel of Beauty.’
Roxann & Brian McGuire
As winemaker at Willow Mountain Winery, Roxann McGuire faithfully makes each Willow Mountain wine by her own hand. Roxann is a horticulturist, chemist, and artist, and conducts all the activity regarding vine selection, wine styles, wine making methods and bottle presentation. Her focus in everything she does is “Let the wine tell the tale of the grape, the grape tell the tale of the vineyard, and the vineyard tell the tale of Montana.” This focus extends to intensive study of wine styles and pairings indigenous to different wine regions throughout the world.
Brian McGuire’s 35 year career in catering and hospitality developed his taste for wine. As General Manager of Willow Mountain Winery, Brian is responsible for sales and marketing, but his day to day job is to implement the systems, tools, equipment, and staffing needed to achieve
Roxann’s visions for grape and wine production. When he is not on sales calls, he is likely to be
found on the tractor, the crush pad, or in the winery. Together, he and Roxann have traveled to
study vineyards and wines across North America, South America, and Europe.
Kathleen McCance
Kathleen McCance inherited the travel gene and love of art and design from her family. She has decades of experience in the international travel industry and has traveled extensively. Inspired by, and happy to add pilgrimages to her travel repertoire, Katheen believes many of her experiences and adventures are divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit. She hopes your travel journeys and pilgrimages are as fun and spiritually impactful as hers!
Gothic, Grape and Gratitude Pilgrimages
Spain
6/8/2026
11 Days
$TBD
Land Only
Details Coming Soon
Why Choose Tekton?
- 25+ Years in Ministry
- True pilgrimage – not religious tours
- Custom-crafted itineraries
- Authentic Catholic experiences
- Inclusive, competitive pricing
- Properly paced itineraries include daily Mass and time for reflection
- Only Catholic/Christian guides
- Prayerful pre-pilgrimage preparation
- Custom guidebooks, name and luggage tags
- Local offices and support worldwide
- Free pilgrimage promotional materials
- Easy online registration means no extra effort for your busy staff
