Join me in Greece and Italy next May!

a reflection, a prayer, and a recipe to start your week

Me, in full tourist mode, at the Parthenon last summer

I spent most of my twenties debating whether or not to pursue a life in academia—specifically, whether or not to get a PhD. I won’t bore you with the details of my multi-year thought process (though if you were one of the MANY advisors who supported me along the way: I thank you), I will simply say that at the age of 30 I finally decided that both I and my work would flourish best outside the ivory tower.

While there were many gifts in choosing to lean into the public aspects of my work, the most difficult part of stepping away from the academic career path was my love for undergraduates and my sadness that I would not be able to commit my life to teaching and advising them.

I am a big believer in interdisciplinary and experiential learning. I have an undergraduate degree from a liberal arts college, a masters of liberal arts, and an interdisciplinary theology degree. I benefited from an interdisciplinary, experiential study abroad program as an undergrad, which shaped me and my work in profound ways. And I had the gift of serving as a research and teaching assistant for an interdisciplinary, experiential food studies cohort while at Duke (it was this program that solidified my love of undergrads and my desire to teach them!).

A few years ago, I began reflecting back on those experiences and imagining if it might be possible to create a similar “study abroad” program of my own—not for students, but for adults.

I envisioned a Eucharist pilgrimage across Greece and Italy, teaching about the history of Eucharistic theology in the regions where these debates took place. Baking bread and drinking wine with masters of the craft, questioning how terroir (the flavors born of the soil of a place) might shape not only bread and wine, but theological convictions as well.

As I traveled through both of these countries last summer, the vision took shape even further. My only problem? I had no idea where to begin orchestrating such a trip.

Last fall, as I was emailing with some of my Bake & Pray retreat participants, I noticed a curious email signature on one of them: sensory travel designer. I emailed Katie Archibald-Woodward to inquire about what that meant…and would she be able to help me bring this idea to fruition?

Katie is an ordained minister, a spiritual director, and a travel designer for Life Beyond the Room—an organization committed to designing travel experiences that take visitors away from typical tourist destinations, while supporting local guides and practitioners.

I’m thrilled to share with you all that we have spent the last several months working together designing a Eucharist Pilgrimage that is going to be just magical: staying in a bakery-hotel in Athens, on a wine resort in Tuscany, baking bread with archaeologist Farrell Monaco, and more.

This trip will include a balance of educational excursions, delicious meals, practical workshops, down time for personal exploration (or rest!), as well as daily prayer.

I would love to have you join us May 11-22, 2026!

Whether you are in ministry and looking for a restful, educational experience, you are an adventurous traveler looking for a unique vacation, or a baker hungry for a richer understanding of the history of your vocation, then this trip is perfect for you.

Learn more and request an informational call with Katie today.

While my hope is to repeat this trip again in future years, with the ability to offer both scholarships and continuing education credits, we are not quite there yet…and I cannot yet promise this trip will happen again. So if you are interested and able, now is the time to claim your spot!