Travel Program
Past Pilgrimages
On this page you will find a short recap of our previous pilgrimages, along with pictures. We hope you enjoy them and will consider joining us on or next trip!
Holy Land Pilgrimage
December 8-16, 2018
Thirty five pilgrims from 17 different parishes throughout the Diocese of Fort Worth toured holy sites throughout Israel, and walked the footsteps of Christ from the annunciation to the ascension. They gained new perspectives and nurtured their faith lives as they visited holy sites and historic places throughout Israel and also spent time in prayer, reflections, faith sharing, the Rosary and in Mass. The group visited many sites mentioned in the Old and New Testament, learning valuable lessons about different cultures, archaeology and world history. The trip was a reminder that we worship in a global faith community as we ate Kosher meals, participated in a lighting of the Menorah on the last day of Yom Kippur, prayed for world peace with Jewish people at the Western Wall in the Old City in Jerusalem, heard prayer being amplified from the many Muslim mosques we passed daily, were introduced to the Baha’i and Druze faith traditions and celebrated Mass for the Third Sunday of Advent with a Filippino parish community in Haifa.
After our Holy Land Pilgrimage, we understand St. Jerome better when he said there was a fifth gospel. The visit to the Holy Land makes the other four gospels come alive in a way that moves the soul deeply. We were on the Sea of Galilee where Jesus walked and spent much time with the apostles. We visited his place of birth, where he agonized in Gethsemane and where he was laid in the tomb., plus much more. We suggest all pastors in the diocese encourage parishioners to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with the Advancement Foundation. Pilgrims on the journey,
John and Mary Fernandez, St. Jude, Mansfield
Pilgrimage to Lourdes
October 18-30, 2017
Our Pilgrimage to Lourdes began in Paris and traveled northwest through Giverny (Monet's home and water lily gardens) to the Normandy beaches and American Cemeteries and beyond to the famed Abbey at Mont St. Michel. From there, we traveled down through the French countryside to the wine region of Bordeaux. Enjoy a 3-hour lunch cruise on the Garonne River on our way to Toulouse and the medieval walled-in city of Carcassonne. The climax of the journey was the Shrine at Lourdes and the seaside village of Biarritz on the Atlantic coast.
As a new priest, it was awe-inspiring to celebrate the Eucharist in some truly beautiful and historic churches. Our journey through France led us in the footsteps of St. Joan of Arc, St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Bernadette. Together, we grew in our devotion to Our Lord at Sacré Coeur, to Our Lady at Lourdes and to St. Michael at Mont-Saint-Michel. Oh yeah, and the wine wasn’t bad either.
Fr. Joe Keating
Contact:
Renée Underwood, CFRE
Chief Development Officer of the Advancement Foundation
817-533-7242
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