India: In the Footsteps of St. Thomas the Apostle & St. Francis Xavier
A Catholic Pilgrimage from the Tomb of an Apostle to the Missionary Churches of Southern India
13 Days | Chennai, Pondicherry, Vailankanni, Tiruchirappalli, Madurai, Kanyakumari, Kerala & Goa
An Extraordinary Journey into One of Christianity’s Most Ancient Lands India occupies a remarkable place in the history of Christianity.
According to ancient Christian tradition, St. Thomas one of the Twelve Apostles who walked with Christ, witnessed the Risen Lord and received the Great Commission carried the Gospel eastward to India.
Our pilgrimage begins in Chennai, where we will pray at the Tomb of St. Thomas the Apostle in the Basilica of San Thome.
For Catholics, this alone makes the journey extraordinary.
Only a small number of places in the world preserve ancient traditions associated with the burial places of Christ’s Apostles. Here, on the southeastern coast of India, pilgrims have the remarkable opportunity to celebrate their faith at a place associated for centuries with the final earthly resting place of one of the Twelve.
We will also climb St. Thomas Mount, traditionally associated with the Apostle’s martyrdom, allowing us to begin our journey by contemplating Christianity in India not as a recent arrival, but as a tradition that traces its origins back to the Apostolic Age.
From there, our pilgrimage follows the story of Christianity across southern India.
We will encounter the ancient Christian communities associated with the legacy of St. Thomas, pray at Vailankanni, one of Asia’s great Marian shrines, encounter the witness of Indian saints and martyrs, and ultimately reach Goa, where the incorrupt body of the great missionary St. Francis Xavier is venerated in the Basilica of Bom Jesus.
It is a journey spanning almost two thousand years of Christian history:
from St. Thomas the Apostle to St. Francis Xavier; from the first proclamation of the Gospel to the missionary age; from ancient Eastern Christianity to the Catholic communities of India today.
And along the way, we will also encounter India itself — its civilizations, temples, colonial heritage, landscapes, cuisine and extraordinary religious and cultural diversity.
Pilgrimage Highlights
• Tomb of St. Thomas the Apostle — pray at the traditional resting place of one of the Twelve Apostles at San Thome Basilica in Chennai.
• St. Thomas Mount — visit the place traditionally associated with the Apostle’s martyrdom.
• The Apostle Thomas in India — discover the ancient tradition connecting St. Thomas with the origins of Christianity on the Indian subcontinent.
• St. Thomas Christians — encounter the extraordinary heritage of Indian Christianity whose traditions trace their origins to the Apostle.
• Our Lady of Good Health at Vailankanni — pilgrimage to the great Marian sanctuary often called the “Lourdes of the East.”
• St. Francis Xavier — conclude our journey in Goa, where his body is venerated in the Basilica of Bom Jesus.
• St. Devasahayam Pillai — encounter the witness of the 18th-century Indian martyr canonized in 2022.
• St. John de Britto — discover another remarkable chapter in the missionary history of southern India.
• Catholic Chennai, Pondicherry & Madurai — discover historic cathedrals and Christian communities across southern India.
• Goa’s Catholic Heritage — explore the extraordinary churches and convents of Old Goa, recognized by UNESCO.
• Basilica of Bom Jesus — pray before the remains of St. Francis Xavier.
• Indian Sacred & Cultural Heritage — encounter Hindu temples, palaces, markets and historic monuments as part of a deeper understanding of the culture in which Indian Christianity developed.
• Daily opportunities for Holy Mass, prayer and spiritual reflection throughout the pilgrimage.
From One of the Twelve to the Apostle of the Indies
What makes this pilgrimage different is the extraordinary span of Christian history we encounter.
We begin with Thomas.
Not simply a missionary or later saint, but an Apostle of Jesus Christ.
A man who knew Jesus during His earthly life.
Who witnessed the wounds of the Risen Christ.
Who proclaimed:
“My Lord and my God.”
And who, according to ancient Christian tradition, carried the Gospel all the way to India.
Centuries later, another missionary arrived on these shores.
St. Francis Xavier crossed oceans to preach Christ throughout Asia, becoming known as the Apostle of the Indies.
Our pilgrimage begins at the tomb traditionally associated with St. Thomas in Chennai and ultimately reaches the body of St. Francis Xavier in Goa.
Between them lie centuries of Indian Christianity.
The ancient communities of the St. Thomas Christians.
The Marian devotion of Vailankanni.
The sacrifice of St. John de Britto.
The martyrdom of St. Devasahayam.
And millions of Indian Christians who continue to live the faith today.
This is therefore more than a pilgrimage in the footsteps of a single saint.
