The trip agenda for the remainder of the year

I work within literal walking distance of the White House and the Ellipse. So, this weekend, I will be in DC to celebrate Trump's 250, right? Not on your life. I am so disgusted with that guy it's difficult to even be in the same city. The man who was supposed to be the reincarnation of Ronald Reagan has instead become Joe Biden 2.0 and I want nothing to do with him and his self-aggrandizing dog and pony show.

Instead, I will be on a road trip to visit far more significant destinations.

My trip starts on Thursday the 2nd and I will visit a town named for a Saint for the 2nd time this year! In January, one of my visits was to Saint John, Indiana and the Shrine of Christ's Passion. A life size, narrated, outdoor Way of the Cross. It was incredible even in the snow, ice and biting wind. Thursday night, I will spend the night in Saint Alban's City, Vermont. Saint Alban was one of the earliest Saints from Britain. I'll probably do a show. In my quest to visit as many US states as possible, Vermont officially becomes #20

On Friday, I will celebrate a special ''First Friday'' Mass at one of the most magnificent Catholic shrines on earth. Saint Joseph's Oratory in Montreal, Canada, founded by Saint Andre Bessette.

For me, it will cap off completion of the "9 First Fridays" devotion given by Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque. This is the third time I will have completed the cycle but, by far the most meaningful. This cycle actually started in Paray Le Monial, France at the very chapel where Our Lord appeared to Saint Margaret Mary. What's more is that it is one of those very rare occasions where the church obliges the 9-month devotion to be completed in 10 months when Good Friday falls on the "first Friday" in April. This year, Good Friday fell on April 3rd, the actual date of Christ's Crucifixion.

After spending the night in Montreal, I will make the very early morning trek to Kennebunkport, Maine (state visited #21) and The Franciscan monastery of Saint Anthony of Padua. It will be my 2nd visit to a holy place dedicated to Saint Anthony in 3 weeks and my 3rd in a year. Lisbon, Portugal and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania are the others. My plan is to celebrate Mass for which I can receive a plenary indulgence in this Jubilee year dedicated to Saint Francis.

After leaving Maine, I make my way to Burrillville, Rhode Island. Rhode Island becomes state #22. I will be visiting the Shrine of Saint Therese of Lisieux. It will be my 4th encounter with this Saint in the last year, following Lisieux, Washington DC and Damian, Illinois.

It looks to be an unbelievable weekend. That it will be 100% Trumpless makes it even more of a blessing.

Plans for later this year.

September- A revisit to Wisconsin. I will return to the Shrine of Our Lady of Champion before going to Green Bay to watch Notre Dame destroy Wisconsin at Lambeau field.

October. I plan to fly to Shreveport, Louisiana (visited state #23) and rent a car and drive to Dallas, Texas #24). There I will finally visit and see the place where President John F Kennedy lost his life.

November. I will fly to Santa Fe, New Mexico to make it an even half of US states visited- 25. There, I will rent a car and see the magnificent staircase of Loretto in Santa Fe and El Santuario de Chimayo, Chimayo, a miraculous sanctuary often called the ''Lourdes of America". After visiting these 2 incredible places, I will check into a hotel in time to literally catch the biggest college football game of the season " Catholics vs Convicts" (Notre Dame vs Miami). In the morning, I will drive to El Paso, Texas for my flight for a week in Mexico including to holy sites of Saint Miguel Pro and Our Lady of Guadalupe! It's going to be epic!

Red states are those I have visited to date (19 States + DC). The last 3 are Florida (August 2025) and Illinois and Wisconsin (January 2026). Maine, Vermont and Rhode Island will be added this weekend, God willing. The plan is to add Louisiana, Texas and New Mexico in October and November bringing me officially to half of the states! If I am successful, 8 new states visited in 2026 would be incredible.