The Gospel of Beauty
Sacred Encounters Pilgrimages
An Invitation into a Bounty of Beauty
Cefalù Cathedral | Sicily, Italy
30+ Years Guiding Catholic Pilgrims
Daily Mass at Sacred Sites
Catholic/Christian Guides
Art, Architecture, Music, Food & Wine
A Journey into Divine Beauty
Encountering God Through Art, Architecture, Music & the Table
In 1995, a young Jesuit stood before Michelangelo’s Pietà in St. Peter’s Basilica and nearly fell to his knees. It was, Fr. Tom Lankenau recalls, as if God had personally touched him through the marble — for the briefest of moments, he stood in the very presence of the divine.
That encounter opened a thirty-year quest to meet God through beauty. Fr. Tom has sought out sacred sites and shrines across five continents, studied the architecture, artists, and composers behind the masterpieces — from Russian chant to Henryk Górecki, fifth-century mosaics to the French Impressionists — and woven the arts into every corner of his ministry. From high school courses on the Church and the arts to homilies illuminated by paintings, he became known as a ‘pied piper of beauty.’
In 2023, that passion became a pilgrimage. Fr. Tom led a journey to Italy as an extension of his parish classes, and the response was so strong he repeated it in 2025. Now, with Tekton Ministries, that vision has grown into an entire line of pilgrimages devoted to art, architecture, and music — and the bounty of the table: Sacred Encounters.
That encounter opened a thirty-year quest to meet God through beauty. Fr. Tom has sought out sacred sites and shrines across five continents, studied the architecture, artists, and composers behind the masterpieces — from Russian chant to Henryk Górecki, fifth-century mosaics to the French Impressionists — and woven the arts into every corner of his ministry. From high school courses on the Church and the arts to homilies illuminated by paintings, he became known as a ‘pied piper of beauty.’
In 2023, that passion became a pilgrimage. Fr. Tom led a journey to Italy as an extension of his parish classes, and the response was so strong he repeated it in 2025. Now, with Tekton Ministries, that vision has grown into an entire line of pilgrimages devoted to art, architecture, and music — and the bounty of the table: Sacred Encounters.
Eugène Burnand, The Disciples Peter and John Running to the Sepulchre on the Morning of the Resurrection, 1898. Musée d’Orsay, Paris.
Vincent van Gogh, The Good Samaritan (after Delacroix), 1890. Kröller-Müller Museum. Public Domain (cropped).
Church of St. Nizier, Lyon, France
(photo by Fr. Tom Lankenau)
Imagine gazing before the grandeur of Notre Dame, hearing the Mozart Requiem in the Salzburg cathedral, celebrating All Saints in the catacombs of Palermo or Rome, attending Mass with your family at Sagrada Familia, recreating the journey of the Monuments Men, or simply feeling uplifted in a quiet church.
Sacred Encounters pilgrimages offer privileged encounters with beauty, from the crown jewels to the hidden gems — and with the bounty God sets before us along the way. You’ll take part in liturgies, concerts, and festivals; linger over multi-course meals of regional foods and wines; follow knowledgeable guides through cathedrals and museums; and gather in the evenings for ‘sips and stories’ to share the highlights of the day. Because the God who meets us in a Gothic nave also meets us at the table: in beauty, in food and wine, in the stories of those who lived the faith before us. Every journey is an invitation to cultivate a life of gratitude and joy, expressed in the mundane and the magnificent.
Sacred Encounters pilgrimages offer privileged encounters with beauty, from the crown jewels to the hidden gems — and with the bounty God sets before us along the way. You’ll take part in liturgies, concerts, and festivals; linger over multi-course meals of regional foods and wines; follow knowledgeable guides through cathedrals and museums; and gather in the evenings for ‘sips and stories’ to share the highlights of the day. Because the God who meets us in a Gothic nave also meets us at the table: in beauty, in food and wine, in the stories of those who lived the faith before us. Every journey is an invitation to cultivate a life of gratitude and joy, expressed in the mundane and the magnificent.
The Duomo | Florence, Italy
Here’s a glimpse of some of the pilgrimages that will be offered through Sacred Encounters:
The Church possesses a treasure trove of art and music whose beauty waits to be discovered. These works are not just beautiful in themselves but serve to retell the Gospel story of salvation, engage the senses, and draw us into active participation in the divine life. Fr. Tom’s invitation is ours as well: join us on a journey of beauty, where together we can encounter the God who seeks to encounter us.