It is a journey through nearly two thousand years of Christianity in India.
A Pilgrimage Designed Around Your Parish
India: In the Footsteps of St. Thomas the Apostle & St. Francis Xavier can be adapted to the spiritual, cultural and practical needs of each parish, diocese or Catholic organization.
Depending on available time and group interests, possibilities may include daily Mass • special arrangements at the Tomb of St. Thomas • additional St. Thomas sites • deeper encounters with the Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara Catholic traditions • Vailankanni • additional Indian saints and martyrs • extended time in Goa • Christian art and archaeology • cultural experiences • Kerala extensions • additional nights before or after the pilgrimage.
For groups particularly interested in the Apostles and Early Church, the program can be developed with an even stronger focus on the ancient St. Thomas Christian tradition of southern India.
Important Information and Terms and Conditions
The published program is a general description and may be adjusted due to availability, operational requirements, local conditions, or the group’s needs. By registering, each traveler confirms that they have reviewed and accepted our Terms and Conditions.
Confirmed trip details, payment information, official meetings and presentations, updates, and final travel documentation will be provided through the official WeTravel page, the final itinerary, and other communications from Pilgrim Groups Travel. Travelers are responsible for reviewing all documents, insurance provisions, entry requirements, and travel instructions provided.
Proposed Itinerary
Proposed Itinerary
Day 1 — USA – India
Our Pilgrimage Begins
At the appropriate time, we will meet at our designated U.S. departure airport and begin our international journey to India.
Our destination is Chennai, on India’s southeastern coast, where our pilgrimage will begin at one of the most extraordinary Christian sites in Asia.
Overnight flight.
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Day 2 — Arrival in Chennai
Welcome to India
Upon arrival in Chennai, we will be welcomed by our local team and transferred to our hotel.
Depending on our flight schedule, we will gather for Holy Mass, followed by our welcome dinner.
Tonight provides an opportunity to rest and prepare for one of the great moments of our pilgrimage the following morning.
Dinner and overnight: Chennai
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Day 3 — Chennai
At the Tomb of St. Thomas the Apostle
Today we begin at the spiritual heart of our journey: San Thome Basilica, built over the traditional burial place of St. Thomas the Apostle.
Thomas was one of the Twelve chosen by Christ.
He was present during Christ’s public ministry and, after initially doubting the testimony of the other disciples, encountered the Risen Christ and made one of the most profound professions of faith in the Gospel:
“My Lord and my God.”
Christian tradition holds that after the Apostles dispersed to proclaim the Gospel, Thomas traveled eastward, eventually reaching India.
At San Thome, we will have time to pray at the place traditionally associated with his tomb and reflect upon the remarkable apostolic roots of Christianity in this land.
Subject to ecclesiastical arrangements, we will seek the opportunity to celebrate Holy Mass at or near the shrine of the Apostle.
We then continue to St. Thomas Mount, traditionally associated with his martyrdom, completing a remarkable day following the final chapter of the Apostle’s life.
Our exploration of Chennai may also incorporate Fort St. George, providing a very different glimpse into the later colonial history of the city, and the St. Anthony Shrine at Palavakkam, where local Catholics traditionally pray for protection during their journeys.
Dinner and overnight.
Overnight: Chennai
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Day 4 — Chennai – Pondicherry – Vailankanni
Catholicism on the Coromandel Coast
After breakfast and morning Mass, we depart Chennai and journey south along India’s eastern coast.
We arrive in Pondicherry, a fascinating city shaped in part by centuries of French influence.
Here we visit the historic Immaculate Conception Cathedral, the cathedral church of the Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore.
Following lunch, we continue toward Vailankanni, home to one of the most important Marian pilgrimage destinations in Asia.
Arrival, dinner and overnight.
Overnight: Vailankanni
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Day 5 — Vailankanni – Tiruchirappalli
Our Lady of Good Health
This morning we pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health at Vailankanni.
Often called the “Lourdes of the East,” Vailankanni has become a place of prayer for Christians from across India and beyond.
We will discover the traditions surrounding the Marian events associated with Vailankanni and experience a sanctuary where Catholic devotion has become deeply rooted within Indian culture.
Time will be provided for Holy Mass and personal prayer.
Later, we continue toward Tiruchirappalli, with lunch along the way.
Upon arrival, we may visit the historic Our Lady of Lourdes Church, built in the late 19th century and associated with the Jesuit presence in the region.
Dinner and overnight.
Overnight: Tiruchirappalli
Day 6 — Tiruchirappalli – Madurai
The Civilizations of Southern India
After breakfast, we visit the celebrated Rock Fort of Tiruchirappalli, dramatically situated upon an ancient rock formation.
