28 days later...

So much to cover today…

First up, today is the Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Did you know the original icon is here in Rome? Did you know that this icon is what led to my reconversion? Here’s the story.

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This time 17 years ago, I was leading my very first group pilgrimage. I had no experience with group travel, I’d never been on any sort of organized tour, and I didn’t know anything about the travel industry. I just had a dream of taking people to places I loved. Here’s the story of how that first group almost died.

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I just returned home from 28 days on the road — my 148th and 149th groups since I started The Catholic Traveler. Lots of new experiences and some new countries. I’m way behind with social media (and sleep) so expect lots of posts over the next few weeks. Here’s the first…

I visited Auschwitz for the first time the other day. I wrote about it here: Instagram / Facebook.

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Both of my last pilgrimages included the Oberammergau Passion Play. One was with my podcast co-host, Joannie Watson. We visited Vienna and Salzburg and ended with the Passion Play.

The next group was made up entirely of some of my patrons. We started with the Passion Play then traveled to Salzburg, Vienna, Prague, and into Poland.

Both were amazing groups and I’m currently having a terrible pilgrimage hangover, where I miss everyone and count random people on the streets.

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I’m taking two groups to Oberammergau next month. The first trip, which includes Lourdes and Fatima is sold out.

The other trip, that I’m announcing right here, right now, will be a very small group at a slow, relaxing, and scenic pace through the Alps. We will attend the Passion Play, then head south into Austria to the small town of Seefeld in Tirol. From here we will visit some breweries, ascend Germany’s highest peak, ride a cable car, a cogwheel train, and see a glacier. We will have Mass daily and enjoy some amazing meals. This group will only be 11 people. If you are interested, let me know.

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And if Thanksgiving in the Holy Land sounds like your kind of thing, you’re in luck! I’m taking a group to the Holy Land and Jordan over Thanksgiving. Here’s the info.

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Have a beautiful week!

Mountain