Journal
Pilgrimages, sacred places, Christian festivals, religious orders — written for the curious traveller and the committed pilgrim.
Caravaggio · The Calling of Saint Matthew · 1599–1600
Contarelli Chapel, San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome
Christian Pilgrimages
11 articlesSantiago de Compostela: The Way, the Cathedral, and the Journey
Few pilgrimages in the Christian world carry the weight of the Camino de Santiago. For over a thousand years, pilgrims have walked from across Europe to the tomb of the Apostle James in northwestern Spain.
Bethlehem: The Birthplace of Jesus
The Birthplace of Jesus “It is better to see and experience something once, than to hear about it a thousand times.” — Anonymous Bethlehem is synonymous with the birth of Jesus, a personality who...
Our Lady of Fatima: The Apparitions and the Shrine in Portugal
Our Lady of Fatima, Portugal: The altar of the world No place has captured the Catholic imagination as much as Fatima in Central Portugal. Home to less than 15000 residents, it is a major destination...
The Holy Land: The Franciscan Way
Pilgrim Stays was privileged to host two leading authorities on the Holy Land at our second Facebook Live event on 4th July 2020. Leading the webinar was Fr Praveen D'souza, OFM, Provincial of the...
The Last Supper and Maundy Thursday
The Last Supper or the Lord’s Supper is also called Maundy Thursday. Although it is a widely used term, its meaning is not so well known. The term Maundy derives from the Latin word mandatum for...
St Anthony of Padua: The Wonder Worker and His Basilica
St Anthony of Padua Born into a wealthy and noble Portuguese family, St Anthony’s was a life that saw many twists and turns. Like many great saints of his time, the pleasures of this world held no...
Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, Rome
Erected over the tomb of St Paul the Apostle, the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls ( Basilica Papale San Paolo fuori le Mura ) is one of only four Major Basilicas which exist in the world. The...
Florence: The City of Art, Faith and the Renaissance
Widely considered as the birthplace of the European Renaissance, Florence in Italy is a city that showcases human achievement in the finer arts more than any city on earth. Renowned across the world...
Christian Pilgrimage: Inside the Vatican with Ashley and John Noronha
Ashley and John Noronha are professors at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome and Vatican insiders. Pilgrim Stays sat down with them for an in-depth conversation about Rome, the Vatican, faith, and what it means to experience sacred places from the inside.
Italian Cuisine: A ringside view from Rome
Italian Cuisine: The 8th Pilgrim Stays Webinar You can view the video here: This is the slideshow presented at the event: Professors at the Santa Croce University in Rome and noted media...
Our Lady of Lourdes
Our Lady of Lourdes, France Up until 1858, the French town of Lourdes situated at the foothill of the Pyrenees mountain range bordering Spain, was a quiet and modest place, home to some 4000 odd...
Christian Festivals
5 articlesPalm Sunday: The Entry into Jerusalem
Palm Sunday: Beginning the week that changed the course of history Occurring on the Sunday before Easter, Palm Sunday is the feast that begins Holy Week. It is the most sacred period of the...
Easter Sunday: Beyond the Bunnies, Eggs and Lilies
Easter Sunday and the history behind the celebrations Celebrated throughout the Christian world, Easter Sunday commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ . It also marks the end of Lent, a period...
Monthi Fest: The Feast of the Nativity of Mary in the Konkani Catholic Tradition
Monthi Fest: The Sixth Pilgrim Stays Webinar Streamed live Tuesday, 8 September 2020 on Facebook and You Tube The video can be viewed here: A special feature on the Nativity was created by our team:...
Ash Wednesday: The Lenten Season begins
Ash Wednesday: All you need to know about the first day of Lent Originally observed for 36 days, the period of Lent was extended to 40 to be in imitation of the fast by Jesus in the desert. This was...
Why is it called Good Friday
Why is it called Good Friday when Jesus died on this day? The meaning of Good, though obsolete now, meant holy and pious. It was used in that sense to describe the passion of Jesus, as he underwent...
Religious Orders
2 articlesThe Vincentian Congregation: The Name Behind Potta Retreat
The order that powers Potta Retreat The original Potta Ashram- where Divine Retreats first began Although the Vincentian Congregation is not so well known outside the Syro-Malabar community of...
The Jesuits: Society of Jesus
Early history of the Jesuits Many a time, a seemingly commonplace incident sets in motion a chain of events that lead to far reaching changes which impact the world. In this case, it was a cannonball...
Christianity
5 articlesChristianity: Facts, History and Essentials
Quite often a Christian is asked simple questions about his religion mostly by non-Christians. While many of the obviously basic queries are straightforward and can be answered off the cuff, some...
Christianity in Goa: Basilicas, Saints and the Portuguese Legacy
Goa’s Christian heritage is one of the most remarkable in Asia — a living blend of Portuguese Baroque architecture, Konkani Catholic culture, Jesuit missionary tradition, and the continuing pilgrimage to the incorrupt body of St Francis Xavier.
The Church in Mumbai: Catholic Life in India's Greatest City
The Church in Mumbai: The Fifth Pilgrim Stays Webinar Streamed live Saturday, 5 September 2020 on Facebook and You Tube The video can be viewed here: This is the slideshow presented at the event: Dr...
Christian Art with Patrick van der Vorst
Christian Art: The 9th Pilgrim Stays Webinar You can view the video here: This is the slideshow presented at the event: The history of western art and Christianity have been intertwined almost since...
Church Music: Sacred Music for Christian Worship
Church Music: A talk on the history of Sacred Music by Michael Peria We are glad to announce the 7th Pilgrim Stays Facebook Live on Sacred Music in the Catholic Church was conducted on Saturday, 7th...
Company Updates
2 articlesIntroducing Pilgrim Stays
Hi everyone and welcome to Pilgrim Stays! Pilgrim Stays is a new initiative in Christian travel by Tripvillas and ATC Publishers. While both Tripvillas and ATC Publishers have distinguished...
Pilgrim Stays launched in Bangalore
Pilgrim Stays Launch: A new company with its website targeting Christian Travel was launched in Bangalore on the 16th of February 2020. The website was launched by His Eminence Oswald Cardinal...