I started my journey from Chicago not knowing what exactly to expect. I had been following Fr. Murr and Dr. Robert Moynihan's podcasts for a while and was confident that I would enjoy listening to Fr. Murr in person. It exceeded my expectations. We were welcomed at the convent by Fr Murr and anyone who follows his podcasts has to admit that he has a magnetic personality. The convent run by the nuns felt so warm and homely. We could smell their delicious home cooking while we were attending Mass and lunch followed Mass, needless to say it was special. They always seemed so cheerful which made me realize that you don't have to have too much in life to be happy as long as you have God as your anchor. We were invited to dinner at Fr. Murr's Hacienda and were given a lovely spread of Spanish delicacies, including the famous Paella. It was accompanied with live Spanish music. On our tour of his lovely home, Fr. Murr showed us the room he broadcasts his podcasts from, which was quite different from what I had imagined. Dr. Moynihan showed us his musical talents by singing a song about a biscuit which his grandfather used to sing. It was a wonderful evening. The little town of Carmona is so charming with so much history, and I felt I was taken back in time. We also visited Seville, Rhonda and Cordoba, which also have so much history and absolutely lovely. We did experience some unexpected heavy rains but in spite of this we brought our rain gear out and ventured out. My fellow Pilgrims were such good sports, and we enjoyed good comradeship and fellowship. Debra Tomilson and Dr Moynihan are very caring and warm people who really make a conscious effort to make sure the pilgrims are safe and comfortable. Our guide Damian, with his lovely accent and helpfulness was certainly an asset to the trip.

Top notch! Very inspiring retreat with Fr. Murr! Our accommodations were both comfortable and convenient. The sisters were delightful. The meals were delicious and nutritious. Our leaders, Deborah and Damian were terrific! Deborah skillfully addressed challenges and kept things running smoothly. Damian, with his command of languages, his knowledge of culture and history and his eternal patience, was simply indispensable. Immensely enjoyed meeting and listening to discussions with Robert Moynihan as well.

The pilgrimage was outstanding. The whole group was interesting and a joy to be with. The rejuvenation of my faith life was by far the best part of the pilgrimage. Attending Mass each day, twice at the Basilica and different churches around the area on the other days. Reciting the Rosary while traveling on the bus was beautiful as well as singing the Ave Maria at the end of each decade and the Salve Regina at the end of the Rosary. Visiting the memorials of the incorrupt Blessed Sebastian de Aparicio y del Pardo and Blessed Father Miguel Pro SJ, helps to bring reality to the shortness of our lives and a good example of how to live by sacrificing our lives in the name of Jesus Christ for others. The Gonzalez’s new revelation of the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe which is the real reason the indigenous people were brought to see the fulfillment of their longing for God and their longing to live with Him in (the Flower World) paradise. The indigenous people saw the fulfillment of the (Flower World) Prophesy in Juan Diego. They were able to relate his devoted Catholic life to his worthiness to enter paradise and return. Each day the Gonzalez’s would present the premise of the next chapter of their book by traveling to each location described. They both work so well together, Monique the storyteller and with Joseph explaining the details of the story. Now this is a truth that I can imagine having the consequences of millions of indigenous people coming to be baptized. Ruben Mendoza Medrano Led us with many spiritual thoughts and led us in prayers on several occasions. He gave us a run down on the History of Mexico in general especially with the political landscape. Ruben was an outstanding interpreter for the difficult situations that were encountered. May the soul of your cousin rest in peace. Anne Marie Goldberg Worked tirelessly to make sure all the details were worked out so that the whole Pilgrimage continued flawlessly. I am sure there is no shortage of pictures to document the entire Pilgrimage. Amenities and Accommodations Opportunities for great food were well planned out with nice lunches and dinners planned even for the meals that were “on our own”. Breakfasts in the Hotel were very good with fresh fruit and other hot breakfast items. There was plenty of drinking water supplied. It is important to bring the electrolyte packets to mix into the water bottles. This need must be communicated to the attendees far enough in advance so they can order some online and have time to receive them before the trip. Bathroom breaks were a little discomforting. It costs 5-10 pesos for each location and there is a great lack of public (Water Closets) toilets available. The bathroom breaks need to be strategically planned along the route to ensure everyone can be taken care of at the proper time. The bus did have an “emergency” use lavatory on board. The hotel accommodation was very adequate however, the low shower water temperature gave plenty of opportunity to offer up sacrifices. The security around the area of the Hotel was quite sketchy, especially with one of the bags being sliced open with a razor knife. There were also daily mob protests that closed streets without warning. Transportation was excellent with a driver (Jesus) who navigated through downtown Mexico City as if driving a small car! Walking There is a lot of walking required for this Pilgrimage. There are many trip hazards in most of the locations, with sidewalks in disrepair and uneven surfaces along the way. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to attend this pilgrimage. It is well worth the effort to read the book and go to all the important locations as described. When this book is published in Spanish it will have a powerful effect again for the people of Aztec descent because it will bring back a sound base of where they came from and how God planed in the fullness of time to reveal Himself to them. What a beautiful story, one that can be celebrated by everyone. One thing I did miss though is an evening of wine and meeting with Fr. Murr and Dr. Robert Moynihan, but then again, we did well by having a social evening with all in the group who could stay up past their bed time on the last evening on the hotel terrace. What a wonderful time that was. Thanks All.