After a lightning-fast, extremely busy Advent Season, a joyous Octave of Christmas, & a tragic New Year’s morning here in New Orleans, we are finally approaching our much-anticipated launch date! When we first started on this endeavor, we chose to align our launch date with a feast-day of significance, not only to the Church in-general, but to our own new profession as purveyors of Pilgrimages: the Feast of the Epiphany. This celebration of the very first pilgrimage following the Birth of Our Lord, wherein the three Magi; also known as the Three Wise Men, or the Three Kings; St. Melchior, St. Caspar, & St. Balthazar, made their pilgrimage to Judah in search of the new-born King of Kings.

According to the Gospel of St. Matthew (2:1-12)[Douay & Rheims]:

(1) When Jesus therefore was born in Bethlehem of Judah, in the days of king Herod, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem. (2) Saying, Where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to adore him. (3) And king Herod hearing this, was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. (4) And assembling together all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where Christ should be born. (5) But they said to him: In Bethlehem of Judah. For so it is written by the prophet: (6) And thou Bethlehem the land of Judah art not the least among the princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come forth the captain that shall rule my people Israel. (7) Then Herod, privately calling the wise men, learned diligently of them the time of the star which appeared to them; (8) And sending them into Bethlehem, said: Go and diligently inquire after the child, and when you have found him, bring me word again, that I also may come to adore him. (9) Who having heard the king, went their way; and behold the star which they had seen in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the child was. (10) And seeing the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. (11) And entering into the house, they found the child with Mary his mother, and falling down they adored him; and opening their treasures, they offered him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (12) And having received an answer in sleep that they should not return to Herod, they went back another way into their country.

The pious travel of these holy men to give homage to Our Lord following his Nativity are imitated by every Christian even into the present-day who takes it upon themself to travel to Holy Sites all around the world to pay homage to & to adore Our Lord, His Bride the Church, & the people & places sanctified by Him. This imitation extends even to those little pilgrimages one makes from the home to the Church for Mass each Sunday.

It is our mission at OUTREMER to offer to each & every person we are able, the authentically Christian experience of making Pilgrimage to the holiest sites all-around the globe, and to give due glory & honor to Our Lord, Jesus Christ in doing so. We look forward enthusiastically to celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany & to officially launch this little enterprise of ours; for our own edification, sustenance, & the satisfaction of all those Pilgrims & travelers we are to serve going-forward.

We appreciate your prayers, & look forward to your future patronage.

Signed,

William Thomer & Hannah Truong