Summer and Fall pilgrimage plans really filling out, September itinerary now in place.
I'm so thankful to God for this voyage of discovery and inner reflection.
It has been almost a year since this whirlwind began and I am truly stunned at where God has taken me in that time. There can be no question that His hand has been guiding my steps and leading me through so many different places and phases. In each one of these places, I am searching for meaning and understanding, not simply adding to the roll of states and countries I have been to.
In August of 2025, I entered an airplane for the first time in 40 years and went to Florida for the very first time. In September and October, it was 17 days in Portugal, Spain and France and sites like Fatima, Lourdes, Avila, Lisieux, Paralay Monial, Nevers and Paris. In January, it was a frigid visit to the site of Our Lady of Champion in Wisconsin, as well as sites in Indiana and Illinois.
Dulles Airport, Reagan National, Fort Lauderdale, Lisbon, De Galle airport in Paris and O' Hare in Chicago were all visited by me in only 5 months- something I can't even believe I am saying.
In June, I visited the United 93 Memorial in Shanksville, the Chapel of Saint Anthony in Pittsburgh and Strongsville, Ohio, site of "The Crash"
Earlier this month, my visits were to Vermont, Montreal, Rhode Island and Maine.
Recently, I announced the October plans which will have me flying down to Dallas, Texas to visit Dealy plaza where President John F Kennedy was assassinated. Texas will become the 23rd US State I have been to.
November has me flying into Denver briefly, which will make Colorado state #24, before flying off to New Mexico (#25) visiting El Santuario de Chimayo, Chimayo, often referred to as "the Lourdes of America" and I will also visit the famous Loretto staircase in Santa Fe
After visiting those places, I fly off the Mexico, via El Paso and Dallas, for a magnificent pilgrimage.
Aside from a few scattered day trips (possibly Philadelphia in August), the last piece of this year's travel agenda is September's plans. They are now finalized.
On Saturday, September 5th, I fly out of Dulles to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with a brief stopover in Detroit. From there, I will drive to The Holy Hill national Shrine before meeting my friends in Manitowoc for dinner and the hotel.
On Sunday, we will travel to the Shrine of Our Lady of Champion. This will be my second visit to the only approved Marian apparition site in America.
From there, it's off to historic Lambeau field in Green Bay for tailgating and watching the first game of Notre Dame's upcoming national championship season! I cannot wait!
By the time I complete this September- October- November gauntlet, my list of visited states will be exactly half of them- 25
My list of visited countries will be 6- United States, Portugal, Spain, France, Canada and Mexico.
My list of Visited Airports will be Dulles, National, Newark, Fort Lauderdale, Lisbon, Paris, Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, Dallas, Denver, Santa Fe, El Paso and Mexico City. If you had told me even a couple of years ago that I'd visit 14 airports in 4 countries, I'd have said you were nuts.
Miraculous sites I will have been to would include at least-
Santarem, Fatima, Lourdes, Rocamadour, Chartres, Paray Le Monial, Lisieux, Rue De Bac, Champion and Guadalupe. There are only 25 approved Marian apparition sites, I will have been to 6 of them.
My head is spinning because these are blessings unthinkable. God is far better than we deserve.
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