The Pilgrim's Journey

Gorzkie Zale

For a new practice, sing and pray the Polish traditional Gorzkie Żale this Lent

Natalie HoeferLast Updated: February 16th, 2023Featured Pilgrimages, Poland, Spiritual Reflections

Lent is fast approaching, beginning on Feb. 22. Before the fasting and abstinence of Ash Wednesday of course comes the feasting of Shrove or Fat Tuesday. Cakes and sweets and pastries, oh my! And don’t forget the popular Polish paczki—donuts filled with jelly or cream then deep fried and covered with powdered sugar, icing or … Read More

A Bavarian Christmas – and perhaps a pilgrimage

Natalie HoeferLast Updated: December 15th, 2022Featured Pilgrimages, Germany

Some Christmases stand out more than others for various reasons—a favorite gift, an idyllic snowfall, a Christmas where the whole family made it home. One Christmas stands out in my mind for family who wasn’t home. I have only one sibling, an older brother. We fought and squabbled like most siblings. But when he went … Read More

Immaculate Heart of Mary

Andrea JoinesLast Updated: November 15th, 2022Featured Pilgrimages, Marian Shrines of Europe, Spiritual Reflections

August is dedicated to the Immaculate Heart.  This may seem odd nowadays, considering the Feast of the Immaculate Heart is in late spring or early summer. However, the Feast of the Immaculate Heart was once celebrated on August 22nd – the Octave of the Assumption – for a period of about 25 years.  Towards the … Read More

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

Natalie HoeferLast Updated: July 22nd, 2022Featured Pilgrimages, Spiritual Reflections

On July 4, we celebrated the 246th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Resounding through history from 1776 until now are the words the document rightly declares as truth: that each person is endowed by their Creator—God—the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Through the Holy Spirit-inspired words of … Read More

Holy Land Inspiration

Richard SontagLast Updated: July 8th, 2022Featured Pilgrimages, Holy Land, Pilgrims' Stories, Priests, Spiritual Reflections

A little over a month ago, several seminarians, priests, and lay faithful had the pleasure and privilege of taking a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and the trip was not like your standard trip (as if a trip to the king of the universe’s stomping grounds could ever be standard). Covid was still hanging in … Read More

Aspergillum

What is an Aspergillum?

Andrea JoinesLast Updated: June 23rd, 2022Featured Pilgrimages, Holy Land, Spiritual Reflections

One of the highlights for our pilgrims to the Holy Land is often when they renew their baptismal vows.  This occurs in the Jordan River where Christ himself was baptized by his cousin John, whose feast day we celebrate on June 24th.  The Catholic Church as a whole also recognizes the value of this renewal … Read More

Monk-y Business

Andrea JoinesLast Updated: March 30th, 2022Featured Pilgrimages

Q. What do hot sauce, caskets, beer, and fudge have in common? A. Monks Monks? Yes. All of these products, and many more, are produced by monks (and nuns) at monasteries throughout the world and can often be purchased for personal use. Perhaps the most famous of these are the Trappist beers, produced at monasteries … Read More

The Return to the Holy Land

Andrea JoinesLast Updated: March 24th, 2022Featured Pilgrimages, Holy Land, Pilgrims' Stories

Well, it finally happened. After almost exactly 2 years, which really felt like much longer, we had a pilgrimage group depart for the Holy Land. Though those of us here in the office would have preferred to have gone with them, we have been delighting in their pictures and stories they have shared with us … Read More

Remembering Those We’ve Lost

Bri CampbellLast Updated: March 24th, 2022Featured Pilgrimages

In the first two days of November, the Church celebrates the faithful that have gone before us with All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. On the latter, we join together to pray for the souls in purgatory, that they may be fully purified and welcomed into their heavenly home by our Lord and His … Read More

Holy Name Holy Places

Bri CampbellLast Updated: September 23rd, 2021Featured Pilgrimages, France, Holy Land, Ireland, Italy, Marian Shrines of Europe

This week, we celebrated the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and this Sunday, we look forward to commemorating the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary. With only four days separating these two feasts, Our Lady is brought to the forefront of our days during this time. During pilgrimage, our hearts are also drawn … Read More

Saints along the St. Lawrence

Bri CampbellLast Updated: August 13th, 2020Canada, Featured Pilgrimages, Saints

The Gulf of St. Lawrence was named after the saint we celebrated earlier this week by the French explorer Jacques Cartier as he first sailed into the gulf on August 10, 1535, the feast of the martyr St. Lawrence of Rome. It is fitting then, to explore today some of the other saints now connected … Read More

Living a Life Surrounded by the Eucharist

Bri CampbellLast Updated: July 15th, 2020Featured Pilgrimages, Italy, Spiritual Reflections

This year, I’ve been particularly noticing the great amount of celebrations within the Church calendar, especially those since Holy Week. I don’t know if it’s just a special quirk of extra attentiveness, or if the tumultuous events that have filled 2020 so far have kept me looking out for the hidden brightness in our world … Read More

St. Bona of Pisa Has Been Taking Care of Pilgrims for a Long Time

Bri CampbellLast Updated: July 13th, 2020Camino de Santiago, Featured Pilgrimages, Saints

This saint is a true pilgrimage friend. While St. Bona of Pisa might not be as well known for walking the El Camino trail in Spain like St. Francis of Assisi or the Spanish war-hero El Cid, she is one powerful saint to ask for intercessions on your journey. St. Bona of Pisa’s feast day … Read More

10 Life Hacks for the Modern Day Pilgrim

Bri CampbellLast Updated: January 25th, 2018Featured Pilgrimages, Pilgrims' Stories, Spiritual Reflections, Travel Alerts

Are you embarking on a pilgrimage soon? Don’t let yourself treat this spiritual journey like a vacation; having the right mindset while traveling is key to getting the most out of your journey! Help yourself prepare by taking into account these 10 Life Hacks from a former pilgrim:Take a prayer list.When on pilgrimage you are … Read More