Love, Faith, & a Pilgrimage: The Stories of Leanne & Chip and Martin & Patricia

Love, Faith, & a Pilgrimage: The Stories of Leanne & Chip and Martin & Patricia

Sometimes, God’s divine plan works in mysterious ways. Two couples—Leanne and Chip, and Martin and Patricia—can attest to this truth. Both pairs met on Trinity Tour Travels pilgrimages to the Holy Land, finding not only a deeper connection with their faith but also with each other. These journeys became more than just a spiritual trip abroad; they became the foundation for love stories guided by faith and God's hand.

Leanne & Chip: A Journey of Healing and Love

Leanne and Chip’s story began during a time of personal struggle for both. Leanne, recently widowed, sought healing from her grief and accepted an invitation from friends—fellow parishioners at Chip's church—to join a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, which was being led by Fr. Joachim Morgan of Saint Frances Cabrini Catholic Church. Meanwhile, Chip, searching for clarity after a difficult previous marriage, sought guidance from a priest who encouraged him to move forward, assuring him that there might still be someone meant for him. Shortly after, Chip’s mother invited him to accompany her on the pilgrimage, and he agreed. Though they came from different worlds—Leanne from South Carolina and Chip from Pennsylvania—they found themselves on a shared path to one of the holiest destinations, a journey that would change their lives forever.

Other than polite greetings at the airport or brief words in passing, their first real encounter took place at the Cana Chapel, a site renowned for celebrating the sacrament of marriage. As many couples on the pilgrimage renewed their vows, Leanne and Chip were genuinely happy for them, but couldn’t help feeling somewhat like third wheels amidst the celebrations. During the vow renewals, Chip noticed that Leanne was visibly upset, having heard earlier about her late husband, Ted. Moved by the holy spirit, he approached her to offer words of comfort, sparking a connection between them. 

As fate would have it, their bond grew little by little throughout the pilgrimage. Leanne, a former nurse, frequently assisted Chip’s mother, who was in a wheelchair, offering help where she could. These small acts of kindness gave Leanne and Chip more opportunities to get to know each other. What started as brief moments of shared understanding slowly blossomed into something much deeper, paving the way for the meaningful relationship that would follow.

The pivotal moment in their relationship came near the end of the pilgrimage, on the flight home—a nine-hour journey from Amsterdam to Atlanta. While most of the group was seated together at the front of the plane, by pure 'chance', God placed Leanne and Chip right next to each other toward the back. They spent the entire flight in deep conversation, sharing their stories and connecting on a deeper level. By the time they touched down, they were holding hands, both realizing they had found something truly special.

Upon returning home, Leanne and Chip’s relationship grew quickly. They spent hours each day in conversation, sharing their lives, discussing losses and past hardships, as well as their hopes for the future. Over the following months, they had the joy of meeting each other’s families, and it soon became clear that “they were meant to be together” as Leanne would put it.

Wanting to take the next step, they decided to get married. Appropriately, they decided that they wanted their honeymoon to be another pilgrimage, this time to Italy. However, there was one challenge: Chip had never received an annulment from his previous marriage. Undeterred, Chip consulted with a priest, explaining his desire to marry Leanne before their pilgrimage. The priest cautioned that the process might not be completed in time but agreed to try.

By the grace of God, everything worked out just in time. In a remarkable turn of events, Chip received the annulment, allowing them to marry before their trip. On September 30th, surrounded by their children, close family, and the friends who had invited them on that first pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Leanne and Chip exchanged vows in an intimate, faith-filled wedding. The next day, they embarked on their honeymoon pilgrimage to Italy, confident that their union was truly guided by God’s hand.

Lasting Experiences for Couples:

Leanne and Chip's time in the Holy Land was filled with moments that strengthened their faith and deepened their connection as a couple. One particularly moving experience for Leanne took place at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. As she touched the stone slab where Jesus was laid to rest, she felt a powerful emotional connection, which strengthened her relationship with Christ and brought her a sense of peace and renewal.

Another defining moment was when they walked the Via Dolorosa together, retracing the steps of Christ along the Stations of the Cross. At each station, they paused to reflect on the significance of these sacred locations. Walking this path created a bond that, as they describe it, "could only be formed through such an experience." For Leanne and Chip, the pilgrimage wasn’t just about faith—it was about growing together, facing moments of challenge and reflection that prepared them for their journey ahead as a couple.Leanne and Chip often encourage others, especially couples, to consider making a pilgrimage. They share this message: “This would strengthen any new relationship. Go, because God has a purpose for you, and you're on the pilgrimage for a reason." They believe that shared experiences, whether joyful or challenging, strengthen a relationship. Their time in the Holy Land showed them that journeys like these, both spiritual and personal, create lasting bonds that continue to grow over time.

