About Us

The idea to organize pilgrimages to Italy began in 2004 after Bret and Katia Thoman (both secular Franciscans) attended a series of retreats in Loreto, Italy led by the local Franciscan friars. The friars took them on a mini-pilgrimage where they discovered the hidden Franciscan places of that region. Immediately, they had a desire to bring English-speaking people on such a pilgrimage. Since then Bret and Katia have dedicated themselves full-time to their pilgrimage ministry, and today destinations include all of Italy. To date, they have personally organized 30 pilgrimages and journeyed with 700 people of 19 different nationalities throughout all of Italy. Groups have been large or small, and have come from around the world. They include parishes, families, schools, youth groups, retreat centers, and secular Franciscan fraternities/ regions. 

Bret and Katia Thoman have been married since 2002 and made their profession as Secular Franciscans in 2006. They have two small children: Claremarie (5 years old) and Iacopo (2 1/2 years old). They are residents of Georgia, but spend much of the year in Assisi.

Bret has a masters degree in Italian and a certificate in Franciscan studies. He has worked as a teacher/translator of Italian, and he spent five years as an airline pilot. He is an ardent admirer of St. Francis since his first trip to Assisi in 1992, which led to his conversion to the Catholic faith. He took St. Francis for his confirmation name.

Katia was born near Bari in Apulia. She lived in Assisi for 7 years where she studied tourism at the University. In Assisi she developed lifelong friendships with the Franciscan friars and sisters.

Bret and Katia's life experiences in Italy combined with their vocation as Secular Franciscans make their pilgrimages a personal, unique experience.

 

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