Month: November 2025
The Vatican has announced that Pope Leo XIV will be traveling on an Apostolic Visit to Lebanon, November 30 – December 2, 2025.
Lebanon has a unique and diverse Catholic history. Although the country’s population today is primarily Muslim, the second largest religious group is Christians. There are six Catholic rites that are common within the country: Maronite, Melkite, Armenian, Syriac, Chaldean, and Latin. The most prominent of these rites is the Maronite Catholics.
One the most beloved Saints of this country is St. Charbel Maklouf. This incredible Saint was a 19th century Lebanese monk and priest. There are an astounding number of miracles attributed to St. Charbel…over 33,000! This has made him one of the most powerful intercessors in the history of the Church.
Lebanon also has a long history of monasticism. There have been many monks and nuns who have devoted their life to prayer, fasting, and solitude with the Lord, living alone in the mountains. Although there have been times of Christian persecution throughout the country’s history, the faith has persevered.
Many Christians within the country still speak Aramaic which is the same language that Our Lord spoke. Aramaic is still used in sacred Maronite liturgy.
Here are three of the most popular Catholic Pilgrimage sites in Lebanon:
- The Qadisha Valley: one the earliest sites of Christian monasticism in the world. It has been deemed a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Monastery of St. Maron in Annaya: This monastery houses the tomb of St. Charbel. It is estimated that 4 million pilgrims visit this site every year.
- Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa: A 28-foot high statue of Our Lady which was created in France and stands atop an 1,866-foot summit. The shrine was created because of the country’s deep devotion to the Queen of Heaven. Millions of pilgrims visit this site every year, asking for Our Lady’s intercession.
The schedule for Pope Leo’s visit is expected to be filled with visits to key religious and cultural sites, gatherings with faith leaders, and a public Mass in Beirut which is the capital of Lebanon.
Sunday, November 30 – Official Arrival
15:45 – Arrival at Rafic Hariri International Airport – Beirut (official reception ceremony)
16:45 – Visit to the President of the Republic at the Presidential Palace
17:15 – Meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives
17:30 – Meeting with the Prime Minister
18:00 – Meeting with authorities, civil society representatives, and the diplomatic corps (Address by the Holy Father)
Monday, December 1 – Annaya, Harissa, Beirut, Bkerke
09:45 – Visit and prayer at the Shrine of Saint Charbel Makhlouf in the Monastery of Saint Maroun – Annaya
11:20 – Meeting with bishops, priests, consecrated persons, and pastoral workers at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon – Harissa (Address by the Holy Father)
12:30 – Private meeting with Catholic Patriarchs at the Papal Embassy
16:00 – Ecumenical and Interfaith Dialogue Meeting in Martyrs’ Square, Beirut (Address by the Holy Father)
17:45 – Meeting with youth at the Maronite Patriarchate Square – Bkerke (Speech by the Holy Father)
Tuesday, December 2 – Jal el Dib, Beirut, Departure
08:30 – Visit to the medical staff and patients at the Sisters of the Cross Hospital – Jal el Dib
09:30 – Silent prayer at the site of the Beirut port explosion
10:30 – Celebration of the Holy Mass at Beirut Waterfront (Holy Father’s Homily)
12:45 – Official farewell ceremony at Rafic Hariri International Airport – Beirut (Address by the Holy Father)
13:15 – Departure to Rome
16:10 – Arrival at Rome/Fiumicino International Airport
Pope Leo XIV’s trip will be the first papal visit to Lebanon in over a decade, and thousands are expected to attend the public Mass and other major gatherings.
The visit is seen as a message of hope, unity, and support to the Lebanese people during challenging times.
View our Pilgrimage Directory: www.206tours.com/pilgrimages
[DISPLAY_ULTIMATE_SOCIAL_ICONS]
As the Christmas season approaches, it’s that time of year when we begin to think about gift ideas for our loved ones. Whether it’s Christmas, a birthday, retirement, or other special occasion, each of us wants to give a gift that will be unforgettable.
That is why there is no better gift than a Pilgrimage! Rather than hunting for gadgets or an item your loved one doesn’t really need, give the gift that will last a lifetime as they embark on a spiritual journey they will never forget.
