Pilgrimage Testimonials

Read what other pilgrims have shared about their experiences with Tekton Ministries. You can sort by location by clicking on the destination buttons in blue. If you would like to submit your own testimonial about your experiences with Tekton Ministries, please click here.
Holy Land
"The guide was very competent and helpful and respectful of our needs and desire to pray."
Fr. Pius N.Pilgrim from Tasmania, Australia
Italy
"[Our tour manager] was just amazing! Our trip would not have been the same without her. Because we were a family group we would sometimes make last minute decisions to make changes to the itinerary and [our tour manager] always went above and beyond to meet our wishes."
Michelle P.Pilgrim from Omaha, NE
Holy Land
"My favorite time on the pilgrimage is celebrating Mass each day. Celebrating Mass in the Grotto of the Apostles was particularly blessed and unforeseen. The manifestation of the Spirit was apparent."
Fr. David W.Pilgrim from Havana, IL
Holy Land
"My favorite moment from the pilgrimage was visiting the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and, after venerating the birthplace, gathering as a group and reading the Gospel of the Nativity according to Luke. We then sang “O Holy Night”. Fantastic!"
Fr. Michael G.Pilgrim from Chesterfield, MO
Marian Shrines
"Knowing that Richard and the other staff were praying for us back here in the States gave me a sense of safety and comfort. Although I had not direct contact with the US staff after Richard saw us off at the airport, I still felt the care given."
Fr. John R.Pilgrim from Indianapolis, IN
Holy Land
"Especially, as we were in the Advent Season, the precious moments in the Church of the Nativity, venerating the site of Our Lord Jesus' entry into the world, was my favorite moment of the pilgrimage."
Fr. Joseph K.Pilgrim from Columbus, OH
Turkey and Greece
"I think that passages of Scripture will be much more meaningful to me, of course. Even this morning, going back to the Book of Revelation...I knew exactly what John was talking about."
John F.Pilgrim from Memphis
Turkey and 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
Mexico/Guadalupe
"My favorite moment was praying before the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Also, communicating with people of Mexico through our Catholic faith."
Fr. John G.Pilgrim from Greensburg, IN
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
Santiago de Compostela
"The moment you come through the tunnel into the plaza in front of the Cathedral at Santiago de Compostela, and the extraordinary and glorious Cathedral rises up to heaven right in front of you.   View More "
Dan S.Pilgrim from Memphis, TN
France
"This was our second pilgrimage with Tekton and we have experienced so many beautiful sites! Our guides have gone above and beyond! We have been blessed with our prilgrimages!"
Michael W.Pilgrim from Morrisonville, NY
France
"Walking and visiting where the saints had been and being in places where The Blessed Virgin Mary had appeared. It was a very spiritual trip. I felt very well informed about all the places we visited. The local guides were wonderful and knowledgeable."
Mary E.Pilgrim from Potsdam, NY
Turkey and Greece
"The tour guides did a super job, were very personable and patient, had a great education which they shared well and also had a sense of humor."
Matthew V.Pilgrim from Omaha
France
"Mt. Saint-Michel and Lourdes are the best locations. Seeing all the beautiful stained glass in the basilicas was most beautiful. One can see these on the internet and in books but being there in person was a spiritual moment that I will never forget."
Emma P.Pilgrim from Leeds, AL
Poland/Central Europe
"The Pilgrimage was perfect. I was so impressed with how every detail was handled ahead of time, especially the local guides at the places we visited. I was very impressed with our tour guide; Christopher was very knowledgeable and personable. The accommodations were great, hotels, sites, bus trips."
Maureen C.Pilgrim from Lincoln, NE
Poland/Central Europe
"I was amazed by the kindness and hospitality of the Polish people. They really made us feel at home. I also enjoyed the opportunities to venerate the relics of Saint Faustina and Saint John Paul II and to visit the places where these saints had been."
Brittany Q.Pilgrim from Rapid City, SD
Italy
"Celebrating Mass at the tomb of St. Francis, my confirmation saint, was an incredible gift. As our pilgrimage continued, I was drawn into each and every altar and chapel that Mass was celebrated, but the uniqueness of that place was memorable."
Fr. Steven M.Pilgrim from Lincoln, NE
Holy Land
"I am a middle school teacher who teachers Social Studies and Theology, the pilgrimage has given me renews passions and ideas for reaching teenage students."
Melissa Z.Pilgrim from Omaha, NE
Holy Land
"The unplanned moments were very memorable. Our group was in the Shepherd's Field church in Bethlehem. A second tour group entered the church. Our guide knew the other guide (I think they were cousins). Soon both groups were singing Christmas hymns together. It was spontaneous and very joyful."
Michael K.Pilgrim from Lincoln, NE
France
"Sara, our tour guide, was phenomenal. She was a true pleasure. She was organized, knowledgeable, helpful and very friendly. She put our needs above her own. She was quick to find help for the disabled on our trip. She assisted us in all our needs, and what she wasn't sure of, she found answers about."
