+1 (800) 653-0017
hello@canterburypilgrimages.com
It costs you nothing to lead
You invite your people. We handle the itinerary, the pricing, the hotels, the flights, the registrations, and the payments.
Five things worth knowing before you read anything else.
No deposit, no financial guarantee, and no invoice if the group comes in under target.
Your place is earned by the group you bring, and it comes from our suppliers rather than from what your pilgrims pay.
If the group does not reach its minimum, final payments are never collected and deposits are returned.
Itinerary, pricing, hotels, flights, guides, Mass arrangements, registrations, and payments.
We can build a fundraising amount into the price, and it comes back to your parish or organization, for repairs or a charity you support. Doing it at all is your call.
Most of our group leaders had never organized a trip before their first pilgrimage. Here is what the process actually looks like.
A destination, or a saint, or a rough month, or nothing more than a sense that your group would like to go somewhere. We will tell you honestly what is realistic for your group size and budget before you commit to anything.
You know your people. If your group wants Mass at a particular shrine, three nights in Rome instead of two, or a pace that works for older pilgrims, we build it that way. You approve it before anything is booked.
That includes your complimentary places, which are earned by the group you bring and come from our suppliers. You will know exactly what you are working with before you announce anything.
Flyer, registration page, and a payment portal for your pilgrims. However you reach your people, from the pulpit, the bulletin, email, social media, or your own audience, we give you what you need to promote it well.
Registrations, questions, rooming lists, payment plans, passport documentation, and the phone calls. Your job is to invite people. Ours is everything after that.
Your group is accompanied from arrival to departure by a dedicated tour manager who knows the region, alongside local Catholic guides at each site. If something goes wrong, it is ours to solve, not yours.
The asymmetry is the point.
That is the whole list. Promotion is the part that decides whether the trip happens, and it is the part only you can do.
No money moves through the parish. Each of your pilgrims books with us directly and pays us directly.
Registration normally closes 90 days before departure. If space remains, later registration is sometimes still possible, so it is worth asking rather than assuming. When booking closes.
Canterbury treats you like family! They handle everything, from creating exciting itineraries to managing calls, registrations, and payments. Each pilgrimage is hassle-free, with luxurious hotels and knowledgeable guides. They ensure personalized experiences, letting pilgrims focus on the journey and their relationship with Christ.
Canterbury Pilgrimages has consistently delivered world-class pilgrimage experiences for my groups. They’re big enough to handle any problem that arises, and small enough to craft truly unique experiences. They make you feel like their only customer and biggest priority, and they do that for everyone. All at competitive prices, without sacrificing quality. I couldn’t recommend Canterbury more highly!
I have had the joy of leading pilgrims on several Canterbury Pilgrimages. The pilgrims have been delighted with the arrangements that were made including accommodations, guides and the holy sites they have visited. They found the experiences an opportunity to deepen their faith. I have always found Canterbury helpful and cooperative in organizing and planning the pilgrimages. They go out of their way to accommodate the group’s needs.
Three questions every group leader asks, answered in full.
The promotion plan that actually fills a group, and the materials we send you.
How complimentary places work, and what your group earns.
Who carries the risk, and what happens to deposits.
Nothing. You travel free, the place is earned by the group you bring, and there is no deposit or financial guarantee from you. How the complimentary group leader place works.
No money is lost, by you or your pilgrims. We do everything we can to make the trip happen, and if it cannot, deposits are returned. What happens if a pilgrimage does not fill.
The earlier the better. Most groups start eight to thirteen months out, and waiting is the most common mistake we see. See the promotion timeline.
Most of our groups are between 20 and 50 pilgrims, and we can arrange smaller tours as well. We have also organized pilgrimages for groups as large as 2,500, so whatever size your group turns out to be, we can build for it.
Usually you need your pastor on side, and often the diocese as well, but policies vary from diocese to diocese so we cannot speak for yours. The practical order is to bring your pastor the itinerary before you bring him the request, and to ask your diocesan office early if a travel policy applies.
That is where most of our group leaders started. We walk you through every step, and you can call and talk it through before committing to anything.
Yes. A fundraising amount can be built into the cost of the pilgrimage to support your parish or organization.
Tell us what you have in mind and we will build the itinerary, the pricing, and the promotional materials around it. There is no deposit and no financial commitment from you.
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Eastern.
+1 (800) 653-0017
sales@canterburypilgrimages.com
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for travellers currently abroad with a travel related emergency.
(800) 653-0017 ext. 9
emergency@canterburypilgrimages.com