Canterbury Pilgrimages

"Canterbury Pilgrimages - Japan Pilgrimage with Fr.Elias April 2023. I went on this pilgrimage last year with about 20 people, plus the tour director, Leslie Swanby. I have to say this was my first trip after the pandemic and I am so grateful to Fr. Elias and Leslie for making this a truly memorable experience. We visited Nagasaki first and stayed for 5 nights, beautiful start to the trip. It's green and clean, as is all of Japan, the hotel was lovely and we enjoyed a delicious breakfast every morning, followed by morning prayer, before we set out. We saw the shrines of the Martyrs and many lovely churches, daily Mass, and scintillating company. We then went to Hiroshima, Kyoto, Tokyo and finally, Akita, had the same wonderful experience everywhere. We visited Castles and gardens, historical sites, Hot Springs and all the places where the Catholics were persecuted, with excellent background commentary from Fr. Elias. If I had to write everything about this trip, it would read like a book. Suffice to say, Fr. Elias and Leslie went above and beyond what was listed in the tour, at their expense, because they wanted to give us the best trip possible, visually and spiritually. We rode the Bullet train a few times, that's a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me and unforgettable. The food at the Market in Kyoto is another very special and unique experience, nobody was disappointed. Our guide also took us shopping in Tokyo, something for everyone. Akita was the jewel in the crown, so to speak, because we visited the shrine where The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Sr. Agnes Sasagawa and gave her many prophetic messages and warnings, similar to Fatima. This was not just a pilgrimage, it was an enlightening and rewarding experience. I must add that the icing on the cake was our very helpful, knowledgeable and beautiful English speaking Japanese guide, and also the very respectful, friendly and safe drivers."

"A Trip of a Lifetime I recently returned from a pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi with Jon Leonetti and Fr. Scott Bullock. Jon, Fr. Scott, and staff from Canterbury Pilgrimages worked together to create a positive experience for all forty pilgrims. We experienced the best of Rome: The Basilicas, the Vatican, a papal audience, and all of the typical tourist attractions, such as the Colosseum, the Pantheon, and the Catacombs. We were also treated to opportunities that typical pilgrimages don’t usually offer: The vacation home of the Pope, the convent in which St. Mother Teresa stayed when she visited the Pope, and a private tour of Pontifical North American College –a college dedicated to the education of priests. We feasted on unique Italian cuisines, delicious foods, and outstanding wines. We rested in authentic, top-tier hotels that were nicely appointed, clean, and comfortable. This was a pilgrimage—a faith journey that provided me with the opportunity to deepen my relationship with God while becoming a community of like-minded Catholics and Christians. I have made friends that will last a lifetime; more importantly, the pilgrimage helped all of us to deepen our spirituality in ways impossible to explain. This truly was a trip of a lifetime."

"My group and I recently embarked on a pilgrimage to the Marian Shrines with Canterbury Pilgrimages, and it was such a wonderful and blessed experience. Marco, our tour guide, was extremely friendly, knowledgeable, and accommodating for everyone. We journeyed to Paris, Lourdes, Madrid, Toledo, Ávila, and Fátima before we returned to California. It was truly a memorable experience that I will cherish and continue to tell others about. Thank you"

"PROS 1. The only positive note from our trip was our tour guide and bus driver. They were very professional and knowledgeable. CONS 1. Customer service for their home office couldn’t be much worse. If you need to contact them, plan on waiting on hold for long periods. 2. Our pilgrimage group was broken into several flights and it made coordination and communication a nightmare. 3. They booked our initial flight on a non-existent flight. If it was not for the persistence and determination by a few members of our group in getting alternative flights, our trip would have been more disastrous. Canterbury refunded a small amount for the day we lost. 4. When you use a pilgrimage service for planning and booking all of the necessaries, you expect to be kept up-to-date with confirmations and acknowledgements via emails or texts. This was not the case with Canterbury. 5. Before the initial reservation, we inquired if a gluten free diet could be accommodated on the pilgrimage and flights and they assured it could be. This was not true; gluten free options are extremely limited. When filling out the final reservations, they ask for special instructions and we entered the special meal requirement for the flights. These requests were apparently ignored. We noticed kosher and vegan meals were served, so special diets were available. A gluten free option was not available on any of our flights and most likely never requested. 6. Be aware of extra costs such as bus transportation to and from airports, flight insurance, extra meals, and tips. 7. They are apparently a small operation and are very short staffed. We sent them an email addressing all of the issues we experienced and they sent no explanation or apology. Had I heard back from them, I would have probably given them a better review. We will not use them again and will warn others."