Our faith-based tours travel to 39 countries, which will allow you to book the perfect destination that they have been dreaming of visiting. Walk in the footsteps of Our Lord on a journey through the Holy Land. Pray at the grotto where Our Lady appeared to St. Bernadette in Lourdes. Experience the peace and grace of Medjugorje, which has been a place of countless conversions. These and many more itineraries are all available on our Pilgrimage Directory: www.206tours.com/pilgrimages
Why are Pilgrimages important? They allow us to step away from the busyness of our daily life and spend time with the Lord. By visiting the places where Our Lord lived and walked, the places where the Saints bore witness to Christ, where Our Lady has appeared, and where the faith of Christians has been passed down for centuries, we can hear God’s voice more clearly in our own lives. The graces gained during a Pilgrimage will continue to bless your loved one for the rest of their life.
You can book a tour on behalf of your loved one or purchase a gift certificate of any amount that they can put towards any Pilgrimage. This is the perfect gift idea, especially for that person in your life who “has it all” and is difficult to shop for. This is a gift like no other that they will continue to reflect on for the rest of their life.
Are you looking for a gift idea for your local parish priest? Give him the gift of a Pilgrimage! At 206 Tours, we offer a 20% discount for priests, seminarians, or clergy members who join one of our tours. Giving them the opportunity to visit the holiest sites in our Catholic faith, brings about beautiful graces that will inspire and strengthen their vocation for years to come.
The greatest gift we can give is helping others grow closer to Christ and there is no better way to do that than through Pilgrimages. This Christmas, give more than a gift – give a transformation!
Give the gift that will last a lifetime with a 206 Tours Pilgrimage.
To purchase a gift certificate, visit: www.206tours.com/gift
Questions? Contact our team via email (sales@206tours.com) or call (800) 206-TOUR (8687).
View our Pilgrimage Directory: www.206tours.com/pilgrimages
View our Special Pilgrimages: www.206tours.com/specials
[DISPLAY_ULTIMATE_SOCIAL_ICONS]
Are you interested in traveling on a Pilgrimage, but worried that you do not have anyone to go with you? We understand that traveling by yourself can be intimidating, especially if you have never done it before.
That is why joining a Pilgrimage group is the best way to travel! When you travel on a Pilgrimage with 206 Tours, you will never have to worry about being alone.
One of our pilgrims, Mary Ellen Fosso, graciously shared her experience about joining a 206 Tours Pilgrimage as a Solo Traveler. We hope her testimony will encourage you if you are hesitant about the idea of joining a Pilgrimage on your own:
“Hello Fellow Pilgrims!
My name is Mary Ellen Fosso and I have been a pilgrim with 206 Tours for the past 9 years! My first pilgrimage was in August 2016 to Medjugorje with my pastor and fellow parishioners from Cure of Ars Parish in Merrick, NY and since that first pilgrimage – Our Lady’s stirring in my heart to “have a heart and soul for her Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ”, I have continued to pray for and travel with 206 Tours and their wonderful Spiritual Directors and guides!
I volunteered to write some words to those pilgrims who desire to go on pilgrimage, but do not have any friends to travel with but their heart is longing to go as a single pilgrim—I encourage you to go—Our Lord and Lady provide just the exact roommate for you who are a sister or brother in Christ—and that at this incredible moment in time could become your best friend and/or confidante.
Case in point — In 2017 I was introduced to a podcast about this so called “bad boy priest”, Fr Donald Calloway— ( who is now a dear friend and spiritual advisor)—I heard him say that he leads pilgrimages with 206 Tours and looked up his pilgrimage locations—well, here I am a single mature woman desiring to travel but had no one who wanted to go with me to Fatima and then onto Poland— so I threw all my anxieties into Our Lady’s hands and booked a pilgrimage that DID in fact CHANGE my LIFE!
As the date of the pilgrimage drew near- the account manager at the time released the roommate’s name to me and her contact info and she had the same… we corresponded for a few days and found we were kindred souls placed together by Our Lady! I traveled alone from NYC to Lisbon and was met at the hotel by not only my roommate, but by Fr Donald Calloway himself- who gave me the biggest hug and said, “This is not only from me, but from Milanka (owner of 206 Tours) AND our Lord and Lady!”