Martin & Patricia: Finding Love in God’s Timing

Martin and Patricia’s story, like Leanne and Chip’s, also began on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Their trip took place in October 2022 and was led by two incredible spiritual guides—Fr. Paul Pecchie, from Martin’s parish, and Deacon Matt Shirina, from Patricia’s parish. Their pilgrimage experience was shaped by a series of scheduling changes, unforeseen delays, and adjustments that tested everyone’s patience. Through it all, they believed that God was working behind the scenes, preparing the perfect timing for their journey.Reflecting on the beginning of the trip, Martin shared, "I did notice Patricia at the airport when we were leaving Tampa to begin our pilgrimage. The fact that she would take this journey speaks for the depth of her faith. No one goes that far to find Catholicism; they go to immerse themselves in the greatest love story ever." Patricia was traveling with her sister Marlena and Marlena’s husband, Carl, and although they hadn’t yet connected, Martin admired her quiet devotion from afar.

"I would have to admit, I did keep an eye out for her," Martin said, recalling how he noticed Patricia’s graciousness and kindness, particularly in how she helped an elderly couple during the pilgrimage. "She was always there to assist them in walking or just chatting with them about the holy sites. I noticed her warm smile that would light up the room and how reverent she was at the holy sites." Patricia typically sat in the middle of the bus while Martin sat in the back—a running joke between them now: "Boy in the back of the bus meets girl in the middle of the bus."

A little moment with a big impact on their story occurred at a gift shop in Bethlehem. Martin, who enjoys picking up small gifts during his travels, had selected three heart-shaped olive wood pieces. Patricia noticed the items in his basket and, with a knowing smile, recommended he speak with a particular shop worker who could give him the best deal. Martin took her advice and ended up getting an incredible bargain. At the time, he didn’t have specific recipients of the hearts in mind, trusting that God would guide him to the right people when the time came. 

Besides small encounters and passing conversations, their connection didn’t blossom right away. As Martin explained, "The reason we never took time to talk was because we were both on an amazing faith journey in the most sacred place to do so. We focused on Jesus' life, not our own." It wasn’t until the final day, as they waited at the Tel Aviv Airport for their flight back to the U.S., that something shifted. Martin finally found the courage to sit beside Patricia. "It was easy to talk with her about anything. She was very gracious and generous with that little bit of time together," Martin shared. Their conversation flowed naturally, only interrupted when it was time to board the plane. Martin, unsure whether asking for Patricia’s phone number would be too forward, gave her his business card instead. He laughed, adding, "Yes, I did. And laughing now, she will never let me forget it. I honestly never thought this amazing lady would call." They said their farewells back in Tampa, and Martin left not expecting to hear from Patricia again.

In the weeks that followed, Martin was focused on preparing for Christmas. As part of his annual spiritual practice, he spent time contemplating and writing out what he wanted to give Jesus for His birthday and what gifts he hoped to receive from God to make him a better Catholic. Martin had fully surrendered his future to God. "I wrote out that I was happily in love with the Holy Trinity and our Holy Mother. I added that if it were God's will, I would remain single for the rest of my life to serve according to HIS will. However, this year I added that if it were God’s will that I have an earthly love, it would be up to HIM to choose her because I wasn’t looking," Martin explained. 

A couple of weeks after this spiritual exercise, his phone rang—it was Patricia. "It didn’t initially dawn on me at the time of the call what I had added in this year's spiritual exercise about God choosing someone to be in my life." It became clear that God had answered his prayer in a way Martin never expected.Their connection, which had started with polite greetings and brief interactions during the pilgrimage, truly blossomed after that call. Remember those little olive wood hearts? In the end, God knew that Patricia would receive one of those hearts, her daughter another, and the final one would find its place in Martin’s prayer room.

Through their shared faith and the thoughtful guidance of Deacon Matt, who supported them on their path toward Holy Matrimony, Martin and Patricia’s relationship deepened in meaningful ways. Both felt that their meeting wasn’t just a coincidence but part of a larger, divinely orchestrated plan to bring them together.

Love & God's Plan

For both Leanne and Chip, and Martin and Patricia, their paths to love were not traditional, but they were undeniably guided by faith. Through shared spiritual journeys and the deep connection they found in the Holy Land, these couples have witnessed how God’s hand shapes the course of our lives. The Holy Land, a place of sacred history, became not only the backdrop for their spiritual growth but also the foundation for lifelong love.

Their stories remind us that sometimes, in the most unexpected places, God brings together those who are meant to be. Just as these couples discovered, faith and love often walk hand in hand.