Stephen K. Ray's Blog, page 2

My brother said the funniest thing I’ve heard in a while

My brother Dave said the funniest thing: “Why is my brother Steve like a car’s emission controls?” “Because he is a catholetic converter!”

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“Pets as Children” – my new article in Catholic Answers Magazine

When the pastor introduced his dog as “my son,” I knew I had to write this article.https://catholicconvert.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/amazon_polly_148638.mp3

 

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Answered Questions about our Christmas Holy Land Pilgrimage

Hello HeatherThanks for your interest! Below, I will answer your questions. First, here is our webpage for this pilgrimage. And here is the brochure .Now to answer your questions: 

I’m interested in going to the Holy Land with a small group and an excellent teacher. I think you have both. I want to deepen my understanding of both the stories of the Bible and the roots of my faith.

There is no way to understand the Bible better than to step inside its pages and walk around. Our pilgrimages are an intense 8 day Bible study in the places where it all happened. With fun and stories I take you on a journey through the lives of the Patriarchs, Prophets, Kings, Apostles, Our Lord and Our Lady.

1. Does Stephen guide the groups himself?

Yes, along with a local Catholic guide who can share much of the local informatin while I teadch the Bible. This pictiure will give you an idea.

2. Will the pilgrimages take us to several sites a day or 1 per day?

We usually cover 3-5 sites in a day, along with daily Mass at the holiest sites. We visit sites with time to explain and teach, pray and explore. We have a very nice pace that we have perfected over the last 20 years and over 100 groups. Refer to the day-by-day itinerary in the brochure or on my website for details.

3. Will we be traveling by foot or bus?

Both. The brand new Mercedes bus takes us to all the sites and then we walk around the sites before taking the bus to the next site. We teach and prepare you while we are on the bus between sites. We also pray on the bus and have a good time.

4. Are the sites out of the way or busy with other pilgrims with a touristy feel?

Usually, the sites are bustling and crowded with long lines. But because of the situation in the Middle East in the last two years, when we go in December-January, there will be NO CROWDS. We will not have lines or any touristy feeling. Get on the bus now while it is still quiet because by next year there will be millions of pilgrims and tourists arriving again.

5. Will an armed guard be escorting us?

No, this is unnecessary. If you have an armed escort, it only draws attention to ourselves. We will be a smaller group and move between the hholy sites with no problem. We have been doing this for 30 years, and our guides and drivers are the best and cautious. I do think that our driver, who is former military and a reservist, carries a weapon, although I have never asked him.

Final Note

We hope you can join us. People always refer to trips as “the trip of a lifetime” — a phrase I never use. However, it will be true on this Christmas trip because for a short window of time, there will be no crowds or lines, and you won’t find that again for a long time.

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A New Perspective on St. Peter: Not a Bumbling Fool but an Astute Businessman and Civic Leader

My show with Teresa Tomeo on a new perspective on Simon Peter. When the name Simon Peter is mentioned, we usually think of his impulsiveness, his shortcomings, verbal outbursts, and especially his denial of Our Lord.

But today we will discover another side to Simon Peter — more than is apparent on the surface — his family and social life, his business life, and the qualities which Jesus saw — qualities that others have often missed.

It’s a good idea to look at Peter’s business and community life before he ever met Jesus.

I present a very different view of this man chosen by Jesus to be the first “CEO” of the most incredible and long-lasting institution ever founded — the Catholic Church.

Below is my article “St. Peter: CEO of the Catholic Church” and an audio YouTube of my conversations with Teresa Tomeo on EWTN Radio.

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Heading back to the Holy Land – Update from a priest who went this year!!

Heading back to the Holy Land. Registrations are coming in

Join us over Christmas break, Dec 28-Jan 8.  No crowds, no lines! The local Christians await us.  

Providentially, I just received today this message from a priest how took a group of 25 to the Holy Land earlier this year. It is as I knew and expected.

“Yes I was there on pilgrimage this past January. A group of about 25 pilgrims. It was an incredible experience.

Had been there about 17 years previous and it was a totally different encounter.

We flew in and out of Amman Jordan, so got to experience the border crossing there, which was norma,l just took a lot of time.
Our guides were incredible.

Was never worried about safety, saw very few soldiers. Actually I realized saw less this trip than did the previous.

We were the only group in all the places so we got to experience some of the things did not previous because there was not the lines or the people. Numerous times had the site to ourselves or a few even myself individually for many minutes without anybody else coming in.

All the workers we encountered were all very grateful as for many we were the first group they saw in 15 months. They were all very gracious and hospitable.

God bless.
Father Harlan Waskowiak

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Heading back to the Holy Land

Heading back to the Holy Land. Registrations are coming in

Join us over Christmas break, Dec 28-Jan 8.  No crowds, no lines! The local Christians await us.  

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Which Bible Translation Should I Use?

I am doing a show

FOR THE WHOLE ARTICLE CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE OR CLICK HERE

 

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If You Missed the Grand Getaway Catholic Conference on Mackinac Island, Here’s a 22 Minute Video You May Enjoy

For 20 years, Corporate Travel Services has been putting on a Catholic conference on Mackinac Island at the Grand Hotel. Here’s a few pictures.

325 folks took part in this wonderful event with speakers including myself, Dr. Edward Sri, Fr. Mike Schmitz, and Fr. Leo Patalinghug. Teresa Tomeo also did her live radio show with the group.

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Pray for a Friend and Pilgrim Dying Today

Pray for a friend Ron Beeckman who is breathing his last today in hospice. He and wife Barbara were on pilgrimage with us in June unaware of Stage 4 lung cancer.

He’s a great man in love with God, the Church and his family. He is prepared to go and we pray for his soul grace for his family.

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Solanus Casey Did A Miracle in Our New Home

We are at Mass today in honor Blessed Solanus Casey, a solemnity only in Detroit and Milwaukee. After we moved into our new home we discovered an old man lived there who had been healed by Solanus Casey as an infant.

His mother gave birth to him in Detroit. They told her her son would not survive. She took the old cable car from the hospital to St Bonaventure monastery.

She asked Fr. Solanus to heal her child. He told her that he was healed. The hospital called the monastery with good news! She rushed back and he was healed. The miracle was verified.

He lived in our new house until over 90 years old.

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