Looking Back to Walk Forward in Faith

Looking back to Walk Forword in Faith

As a new year begins, January offers a moment to reflect on the pilgrimages that shaped our faith over the past year. Regina Tours accompanied travelers across European Shrines and beyond, gathering in places where prayer has echoed for centuries. From the Vatican in Rome to rural Ireland, from Marian shrines such as Fatima, Lourdes, Guadalupe to sites marked by witness and sacrifice, these pilgrimages invited pilgrims to slow down, reflect deeply, and encounter the Catholic Church’s living history through sacred spaces, shared prayer, and community.

Rome & the Jubilee Year

Rome remained a spiritual anchor throughout the year, especially during the Jubilee, when pilgrims passed through Holy Doors and took part in extraordinary moments of grace. Early in the year, the Church mourned the passing of Pope Francis, and one of our Regina Tours groups was present in Italy at that historic moment, with the profound opportunity to pay their respects at his wake and join the universal Church in prayer. Shortly thereafter, pilgrims also witnessed a new chapter in Church history with the election of Pope Leo, the first American pope, whose leadership began during the Jubilee Year itself. Among the year’s most memorable journeys was a pilgrimage to Rome with the Chicago Federation of Labor, which included an audience with the Holy Father. Throughout the Jubilee Year, Regina Tours returned to Italy multiple times, allowing pilgrims to experience Rome not just as a destination, but as the heart of the Church.

Poland and Burgos: Witness, Mercy, and Enduring Faith

Poland offered pilgrims a deeply moving encounter with faith shaped by suffering, courage, and mercy. Travelers prayed at Jasna Góra before the Black Madonna, reflected in silence at Auschwitz on the cost of hatred, and visited the Divine Mercy Shrine in Kraków, where the message of hope and reconciliation continues to radiate to the world. In Burgos, pilgrims stand before a soaring Gothic cathedral that speaks to the endurance of faith across centuries, inviting awe, reflection, and a renewed appreciation for the Church’s artistic and spiritual legacy. Together, these experiences remind pilgrims that faith is strengthened both through remembrance of history and through encounters that lift the heart and mind toward God.

Ireland, Marian Devotion & Looking Ahead

Ireland’s sacred landscapes told a quieter but equally powerful story—of perseverance, monastic tradition, and faith passed down through generations. Alongside journeys to Marian shrines in Fatima and Lourdes, pilgrims experienced moments of stillness, healing, and devotion that continue to define Regina Tours’ approach to pilgrimage. As we look ahead to journeys to Ireland, Poland, Italy, and beyond, we are also preparing for World Youth Day 2027, thoughtfully shaping future pilgrimages that will welcome the next generation into the life of the Church. Rooted in experience and guided by faith, we remain committed to travel that nurtures belief and offers hope for the road ahead.

Regina Tours: Your Partner in Catholic Pilgrimage

For over 40 years, Regina Tours has led Catholic pilgrims on transformative pilgrimages to sacred shrines around the world. With expert guides and thoughtfully curated itineraries, we offer more than a trip—we offer an encounter with the heart of our Catholic faith. To learn more about upcoming pilgrimages as a traveler seeking meaningful experiences or to explore organizing a journey for your parish or community, visit regina-tours.com or call 1-800-CATHOLIC.