My roommate lives in Arizona and is now one of my dearest and closest friends—we have been on at least 2 more 206 Tours together and also have ventured on self-guided retreats – most recently we went to Montreal and Quebec together (I fashioned our pilgrimage after the itinerary of Fr Don’s Canada pilgrimage).
On that first Fátima/Poland pilgrimage I met not only Irene M. but so many other brothers and sisters in Christ that we have stayed in touch all these many years later. They have become a lifeline of prayer and support, and they know they can count on my prayers when they reach out!
In closing, I encourage you in the words of St John Paul II- “I plead with you–never, ever give up on hope, never doubt, never tire, and never become discouraged. Be not afraid.” ― Pope John Paul II, Pope John Paul II: In My Own Words
GO ON A 206 TOURS PILGRIMAGE- GOD IS CALLING YOU TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE!”
Pictured above: Mary Ellen Fosso with her friend Irene Montoya on their “solo” pilgrimage this past June to Canada. Photo courtesy of Mary Ellen Fosso.
The above testimony from Mary Ellen is a perfect example of the profound graces that can be found when we step out in faith to follow God’s call. At 206 Tours, we are blessed to have the best staff, pilgrims, tour guides, and chaplains who make everyone in our tour groups feel like family. As shown through Mary Ellen’s testimony, strangers very quickly become friends on Pilgrimages as they create lifelong memories together. There is nothing better than growing in your faith alongside others who share your love for God. By joining a Pilgrimage with 206 Tours, you may be signing up to meet your new best friend! We have seen countless friendships born out of Pilgrimages that continue to endure for a lifetime.
As a solo traveler, you’ll be immersed in a group of people from all walks of life. Since 206 Tours allows travelers to join a tour from any airport, our pilgrims come from around the country and the world. It is not uncommon for our Pilgrimage groups to have individuals with varying backgrounds, nationalities, and professions, allowing you to get to know many different people. Throughout the day, pilgrims share with one another about their different walks of life, faith journeys, and reasons for traveling on a Pilgrimage.
With over 40 years of experience, 206 Tours’ professional staff will handle every detail of your tour. All you have to do is book your Pilgrimage, and then you can relax and prepare to enjoy the blessings that God wants to give you throughout your spiritual journey. From the moment your tour guide greets you until the time you board your return flight home, our dedicated staff will be there to assist you every step of the way.
One question that we frequently receive from those interested in traveling solo is about the hotel room arrangements. When traveling solo on one of our Pilgrimages, you will have two options when it comes to your hotel room:
- Share a Double Room
If you would like to travel with a group and do not mind sharing a room, 206 Tours can try and assign you a roommate of the same gender who will also be traveling solo. This option will provide you with a single hotel room that has two twin beds. No additional cost is required for solo travelers if you choose to share a room.
Please note that although we will try our best, it is not guaranteed that we will be able to pair you with a roommate since it depends on whether there are other solo travelers in the group. If a traveler does not have a roommate or is not able to be paired with someone, they will be responsible for the single supplement cost.
The option to select “Double Room” during registration will be shown as follows and 206 Tours will assign you a roommate unless you specify otherwise:
- Private Single Room
If you wish to travel with a group, but prefer the privacy of your own hotel room, this may be the perfect option for you. You can indicate at the time of booking that you would like your own hotel room by selecting “Single Room”. This allows you the comfort of partaking in day-to-day activities with a group of new-found friends, while also giving you the comfort and privacy of your own space at the end of each day. Please note that this option does incur an additional fee since our standard pricing is based on double occupancy (two people sharing a hotel room).
The option to select “Single Room” during registration will be shown as follows:
We welcome solo travelers on all our Pilgrimages, so you can join any tour listed on our website: www.206tours.com. Should you have any questions, you can contact our team via email (sales@206tours.com) or by calling (800) 206-8687. We will be happy to assist you.
When you travel with 206 Tours, you become part of our family that has been growing for over 40 years. Join a Pilgrimage and experience why thousands of pilgrims continue to travel with us again and again. Read their testimonials by visiting: www.206tours.com/letters
View Our Pilgrimage Directory: www.206tours.com/pilgrimages
[DISPLAY_ULTIMATE_SOCIAL_ICONS]