Mary E.Pilgrim from Potsdam, NY
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
Holy Land
"Tekton Ministries is obviously extremely well-connected with all associated personnel at the pilgrimage locations! I was completely pleased with any and every aspect of this trip. Tekton's planning and administration of our pilgrimage couldn't have been better!"
Fr. Joseph K.Pilgrim from Columbus, OH
France
"The pilgrimage was fantastic, there is no way to experience so much without taking the trip through a tour service. I was absolutely amazed at how much we were able to see and do. The day we arrived we were quickly on our way to all the scheduled stops for day 2. Very impressed from the very start."
Emma P.Pilgrim from Leeds, AL
Marian Shrines
"The Marian focus structured our prayer, both personal and communal, and our reflection, giving room for Saint James and Saint Ignatius. The smaller group was ideal actually. By the second day we bonded and everyone knew everyone else's name. There was lots of personal sharing too over the course of the pilgrimage. Of the eight pilgrimages I have taken, this one was the most congenial and the most united and harmonious. Some of that reality was because of [our tour manager] as well."
Fr. John R.Pilgrim from Indianapolis, IN
Ireland
"It was a wonderful trip. I was glad to see as much as we did and loved sitting in the bus hearing stories about Ireland's history. The people were warm and friendly…I always take these trips by myself so the faith-based groups are important to me. The bus driver and tour guide were PERFECT!!!"
Paula M.Pilgrim from Evanston IL
Marian Shrines
"My favorite moment was seeing the wheelchairs and gurneys wheeled into the Lady of Lourdes sanctuary."
Deacon Tom H.Pilgrim from Indianapolis, IN
Italy
"The planned itinerary and the professionalism of the Tekton staff made it obvious that the company was highly experienced with great attention to detail."
Lou D. Pilgrim from Papillion, NE
Holy Land
"Our guide was terrific: smart, knowledgeable, flexible, kind (especially to pilgrim who had difficulty walking), adaptable, spiritual, articulate, respectful of pilgrims and priest-spiritual-director, great with schedule and timetable."
Rev. Robert W.Pilgrim from Laurel Falls, OH
France
"The group that I was in got into my heart and I enjoyed every one of them. Thank you for a holy, beautiful pilgrimage. God bless your ministry!"
Suzan A.Pilgrim from Colville, WA
Mexico/Guadalupe
"The tour guides did a super job, were very personable and patient, had a great education which they shared well and also had a sense of humor."
Fr. Matthew V.Pilgrim from Weston, NE
Holy Land
"Our guide was phenomenal. He opened the door for a truly deeply spiritual pilgrimage -- and also was filled with the joy of the Lord!"
Very Rev. Timothy A.Pilgrim from Lafayette, IN
Marian Shrines
"Tekton took care of all details. They chose excellent hotels, well positioned to our interest points. They required very little from us once we gave them our personal information. I appreciated Richard being at the airport to help us get approved for take off. I think Tekton did a great job. "
Rev. James F.Pilgrim from Indianapolis, IN
Poland/Central Europe
"Richard and staff are very helpful and they went out of their way in helping us plan the pilgrimage."
Fr. Christopher B.Pilgrim from Lincoln, NE
Italy
"My favorite moment was offering Mass on the altar of Pope St. Gregory the Great in St. Peter's."
Fr. Sean D.Pilgrim from Pawhuska, OK
Marian Shrines
"Presiding at the Eucharist in the Loyola house where Ignatius recuperated from his wounds and began his conversion and transformation. Each of the shrines we visited had something special for each of us - certainly true for myself."
Fr. John R.Pilgrim from Indianapolis, IN
Poland/Central Europe
"My favorite moment was seeing the image of Our Lady of Czestochowa for the first time! Hearing the trumpets “put her to bed” and “wake her up again” gave me goosebumps! My Mom is pure Polish, so I grew up hearing about The Black Madonna."
Maryann S.Pilgrim from Lincoln, NE
Turkey and Greece
"My favorite moment was having mass at the river where Lydia, the first European convert, and her family were baptized. It was so peaceful there... and profound."
Rev. Matthew V.Pilgrim from Weston, NE
Holy Land
"After experiencing the Holy Land where Jesus walked, whenever I hear the Gospels I will be able to picture exactly where He walked."
Mary L.Pilgrim from Lincoln, NE
Marian Shrines
"Director of the tour was excellent. [Our tour manager] was compassionate, understanding, knowledgeable. She knew how much to talk and how much silence we needed to process what she was saying to us. She was attentive to the individuals within the group. Her labor to make the pilgrimage as smooth as possible was evident at all times."
Rev. John R.Pilgrim from Indianapolis, IN
Pilgrimage Testimonials