Join Kevin Ames on Pilgrimage
Kevin Ames is a parishioner at St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church in Clifton, VA. Raised Protestant, Kevin entered the Catholic Church nine years ago. In 2015, he traveled to the Holy Land with his older sons—a life-changing experience that stirred a deep desire to return, this time with his younger children.
Kevin and his wife, Shelle, are the proud parents of six children, two of whom will be joining him on this pilgrimage. He is excited to help lead this journey and to share the wonder and grace of walking where Jesus walked with fellow members of his parish family.
Reflecting the words of the angel at the empty tomb, “Come and see the place where He lay” (Matthew 28:6), Kevin invites you to experience the living reality of the Resurrection and encounter Christ in the land where our faith began.
Our Spiritual Director: Fr. Joseph Townsend
Father Joseph Townsend, parochial vicar at St. Andrew’s in Clifton, is a joyful and prayerful priest whose vocation was nurtured in the heart of his large, home-schooled family in Front Royal, Virginia. As the eldest of nine children, his early experiences helping educate his siblings fostered a deep sense of service and community that now shapes his priesthood. A graduate of Christendom College, he discerned his call to the seminary while working for Geico and spending time in Eucharistic adoration. His formation included studies at the Pontifical College Josephinum and the North American College in Rome, where proximity to the saints and the vibrancy of Catholic history deepened his love for the Church. Known for his approachability and sense of humor, Father Townsend strives to help others build a real relationship with Jesus through prayer. A fan of hiking, basketball, and all kinds of coffee—Italian or otherwise—he says, “Coffee is like grace — there can’t really be too much or the wrong kind.”
Upcoming Pilgrimage Trips
