Cate with a floral shirt and hat standing in a street in Mexico with yellow houses and flags flying across them.

About Cate and Sacred Wanderings

Sacred Wanderings: The Best in Spiritual and Religious Travel since 2019

Cate wearing pink trousers and a scarf standing in front of the ornate arch of a monastery cloister in Portugal

Hi! I’m Cate Michelle. I founded Sacred Wanderings in 2019 as a platform to highlight the richness of the World’s Spiritual & Religious travel destinations.

Since I began traveling in Europe with my Dad as a child, my favorite memories were always visiting Europe’s grand cathedrals. When I discovered that most travel blogs and travel magazines only briefly touch on religious sites and never go in-depth about their history, fascinating stories, and the art and beauty found within, I decided to start Sacred Wanderings to promote visiting and deeply understanding religious and spiritual sites around the world!

Through in-depth storytelling and photography, Sacred Wanderings has rapidly become one of the premier websites guiding readers interested in adding cultural and religious sites to their travel itineraries and those contemplating taking a pilgrimage.

The Religious Travel Market

Cate in a skirt and purple top in front of a large Cathedral in Carcassonne, France
Visiting Carcassonne, France

The religious travel market is currently estimated to be worth more than 16 billion dollars annually with a projected annual worth of 38 billion dollars annually by 2034. Approximately 1/3 of international tourists report traveling for religious reasons, translating to more than 450 million international trips a year. (Faith-Based Tourism Market Growth Report)

Here at SacredWanderings we have worked with some of the top destinations and brands in travel. Our specialty is helping destinations capitalize on the fast-growing religious travel market by highlighting their religious and spiritual travel resources. As a Millennial writer, I also help destinations market their religious travel assets to a younger generation who are traveling more and seeking more depth and meaning in their travels than any generation before us!

Sacred Wanderings is based in the USA with a primarily US-based market and audience, as well as a European audience. I (Cate) speak and can work with brands in both English and French.

Get to know Cate

In 2012, I was invited to spend my summer at a monastery in Switzerland – and that trip changed my life!

I discovered that traveling to and spending time in monasteries around the world was a powerful tool to deepen my faith. I began to travel more, returning to Switzerland frequently, while also exploring monastic communities, ancient monasteries, cathedrals, and as many temples and sacred sites as I could get to!

The more I traveled, the more I connected with others, expanded my worldview, and deepened my prayer life. 

Cate in front of an Armenian monastery and church, one of the many destinations Sacred Wanderings has highlighted
In front of St Hripsima Church in Armenia – one of my favorite places on earth!

I am a second generation journalist after my Dad, who reported on TV news in Savannah, GA and worked in news throughout Europe during my childhood. From my Dad I learned the value of a unique angle and passionate storytelling.

For my career, I attended Seminary and studied Theology and Ethics and have been a passionate advocate about interreligious ministry and chaplaincy. I am a Board Certified Chaplain here in the US but also work extensively with Chaplains and religious professionals throughout Europe and the world, including Nazareth, Israel.

I also served for three years as pastor to one of the oldest churches in the United States and the oldest Mennonite church in North America. I love sharing about Mennonite and Amish history and culture alongside European and global religious sites!

Cate to the left with empty arches of a ruined church from an earthquake above her
Exploring one of the beautiful ruined churches of Antigua, Guatemala

Today my day job is researching the connection between religion and health. I’m also working on a PhD in Theology at KU Leuven in Europe, which gives me a great excuse to travel through Northern Europe gaining photographs and stories for Sacred Wanderings! I do a variety of non-profit work with various Mennonite groups, as well, including with partners in Guatemala and Central America where I love to explore the beautiful Roman Catholic churches and Mayan sacred sites.

What To Expect on Sacred Wanderings

Cate standing in an ornate old pulpit in Sweden
In a 17th century pulpit in rural Sweden while I was visiting my Godchildren

I believe that making pilgrimages to monasteries, cathedrals, and sacred sites around the world is for everyone.  As a Christian travel writer, I often highlight sites of importance to Christians around the world, including Roman Catholic sites and travel destinations with fascinating Protestant history.

However, I believe strongly that spiritual travel is not limited to Christians or others with a strong religious tradition: no matter what your faith tradition, beliefs or non-beliefs, these sacred places are filled with history, wonder, and beauty. In our hectic lives, we all need a respite from the worry and stress – and I believe adding meaningful spiritual sites to our travels is a wonderful way to do that!

Most of the content on Sacred Wanderings comes directly from my travels. I usually translate what I did into meaningful itinteraries – often geared towards one to two day trips – and featuring churches and monasteries. While most of the photographs on Sacred Wanderings are my own, I did not inheret my Dad’s photojournalism skills and occassionally use stock or friends photos to give you a better idea than I could capture of what you will see and experience!

I’d love for you to join me as I wander and share the best of my travels! It’s my deepest hope to inspire you, to consider monasteries, cathedrals, and sacred sites as essential stops wherever your next trip may take you.

Cate in a floral shirt in front of an Armenian monastery with an angular dome and a bright blue sky.
Visiting one of my absolute favorite countries, filled with monasteries: Armenia

Work with Sacred Wanderings

Sacred Wanderings specializes in highlighting the religious and spiritual assets of a destination. Religious and Spiritual Travellers spend more than $16 Billion dollars annually.

Cate also provides freelance travel journalism related to spirituality, pilgrimages, and meaningful/sustainable travel.

Sacred Wanderings has worked with Amsterdam tourism, MyArmenia, and Visit Trentino, among other brands.

For brand and marketing manager inquiries please contact cate@sacredwanderings.com. Please note: We do not host any paid links or guest posts on Sacred Wanderings.

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