- Sicily: All Saints and All Souls | Oct 30 - Nov 9, 2026
- Great Cities Family Pilgrimage | London, Paris, Barcelona | June 5-15, 2027
- Following the Monuments Men | July 19-29, 2027
- Germany: Beethoven and Beauty | September 3-13, 2027
- Italy: All Saints and All Souls | Rome, Florence and Milan | Oct 29- Nov 8, 2027
- Ireland: Saints, Shrines and Sips | September 2028
- Plus Poland and Hungary (2028) Baroque Masters - Italy (2028) Great Britain (2028)
The Church possesses a treasure trove of art and music whose beauty waits to be discovered. These works are not just beautiful in themselves but serve to retell the Gospel story of salvation, engage the senses, and draw us into active participation in the divine life. Fr. Tom’s invitation is ours as well: join us on a journey of beauty, where together we can encounter the God who seeks to encounter us.
The Sacred Encounters Signature
A Feast for the Soul — and the Senses
Michelangelo's Pietà | St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City
I · Sacred Art
Masterpieces That Retell the Gospel
Stand before the 8th-century Book of Kells in Dublin, Caravaggio’s Burial of St. Lucy in Syracuse, the Triumph of Death in Palermo’s Galleria Regionale. With Fr. Tom’s eye for the stories behind the masterworks, you won’t just see these treasures — you’ll learn to read them, and let them read you.
II · Living Architecture
Churches That Preach in Stone
From the golden mosaics of Monreale to the soaring spire of St. Colman’s over Cobh harbor, from roofless Gothic ruins to Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia, these are not museum pieces — they are living houses of prayer. Along the way we ask together: what makes a church beautiful, and what does that beauty awaken in us?
La Sagrada Família | Barcelona, Spain
The Great Oliwa Organ | Oliwa Cathedral, Gdańsk, Poland
III · Music & Liturgy
The Church at Prayer, in Song
Evensong in a candlelit nave. High Mass in a spectacular church. Sacred music concerts, ancient litanies, and — yes — traditional sessions in a Galway pub. Daily Mass at historical, stunning churches is the heartbeat of every itinerary, and music carries the journey from the sanctuary into the streets.
IV · The Bounty of the Table
Gothic, Grape & Gratitude
God meets us not only in beauty but in bread and wine, food and festivity, and the stories of those who sacrificed so that we might live as they lived. A winery lunch in the Sicilian hills, multi-course meals of regional foods and local wines, the customs and sweets of a feast day — every Sacred Encounters journey sets this table, and our Gothic, Grape & Gratitude journeys make it their signature, cultivating a life of gratitude expressed in the mundane and the magnificent.
The Rhythm of Every Journey
Daily Mass
Evening ‘sips & stories’ gatherings
Regional meals with local wine
Guided reflections along the way
Free time to explore on your own
Upcoming Journeys
Upcoming Sacred Encounters Journeys
Here’s a glimpse of some of the pilgrimages that will be offered through Sacred Encounters.
Sacred Encounters
Sicily Pilgrimage
Palermo · Monreale · Cefalu · Syracuse
Date
October 30, 2026
Duration
11 Days
Coming July 2027
Following the Monuments Men
France · Belgium · Germany
Date
July 19-29, 2027
Duration
11 Days
Registration Coming Soon!
Meet the Team
Your Sacred Encounters Guides
Every journey is also joined by host couples and local experts who know and love the places we visit.
Fr. Tom Lankenau
Pilgrimage Leader
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.’
Kathleen McCance
Travel & Logistics
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, Kathleen 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!
Roxann & Brian McGuire
Pilgrimage Guides
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.
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.
The Tekton Difference
Why Choose Tekton?
Over 30 Years in Ministry
Tekton has guided more than 20,000 pilgrims since 1996. Sacred Encounters brings that experience to a new kind of journey — a pilgrimage into beauty.
Daily Mass at Holy Sites
On Sacred Encounters, the church you came to behold becomes the church where you worship — daily Mass in the very naves, chapels, and cathedrals on the itinerary.
Knowledgeable Catholic/Christian Guides
Guides who bring faith and Scripture to every site, joined by Fr. Tom’s passion for the stories behind the art, architecture, and music you encounter.
Properly Paced Itineraries
Beauty cannot be rushed. There is time to linger before a masterpiece, free afternoons to wander, and evenings to gather for ‘sips and stories.’
Custom-Crafted Itineraries
Each journey is built around its own theme — a feast, a composer, a region’s saints — with concerts, festivals, and winery tables no standard pilgrimage offers.
Prayerful Pre-Pilgrimage Prep
Spiritual preparation before departure forms not just the heart but the eye and the ear — so you arrive ready to receive what beauty wants to give.
Pilgrim Questions
Sacred Encounters FAQ
What is a Sacred Encounters pilgrimage?
What is a Gothic, Grape, and Gratitude pilgrimage?
Are these pilgrimages or tours?
Who leads Sacred Encounters pilgrimages?
What is included in a Sacred Encounters pilgrimage?
How do I join or organize a Sacred Encounters pilgrimage?
The Apostle's Road Is Waiting
Encounter the God Who Seeks to Encounter You
Join us on a journey of beauty — through art, architecture, music, and the bounty of the table.