PILGRIMAGES OF ENCOUNTERS

Step 1: Where and When

Choose your Destination & Dates and email or call me.

Laura Stohlman
📞 240-793-2718
📧 laurastohlman@gmail.com

Step 2: Let’s Invite

It typically takes about six months – allowing time for registration, planning, and final travel details.
I’ll guide you every step of the way — from your first flyer to the final packing list! and you invite your people.

Step 3: Group size 18-28

Priests/leader travel free of charge (excluding airfare) when accompanied by 14 or more pilgrims registered under their name.

Our upcoming Pilgrimage - Umbria, Siena, Rome September 23-October 3, 2026

Perfect for anyone seeking meaning, connection, and adventure.


About Laura

I am Italian by birth and have lived in the United States for over twenty-five years. As a wife and mother of eight children, I have learned that the most meaningful journeys are always shared.

For me, pilgrimage is not simply travel — it is a path of discovery. Together we seek the deeper meaning behind the beauty found in art, faith, and history. Through my deep connections with Italian local communities and gifted spiritual guides, each journey becomes an authentic encounter with the life and soul of the places we visit.

I walk as a pilgrim among pilgrims, creating spaces where friendship, faith, and genuine encounters naturally unfold.

Our Philosophy

Our pilgrimages are guided by a philosophy of hospitality, joy, and deep connection. Traveling with groups of pilgrims led by their pastors, or leader, we weave friendship, culture, history, art, and exquisite food into unforgettable experiences. It is deeply moving to witness hearts opening, friendships forming, and a renewed desire to encounter Christ in everyday life. Walking as a pilgrim among pilgrims, I am honored to learn alongside them. With the wisdom of local guides and friends, we uncover the spiritual meaning behind art, history, and the lives of the Saints, transforming culture into a profoundly beautiful, faith-filled journey.

Why Like Us

Thoughtfully tailored pilgrimages for small groups

Flexible, unhurried schedule with time for reflection

Visits to sacred sites, hidden spiritual treasures, and historical landmarks

Faith-centered, insightful guides who walk with you

Meaningful encounters with local communities and friends in faith

Quality lodging with private baths, daily breakfast, regional dinners, and private bus

Your preferred travel dates

Travel with purpose: 5% of each trip supports AVSI’s humanitarian projects worldwide

Travel With Purpose.

The 5% of this trip supports AVSI:

advancing hope through humanitarian projects worldwide.

Pilgrimage Ideas — Or Your Choice!

These are just a few destinations to inspire your next journey, but I’m happy to accompany you wherever you desire.

📞 240-793-2718
✉️ laurastohlman@gmail.com

  • Extraordinary trip to Alto-Adige & Veneto

    We go to Verona, Venice, Padova, Lakes, Monasteries, Wineries. Picturesque villages, medieval castles, archaeological sites and frescoed churches: all precious witnesses to a thriving past, hidden amidst the lush nature of AltoAdige -Veneto

    Walk the Dolomites: a UNESCO World Heritage site, are renowned for their dramatic, pale-colored dolomitic rock formations.

  • Destination Sicily

    We explore Palermo’s Duomo, Norman Palace, and bustling markets, then marvel at Monreale mosaics. We climb Mount Etna, taste volcanic wines, wander Siracusa and Ortigia, discover Taormina, stroll charming villages, and savor local chocolate and cuisine—all while sharing the journey together.

    We visit with local friends and guides sharing our faith and lives!

  • Following the Saints Trip

    Which Saints yu would like to encounter? St Peter • St Paul • St Pope John Paul II • St Padre Pio • St Michael the Archangel • St Francis • St Clare • Blessed Carlo Acutis • Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati • St Catherine • St Benedict • St Anthony • Saint Rita • Servant of God Luigi Giussani • Chiara Corbella & many more.

    Step into a journey of spiritual renewal, breathtaking landscapes, and rich culture as we embark on a 10-day pilgrimage. Experience the beauty of Assisi, LaVerna, Orvieto, Siena and Rome

  • Rome!

    A pilgrimage to Rome is so much more than monuments and history — it’s the people, the spirituality, the daily rhythm of the city. The ringing bells, the chatter in the piazzas, the smells of fresh bread and espresso, the mix of locals and travelers from around the world… this is Rome alive.

    With us, you’ll spend a full week discovering Rome from the inside, not just as a visitor, but as a pilgrim who feels the heartbeat of the city. You’ll walk its streets, meet locals, taste its food, hear its music, and experience its stories — all while exploring its spiritual and historic treasures.

    This is Rome through my eyes: a living city where faith, culture, and daily life mingle beautifully. It’s an experience you won’t just see — you’ll feel, taste, and remember forever.

  • Amalfi Coast, Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento, Rome

    This is not your typical tourist trip. It’s a journey guided by locals, where you will re-discover Italy through its history, culture, and daily life. Feel the sun on the Amalfi Coast, wander the colorful streets of Sorrento, taste the energy of Naples, walk among the ruins of Pompeii, and get lost in the timeless beauty of Rome.

    We’ll explore hidden corners, meet the people who make these places come alive, and experience everyday life in a way that few travelers ever do. Each moment is a chance to connect with the stories, the art, the flavors, and the laughter of Italy.

    This trip is about living and feeling Italy, not just seeing it. The smells, the sounds, the conversations, the warmth of the people — these are the memories that will stay with you forever.

  • Siena, Assisi, Perugia, Roma

    Umbria is Italy at its most enchanting — rolling hills, medieval towns, and landscapes that feel timeless. But my trips are about more than the scenery. We move at an unhurried, peaceful pace, allowing time to connect with local people, their traditions, and the everyday rhythm of life.

    We’ll visit ancient churches, hidden sanctuaries, and sacred sites, celebrating daily Mass and exploring faith in a living context. You’ll experience local food, artisanal crafts, and village life, discovering corners of Umbria most travelers never see.

    Every day is an opportunity to learn, reflect, and encounter something truly authentic — from a friendly conversation in a piazza to a visit with a family-run vineyard or olive farm. This is Umbria as it was meant to be experienced: spiritual, cultural, and alive with the warmth of its people.

PAST TRIPS

  • Pilgrimage to the spectacular Umbria, Assisi, Rome

    June 11 - 19, 2022

    Chaplain: Fr. Lee Fangmayer, pastor at Little Flower, MD

  • The Secrets of Umbria

    ‍ ‍THE SAINT AND THE PAINTER: SAINT FRANCIS AND PERUGINO

    June 9 - June 18, 2023

  • A week in the Eternal City

    ‍ ‍ January 8-15, 2024

    Fr. Philip Forlano, pastor of St. Charles

    Borromeo Parish, PA

  • Destination Sicily and visits to pilgrims ancestors!

    January 27- February 5, 2025

    Fr. Philip Forlano, pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish, PA

  • Trip to Siena, Assisi, Todi, La Verna, Perugia, & The Holy Door

    October 7-17, 2025 -

    Chaplain: Fr. Tyler Kline, pastor at Saint Andrew by the Bay, Annapolis, MD