The Holy Land is an absolute bucket-list item for Catholics, and for good reason! Since my last email, so many have reached out to me expressing interest in making this once-in-a-lifetime trip to see the places where our salvation was accomplished by Jesus Christ.

I agree: a parish trip to this place at the beginning of Lent next year will not just change Lent, but change lives.

I carefully combed through their suggestions and customized it to be a guided meditation on the mysteries of our salvation. Not only will we visit the places of Jesus' birth and youth such as Bethlehem and Nazareth, but also the places of His ministry, including:

• Capernaum and Galilee.
• We will visit Cana and married couples will have the chance to renew their vows
• Travel down to the river Jordan to renew our baptismal promises
• Float in the Dead Sea
• Walk the path of Palm Sunday
• Visit the Upper Room of the Last Supper
• Climb Calvary
• Enter the tomb where Jesus was buried
• and so much more

In the days ahead, I will be planning an information night to speak more broadly about the trip and answer questions you may have. My purpose in this message is to let you know that YES we are doing a parish pilgrimage 🥳 but also give you a head start on some key things, such as passport and budgeting. The government is a mess and the passport process suffers delays at times, so don't wait to apply / renew your passport.

I am limiting this trip to about 35 people, and several others outside of our parish are already asking for seats, but I want YOU to come and share this life changing trip with me. Plan to come, bring your family. It's going to be awesome!

I'll be in touch soon!

In Christ,

Father Loomis