About Tekton Ministries
They Returned by a Different Way
Matthew 2:12
After the Magi encountered the Christ Child, Scripture tells us they returned to their country by a different way. That single line captures everything we believe about pilgrimage. Our purpose is not simply to show you the holy sites—it is to help you encounter Christ there so profoundly that you cannot return to your life unchanged.
“Without the Way there is no going; without the Truth, there is no knowing; without the Life, there is no living.”
Thomas à Kempis
A Story of Conversion
How a “St. Paul Moment” Became a Ministry
In 1996, Richard Sontag had built a successful sales empire—fancy houses, fast cars, the full measure of worldly achievement. And then the Lord, as Richard describes it, “knocked him over the head.”
It was his own Magi moment. He went seeking and came back by a different way. Following a great deal of prayer and several life-changing pilgrimages, Richard sold his company and devoted himself to the thing God had laid on his heart—helping others experience the same transformation he had found in the holy places.
From that first pilgrimage, Tekton Ministries has grown into a trusted partner for parishes and dioceses across the country, offering journeys to the Holy Land, Medjugorje, Lourdes, Rome, the Camino de Santiago, and sacred sites around the world. He chose the name Tekton—the Greek word (τέκτων) for a craftsman or builder, the same word Scripture uses to describe St. Joseph. Like the carpenter of Nazareth, whose hard work, dedication, and devotion shaped a home for Christ, we seek to craft pilgrimages that build a home for Christ within every pilgrim. The mission has never changed: not tourism, but transformation. Not sightseeing, but encounter.
It was his own Magi moment. He went seeking and came back by a different way. Following a great deal of prayer and several life-changing pilgrimages, Richard sold his company and devoted himself to the thing God had laid on his heart—helping others experience the same transformation he had found in the holy places.
From that first pilgrimage, Tekton Ministries has grown into a trusted partner for parishes and dioceses across the country, offering journeys to the Holy Land, Medjugorje, Lourdes, Rome, the Camino de Santiago, and sacred sites around the world. He chose the name Tekton—the Greek word (τέκτων) for a craftsman or builder, the same word Scripture uses to describe St. Joseph. Like the carpenter of Nazareth, whose hard work, dedication, and devotion shaped a home for Christ, we seek to craft pilgrimages that build a home for Christ within every pilgrim. The mission has never changed: not tourism, but transformation. Not sightseeing, but encounter.
More Than a Travel Company
For 30 years, Tekton Ministries has guided Catholic pilgrims with one conviction: a pilgrimage is not a tour. A tourist looks for souvenirs. A pilgrim looks for seeds of grace. The difference between the two determines whether your trip becomes a dusty photo album or a turning point in your life. We exist to ensure it becomes the latter.
Priest-Led Pilgrimages
Every Tekton pilgrimage is led by a Catholic priest who celebrates daily Mass at sacred sites and offers the Sacraments throughout the journey. Your shepherd travels with you.
Christian Guides, Always
We partner exclusively with guides who are Christian and Catholic—people who share the sanctity of our Scripture and can speak to the spiritual significance of every site, not just its history.
Contemplative Pace
We build time for silence, prayer, and personal reflection into every itinerary. Our pilgrims don’t race through sites with a checklist—they linger in the presence of grace.
30 Years of Trust
Since 1996, thousands of pilgrims and hundreds of priests have trusted Tekton to handle every detail—flights, hotels, meals, logistics—so they can focus entirely on the spiritual journey.
Our Ministry Team
The people behind every pilgrimage
Richard Sontag
Founder & President
Richard’s own conversion through pilgrimage in 1996 led him to sell his business and devote his life to helping others encounter Christ in the holy places. More than 30 years later, he still personally speaks with every priest who calls.
“Without the Way there is no going; without the Truth, there is no knowing; without the Life, there is no living.”
— Thomas à Kempis
Mark Mazelin
Pilgrimage Development & Marketing Director
A history student turned pilgrimage advocate, Mark directs all things pilgrimage development. His love for the Catholic faith deepens with every group he helps send to the holy sites. Previously a small business owner for five years, he brings an entrepreneur’s energy to the ministry. He lives in Fishers, Indiana, with his family.
"Pray, hope, and don’t worry"
— St. Padre Pio
Krista Behringer
Office Manager
Chances are, when you call our office, Krista’s is the first voice you will hear. Beyond answering the phones and acting as a client liaison, Krista ensures that the office runs smoothly. Krista originally hails from California where she studied at San Diego State University. She and her husband relocated to Indiana in 1994, where they are raising their five children. Krista is active in her parish, and loves nearly every outdoor sport you could name, especially mountain biking, hiking, running, and cycling.
"Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. A joyful heart is the inevitable result of a heart burning with love."
— St. Teresa of Calcutta
Andrea Joines
Pilgrim & Client Relations
Andrea has walked the Camino de Santiago—twice. That experience of putting one foot in front of the other for hundreds of miles, trusting in God’s providence, shapes how she cares for every pilgrim who calls our office. She manages pilgrim and client relations alongside Communications and Media.
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it!”
— Psalm 118:24
Rick Doty
Website & Systems Integration
Rick builds and maintains the digital infrastructure that connects pilgrims to their journeys. He’s responsible for the Tekton website and systems integration, ensuring every pilgrim’s experience begins smoothly from the very first click. He lives in Grand Haven, Michigan, with his wife and three children.
“In all created things discern the providence and wisdom of God, and in all things give Him thanks.”
— St. Teresa of Avila
Ken Darby
Print & Production
With over 45 years in the print and production industry, Ken brings master-level craftsmanship to every brochure and newsletter that arrives in a pilgrim’s mailbox. A Purdue engineering graduate with a master’s from the University of Indianapolis, he ensures every printed piece reflects the dignity of the ministry it represents.
Voices from the Journey
Real stories from Tekton pilgrims
Holy Land
“My husband and I are reading our Bible every day! Having devotions for Lent that put us in mind of our Holy Land time!!! We feel very blessed to have gone on this pilgrimage and feel closer to our Lord because of it!”
Patricia T.
Pilgrim from Alta, NE
France
“The experience has changed me in a way that is difficult to explain. I have told my friends and family that taking a pilgrimage is something everyone should do if they want to experience an increase in faith and understanding of what God wants from us.”
Emma P.
Pilgrim from Leeds, AL
Turkey & Greece
“The depth of knowledge gained by witnessing the development of our Catholic Faith through actual contact with the Acts of the Apostles locations and the Saints’ quest to spread the word of God will allow me to live out my faith differently now.”
Gerald T.
Pilgrim from Memphis, TN
Ready to Begin Your Journey?
The real pilgrimage begins the moment you walk through your own front door. Whether you're leading a group or joining one, we'll help you encounter Christ—and return home changed.