Our visit provides an opportunity to encounter another dimension of India: the civilizations, religious traditions and political history that form the wider cultural world in which Christianity developed.
We then continue toward Madurai, one of southern India’s great historic cities.
Following arrival and check-in, we visit St. Mary’s Cathedral, an important Catholic church whose architecture reflects a distinctive combination of European and local influences.
Dinner and overnight.
Overnight: Madurai
Day 7 — Madurai – Kanyakumari
Faith in the Religious Landscape of India
This morning we continue our cultural exploration of Madurai.
Our program may include the famous Meenakshi Temple complex, approached as an important encounter with India’s religious, artistic and cultural history, as well as the historic Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace.
Understanding these traditions helps us better appreciate the cultural environment in which India’s Christian communities have lived and witnessed to their faith for centuries.
We then continue south toward Kanyakumari, near the southernmost tip of the Indian mainland.
Our Catholic pilgrimage continues with sites associated with the missionary history of the region, including the legacy of St. John de Britto, the Jesuit missionary and martyr sometimes called the “John the Baptist of India.”
Dinner and overnight.
Overnight: Kanyakumari
Day 8 — Kanyakumari – Thiruvananthapuram – Kovalam
Saints & Martyrs of Southern India
After breakfast, we continue through southern India, with visits to important Catholic sites along our route.
Our journey may include St. Xavier’s Cathedral and places associated with the missionary activity of St. Francis Xavier, whose work profoundly influenced the Catholic communities of India’s southern coast.
We will also encounter the story of St. Devasahayam Pillai, an 18th-century Indian convert and martyr canonized by Pope Francis in 2022.
His witness reminds us that the story of Catholicism in India is not simply the story of European missionaries. It is also the story of Indian Christians who embraced, lived and sometimes gave their lives for the faith.
We continue toward Thiruvananthapuram, where a panoramic visit may introduce us to important landmarks and the vibrant Chalai Market.
Continuation to Kovalam.
Dinner and overnight.
Overnight: Kovalam
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Day 9 — Kerala – Goa
From the Legacy of St. Thomas to St. Francis Xavier
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for our domestic flight to Goa.
Our arrival in Goa begins the final great chapter of our pilgrimage.
If Chennai introduced us to Christianity associated with the Apostolic Age, Goa introduces us to the extraordinary missionary expansion of the Catholic Church in the early modern world.
Our first visits may include the monumental Sé Cathedral, one of the great historic churches of Old Goa and the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman.
Dinner and overnight.
Overnight: Goa
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Day 10 — Old Goa
St. Francis Xavier
Today we explore the remarkable Christian heritage of Old Goa, whose churches and convents form a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The spiritual centerpiece will be the Basilica of Bom Jesus, where the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier are venerated.
One of the founders of the Society of Jesus and among the most remarkable missionaries of the 16th century, Francis Xavier traveled across Asia proclaiming the Gospel and ministering to Christian communities from India to Southeast Asia and Japan.
Here we will have time for prayer and, subject to arrangements, the celebration of the Eucharist.
Our exploration of Old Goa may also incorporate the Viceroy’s Arch, Chapel of St. Catherine, Church of St. Cajetan, Church and Convent of St. Francis of Assisi, Archaeological Museum, and the evocative ruins of St. Augustine.
Dinner and overnight.
Overnight: Goa
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Day 11 — Goa
The Catholic Heritage of Goa
Our pilgrimage continues through the extraordinary Catholic heritage of Goa.
We may visit the historic Convent of Santa Monica and the Museum of Christian Art, providing a deeper appreciation of how Christianity developed its own artistic expression in India.
We will also visit the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, overlooking Old Goa from Monte Santo.
The church possesses its own connection with St. Francis Xavier, who is traditionally associated with teaching catechism here during his missionary activity.
Depending on the final program, our last evening may include a cruise on the Mandovi River, with traditional Goan music and dance, offering an opportunity to celebrate the culture of the region together.
Farewell dinner and overnight.
Overnight: Goa
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Day 12 — Goa – USA
Return Journey
After breakfast, at the appropriate time, transfer to the airport for our return journey to the United States.
Depending on airline schedules, our international itinerary may connect through another major Indian or international airport.
Overnight flight.
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Day 13 — Arrival in the USA
Arrival at our home airport.
We return home after an extraordinary journey through the history of Christianity in India — from the ancient tradition of St. Thomas the Apostle to the missionary witness of St. Francis Xavier, from India’s Marian devotion to its native saints and martyrs.
End of our pilgrimage services.
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