We will also take time for a pilgrimage to South India. St. Thomas the Apostle built the earliest Christian churches in Kerala. Tracing his footsteps, we will visit some of those churches, experience Eastern rite Catholic Mass, pray in silence and retreat on a houseboat, and unpack our experiences of the trip together. In Tamil Nadu we will visit the place where St. Thomas was martyred and attend Mass at his Tomb. From there we may take a quick trip to Velankanni, the most visited religious site in India. The Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health draws nearly 2 million pilgrims every year. Finally, we will immerse ourselves in Portuguese culture in Goa. Five centuries ago St. Francis Xavier reintroduced Catholicism which later spread to all corners of the nation. His incorrupt body is still at the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa.