My dad grew up in a small olive-farming village in Crete where the sea is the most breathtaking shade of blue — like my favorite crayon from childhood, cerulean.
Every time I visit, I feel something holy in the air. It's a place where I encounter God in nature, where my soul can breathe.
When Fr. Richard mentioned he was interested in accompanying a group on a holy adventure to Crete and Patmos, Jessi and I couldn’t help but start dreaming and planning right away. We mapped out all our favorite places — the village hikes, the sacred spaces, the meals that linger in your memory. We created a holy adventure guide book and 13 beloved pilgrims signed up to make this journey together.
Just weeks before the trip, my brother, Alex, passed away suddenly. It was devastating. My sister and mom were already committed to helping with this group that had signed up. So we moved forward with a new purpose: to make this pilgrimage in Alex’s memory — to carry him with us in prayer, and to remember him in every daily Mass, every sacred stop, every sunset over the blue sea.
Palace of Knossos in Crete with Alex
We were blessed to have two members of the Focolare Movement with us, and each day we intentionally practiced loving one another in the way Jesus shows us in the Gospels. That simple yet powerful commitment created a deep sense of unity among the group from the very beginning. Each evening, we would gather and reflect on how we had experienced “Jesus in our midst” through this love — in conversations, shared meals, small acts of kindness, and quiet moments of prayer. It became the heart of our pilgrimage.
Each day in Crete felt like a gift, and we embraced it fully and marveled at the beauty of God’s creation all around us. We hiked up the hills to the most charming little Greek chapels where Fr. Richard said mass. We shared meals made from the land itself at the local taverna . There were so many moments of genuine connection between one another and with the local people.
Crete left us with a deep sense of gratitude for God’s goodness revealed through nature, friendship, and faith.
A few days before we arrived in Athens, some Greek friends I met in Medjugorje reached out about my brother's passing. When they learned we were in Greece, they warmly invited our whole group to their home for a delicious Greek feast. Their hospitality was extraordinary - the sunset over Athens was breathtaking and our group was overjoyed to spend time with local Greek Catholics who welcomed us like family!
One of the beautiful gifts of pilgrimage is experiencing God’s providence in the unexpected moments along the way. That evening brought a particularly special blessing: our friends had invited Archbishop Theodoros of Athens to join us! As we shared stories around the table, Fr. Richard spoke about his ministry as a vocations director. The Archbishop listened attentively and was deeply moved. By the end of their conversation, he felt inspired to explore creating a similar role within his own diocese in Athens.
With Archbishop Theodoros of Athens (far left)
One of the most unforgettable moments of the pilgrimage was our journey to Patmos, the island were St. John heard God's voice and recieved the visions recorded in the Book of Revelation.
We traveled there by overnight ferry, and in the common area, our group gathered to read Revelation aloud. "Blessed is the one who reads aloud and blessed are those who listen to this prophetic message and heed what is written in it..." Revelation 1:3
We were being drawn into the mystery of what we were about to encounter.
We arrived at 2 a.m., made our way to the hotel, and caught a few hours of rest. Later that morning, we took the local bus to the Cave of the Apocalypse - and to our amazement, we found it completely empty, just before the waves of cruise ships began to arrive with droves of pilgrims.
Praying in the Cave of the Apocalypse, I felt a stillness. It was humbling, sacred, and filled with grace.
Cave of the Apocalypse
Fr. Richard celebrated mass outside near the cave and our prayer intention was for the unity of the Greek Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church "That they may be one" (John 17:21). In a beautiful sign of hope, some Orthodox faithful joined us in prayer for this intention, lifting their voices alongside ours.
We had one more adventure planned and took a speed boat to another Greek Island called Aegina, to pray at the tomb of St. Nektarios one of the most renowned Greek saints. We felt drawn to visit after watching Man of God, the film about his life and seeing his unwavering humility and the challenges he overcame. Numerous miracles are attributed to him, during his life and after his passing in 1920. Many believers who visit his tomb claim to hear the sound of his shepherd's staff, a testament to his enduring presence and intercession.
St. John, beloved disciple, pray for us. May we always love with the heart of Jesus.
St Nektarios, in your life you endured trials with patience and grace. Pray for us!
What a beautiful group of pilgrims! May God continue to guide us on this pilgrimage of life.