Some journeys begin at an airport. And some journeys begin with a prayer.
\nCarnival US's 2025 European Pilgrimage is one such journey. It's not just a cross-continental trip, but a sacred journey for Vietnamese Catholics in America \u2013 souls who have long awaited the opportunity to set foot on the holy lands of their faith: Vatican City, Lourdes, Fatima, Lisieux, Zaragoza\u2026
\nThe journey took place at a very special moment \u2013 \u201cjust before the end of the Jubilee Year\u201d. Perhaps that is why each day that passed carried a deeper feeling \u2013 as if every step was a whisper to God, every stop held the significance of a preordained encounter.<\/p>\n
Paris welcomed the group with its own unique beauty: both magnificent and serene. Amidst the bustling crowds and centuries-old structures, the pilgrims began to sense a different rhythm of life \u2013 slower, more profound.
\nOn Montmartre hill, in front of the Sacr\u00e9-C\u0153ur Basilica, many people stood for a long time. Not to take pictures, but to listen to themselves. The Seine flowed silently, the Eiffel Tower loomed in the afternoon light, and Notre Dame Cathedral \u2013 though bearing the scars of time \u2013 stood there as a reminder: "Faith may be tested, but it never collapses!"\u201c
\nParis is not just beautiful. Paris also awakens the first emotion in everyone.<\/p>\n
In contrast to Paris, Lisieux possesses a very different kind of beauty: not noisy, not overwhelming. Just a quiet, gentle stillness \u2013 just like the sacred path of Saint Th\u00e9r\u00e8se of the Child Jesus. And standing before her resting place, many in the group were silent, some bowed their heads for a long time, some clasped their hands slightly, some shed tears without understanding why, and whispers echoed around: "Standing before Saint Th\u00e9r\u00e8se, I feel as if my soul has been lifted from the heavy burdens it has carried for so long!"\u201c
\nPerhaps it is precisely that simplicity that touches the deepest parts of people's hearts.<\/p>\n
Lourdes needed no introduction, for simply stepping into the Massabielle Grotto seemed to silence all the noise. The stream continued to flow, hands still had the chance to touch the cool water, and whispered prayers echoed incessantly. No one knew how blessings would come, but in everyone's heart, they always believed: "Mother is there!"\u201c
\nAs night falls, the pilgrims have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the Ave Maria Procession. Tens of thousands of candles twinkle, familiar hymns are sung, creating a sacred and deeply moving moment. In this poignant atmosphere, no words are needed; everyone understands \u2013 this is one of those unforgettable moments that will be cherished for a lifetime.<\/p>\n
In Burgos, the Gothic cathedral rises majestically, drawing everyone's attention \u2013 not only for its imposing architecture, but also for the sense of insignificance felt by people in the face of centuries-old traditions of faith.
\nAnd Zaragoza brought a different feeling to everyone in the pilgrimage group. Before the Shrine of Our Lady of the Pillar \u2013 where the Virgin Mary appeared to comfort Saint James when he was discouraged \u2013 each person in the group offered very ordinary prayers: for health, for family, for peace, and so on.
\nPerhaps it is precisely these simple prayers that God listens to the most.<\/p>\n
Fatima is a destination everyone looks forward to, and it's also the place that evokes the most emotions.
\nThe Chapel of Our Lady of the Apparitions \u2013 The Tomb of the Three Shepherd Children \u2013 The Basilica of the Rosary \u2013 The peaceful village of Aljustrel. Each place carries a story of faith, obedience, and hope.
\nBut the moment that many will never forget is the "Rosary Candle Procession." When the church bells rang at midnight, the candlelight illuminated the entire square, and some people wept. That moment was not noisy or ostentatious \u2013 but it was deeply etched in everyone's hearts.<\/p>\n
Lisbon welcomed the pilgrims with gentle sunshine and a peaceful pace of life. Each step taken past St. Anthony's Church, the Cathedral, the Belem Tower, the Jeronimos Monastery, and other landmarks evoked a distinct feeling: peace and gratitude.
\nBefore the flight, the excitement of the first day was gone, replaced by a pensive look in their eyes \u2013 the look of those who had just experienced a journey that had transformed their subconscious!<\/p>\n
No pilgrimage is complete without visiting the Vatican!
\nSt. Peter's Basilica, the major basilicas of Rome, the Colosseum \u2013 where martyrs sacrificed their lives: all allow pilgrims to feel more deeply the depth of the Catholic faith.
\nAnd then, the most special moment arrived.
\nMeeting the Pope \u2013 a moment beyond words.
\nOn December 6, 2025, the Carnival US pilgrimage group had the opportunity to attend an audience with the Holy Father in St. Peter's Square. When He appeared and gave His blessing, many believers shed tears. Not from momentary emotion, but from a profound feeling about "the Universal Church \u2013 where all its children, no matter where they come from, are loved and protected.".
\nAnd that was the highlight of the entire journey.<\/p>\n
Upon returning to the United States, each person carried with them something very personal: a more peaceful soul, a stronger belief, a different perspective on life and the challenges ahead.
\nPilgrimage doesn't erase difficulties. But pilgrimage gives people "the strength to overcome difficulties with peace.".
\n-
\nCarnival US sincerely thanks you for your trust and companionship on this sacred journey. It is you who motivate us to continue our mission of bringing the Vietnamese Catholic community in America to holy lands \u2013 not just through service, but with our hearts.
\nFollowing the European pilgrimage season, Carnival US officially opens registration for the \u201cKorea \u2013 Japan Spring Tour 2026\u201d \u2013 a relaxing, experience-rich journey suitable for the Vietnamese Catholic community in the United States.
\nA new spring \u2013 a new journey. And the blessings continue.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u2b50 European Catholic Pilgrimage Tour 2025 – When Faith Became a Journey \u2b50 C\u00f3 nh\u1eefng chuy\u1ebfn \u0111i b\u1eaft \u0111\u1ea7u t\u1eeb m\u1ed9t s\u00e2n bay. V\u00e0 c\u00f3 nh\u1eefng chuy\u1ebfn \u0111i b\u1eaft \u0111\u1ea7u t\u1eeb m\u1ed9t l\u1eddi c\u1ea7u nguy\u1ec7n. H\u00e0nh tr\u00ecnh H\u00e0nh H\u01b0\u01a1ng Ch\u00e2u \u00c2u 2025 c\u1ee7a Carnival US l\u00e0 m\u1ed9t chuy\u1ebfn \u0111i nh\u01b0 th\u1ebf. Kh\u00f4ng ch\u1ec9 l\u00e0 m\u1ed9t…<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1544,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[78],"tags":[104,118,113,115,120,112,117,116,114,111,119],"class_list":["post-1449","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nhat-ky-hanh-trinh","tag-carnivalus","tag-blessedjourney","tag-carnivalpilgrimage","tag-catholicjourney","tag-catholicpilgrims","tag-europe","tag-faithineverystep","tag-holylandtour","tag-pilgrimagediary","tag-vatican","tag-walkingwithmary"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carnivalinus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1449","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carnivalinus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carnivalinus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carnivalinus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carnivalinus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1449"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/carnivalinus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1449\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1652,"href":"https:\/\/carnivalinus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1449\/revisions\/1652"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carnivalinus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1544"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carnivalinus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1449"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carnivalinus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1449"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carnivalinus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1449"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}