“To go on pilgrimage is not simply to visit a place to admire its treasures of nature, art or history. To go on pilgrimage really means to step out of ourselves in order to encounter God where He has revealed Himself.” -POPE BENEDICT XVI

INCREDIBLE INDIA

My name is Anand. I live in Dallas with my wife, Lindsey, and our four children, Sophia, Damien, Giovanni, and Elliot. When I was a child, I had the opportunity to meet Mother Teresa, and this experience ended up changing the trajectory of my life. Like most Indians, I grew up in a small house, walked to my school, played cricket barefoot, worked hard in college, got a moped, and landed a good job by the grace of God.

At 22, I moved to the land of opportunities to further my I.T. career, but the teachings of Mother Teresa led me from the corporate world to serving the spiritually poor on college campuses. During that time with FOCUS, I began conducting mission trips to India.

In 2013, I began organizing pilgrimages for post-college adults, so they too could enjoy the beauty, goodness, and truth about Jesus Christ from a very different culture in a completely new way. When I’m not leading guided tours to India, I’m making videos with bishops to communicate the life and faith of the Catholic Church.

These pilgrimages usually last 11 days to three weeks, and allow participants to journey in the footsteps of St. Thomas the Apostle, St. Francis Xavier, and St. Teresa of Calcutta.

The pilgrimage is built on three pillars:

Experiencing the Culture – You will be immersed in the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of India. It will be an explosion of the senses. We’ll visit the places that make India distinct and beautiful, like the majestic Taj Mahal, the royal Palaces of Jaipur, and the historic monuments of New Delhi. We’ll also visit the southern state of Kerala, which has been called “God’s own country” for its natural beauty and peaceful backwaters. We will ride trains, tuk tuks, houseboats, and elephants too!

Serving the Poor – We will visit the home of Mother Teresa, attend daily mass at her tomb, and serve the poorest of the poor alongside her sisters, the Missionaries of Charity. Our service to the orphaned babies, children with special needs, and the dying homeless will take us into the heart of need in Calcutta — the surrounding slums.

Cultivating the Heart of a Pilgrim – Along with the missionary spirit of service, we will also take time for a pilgrimage to South India.  St. Thomas the Apostle built the earliest Christian churches in Kerala. Tracing his footsteps, we will visit some of those churches, experience Eastern rite Catholic Mass, pray in silence and retreat on a houseboat, and unpack our experiences of the trip together.  In Tamil Nadu we will visit the place where St. Thomas was martyred and attend Mass at his Tomb.  From there we will take a quick trip to Velankanni, the most visited religious site in India.  The Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health draws nearly 2 million pilgrims every year.  Finally, we will immerse ourselves in Portuguese culture in Goa.  Five centuries ago St. Francis Xavier reintroduced Catholicism which later spread to all corners of the nation.  His incorrupt body is still at the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa.

Upcoming India Trips

Our mission trips are very rewarding, our pilgrimages are very uplifting, and our immersion experiences are incredible.  You will make memories for a lifetime regardless of which trip you go on.  SUMMER TRIPS start the weekend before the 4th of July. WINTER TRIPS start the weekend before Thanksgiving in November. If there are groups that prefer a different time during the year, custom trips can be arranged as well. Teens must be accompanied by parents or approved chaperones. Our trips are not suitable for pre-teens and seniors who cannot walk 3-5 miles a day including some stairs. Tight on cash?  No worries.  We’ll help you fundraise, so you can travel for FREE!

MISSION TRIPS

PILGRIMAGES

Testimonials

Michelle S, 2018 Trip “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’” Matthew 25:40

These words rang loud in my ears as I bathed the sick, fed the crippled, and danced with the orphaned children in Kolkata. This is Jesus here in my arms. I have Jesus in my heart. Together we are one body. The profound realization of this clear statement is one I will carry with me forever as I love my friends and family, encounter strangers, and meet new people along the path of my life. It is so easy to live out scripture when we set forth on a mission trip, but to live it daily is a greater challenge that I intend to work on. Kolkata taught me how significant the small things really are.

Krista K, 2014 Trip One of the most touching experiences of my time in India, was taking a tour of a Leprosy colony. This spoke volumes to me, because it was here that I saw Mother Teresa’s mission carried out so clearly, beautifully, and distinctly. I had never before seen people given dignity in such a way. These people are the ones shunned from Indian society, and Mother Teresa gave them Love, and let them know that they are equal in the eyes of God. This experience not only humbled me, but reminds me that no small act goes unseen, and every moment we are given is a gift, and an opportunity to Love.

Another Pilgrim, 2014 Trip At Mother Theresa’s Memorial Exhibit in Kolkata, her quote – “leprosy is a terrible and painful disease. But nothing is as painful as being completely forgotten, rejected, left alone as if you are nobody to nobody” – painted poverty and homeliness in a different light for me. It’s just not about having enough food, money, clothes… it’s about being completely shunned and ignored by the rest of society. It also reminded me that sometimes in life trying to help solve someone else’s problem during a tough time isn’t always what is most important…. just being there, letting that person know you care can be enough.

Matt L, 2014 Trip I was able to go see a church that St.Thomas himself founded nearly 2000 years ago. Being able to pray at an adoration chapel in the exact place where he preached was unbelievable and a very powerful encounter with the Holy Spirit.

Yann L, 2014 Trip Visiting the orphans in Calcutta and seeing the work of the Missionaries of Charity was a touching experience for me. My eyes were opened up to the lack of authentic community that is so present in the US.