You know what tomorrow is, right?

It’s my birthday!

As I try to do every year, I plan to visit one church for each of my years. For some reason this gets more and more difficult with each birthday. Tomorrow I need to try to get to 47 churches. I’ll be sharing the progress on Instagram. The photo above is from my first year doing this when I got to the final church 30 seconds before it closed. I walked (and ran) 16 miles and made it to 43 churches before passing out on the Spanish Steps.

Oh, also Lent begins tomorrow.

As the girls and I have done for the last five years, we are going to again bring you to the Lenten Station Churches of Rome. One church each day of Lent. This year we are going to do the videos a bit differently.

If you are giving up social media for Lent, the videos will all be here on my website. On this page you will also see the videos from past years and you can listen to the daily podcast of the station churches from last year.

Changing travel restrictions

Countries across Europe and the Holy Land are easing their travel restrictions. More and more countries are allowing those unvaccinated to visit with only a negative test and those vaccinated to visit without testing.

Italy

Beginning today, the vaccinated no longer need to test before flying to Italy. Those unvaccinated are still required to have a negative test before arrival, and there are still some restrictions in place for the unvaccinated once in the country – but expect those to taper off over the next month.

There are a few spots available for my Lenten Pilgrimage to Rome and Tuscany.

Holy Land

Beginning today, only a negative test is required to travel to the Holy Land.

I have space on my Post Pandemic Pilgrimage to the Holy Land. If you can get away on short notice, you’ll have a once in a lifetime chance to experience the Holy Land before the crowds return.

Oberammergau

Beginning this week, Germany and Austria are also allowing the unvaccinated back in with only a negative test.

I have four spots available for my Oberammergau pilgrimage that includes Vienna and Salzburg. Email me if interested.

I now have three spots available for my Patrons’ Only Pilgrimage to Oberammergau, that includes Austria, Prague, and Poland. Email me if interested.

Future pilgrimages

With these changes, I have gotten tons of requests for pilgrimages across Europe and the Holy Land. The next few years will be incredibly busy for travel. So if you are considering organizing a pilgrimage for your diocese, parish, school, or group of friends, contact me soon!

Have a wonderful Shrove Tuesday and get to confession!

— Mountain

If you are still looking for something to make your Lent extra penitential, do NOT try this.