Twelve “Catholic-curious” content creators gathered in Baltimore—America’s first archdiocese—to encounter the Catholic Church at its roots.
The group included Protestants, recent converts, and young adults currently journeying through OCIA, many of whom have been openly documenting their exploration of Catholicism on TikTok and Instagram.
Their time in Baltimore was part of a Feed-My-Faith “Meet-and-Seek” pilgrimage led and sponsored by Father Leo Patalinghug, a priest, chef, and founder of Plating Grace, a faith and food movement dedicated to feeding people body, mind, and soul.
As Father Leo watched a growing number of young people share their curiosity about Catholicism online, he felt called to offer something more than digital engagement.
Rather than responding through content and apologetics, he believed these seekers needed an encounter.
He invited 12 pilgrims—intentionally mirroring the 12 apostles—to come to Baltimore and experience the Church through sacred sites, prayer, and fellowship with one another.
Over several days, the group traveled through some of the most historically and spiritually significant Catholic sites in the United States.
They prayed at the Basilica and National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, visited the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, the National Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, St. Mary’s Seminary, and more.
At each site, Father Leo brilliantly shared theological insights that helped bring a deeper understanding of the Church’s teachings and history.
As the pilgrimage unfolded, the Church revealed herself not simply as history, but as a living, breathing Body of Christ.
The pilgrims prayed together, asked questions freely, attended Mass (with Father Leo offering teaching throughout the liturgy), and gathered around the table to share stories and strengthen one another’s faith. Some of those meals were shared at Fr. Leo’s own restaurant, The Gastro Social, in Baltimore’s Little Italy.
Many participants shared their experiences online in real time. One influencer later announced his conversion to the Catholic Church!
Influencer Elliott Moore decided to enter the Catholic Church after the pilgrimage. Here is his testimony:
Kristen, known on Instagram as @asacredfaith, reflected in one video,
“On this pilgrimage, I experienced God’s presence in a way I hadn’t before—not just in sacred places, but in sacred people.” She added, “This experience strengthened my faith and gave me a clearer picture of how God uses each of us for His glory, even when we feel new, unqualified, or unsure.”
Ryan and Micah, known online as @tracingthecross, also attended the pilgrimage. The two recently went viral for praying the Rosary as Protestants.
During the pilgrimage, they shared reflections and vlogs describing the experience of Father Leo’s teaching Mass, their first encounter with a relic—the bones of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton—and an introduction to Catholic Mariology.
The Meet-and-Seek pilgrimage highlights a crucial aspect for the Church in the digital age. Online content can spark interest, but faith is ultimately formed through encounter—through prayer, pilgrimage, and relationships lived in person.
The Catholic tradition offers a depth that is best discovered through embodied experience and shared community.
Through this initiative, Father Leo did more than teach about the Catholic faith—he “plated” it in a way that was “bite-sized” and “digestible” for those new to Her traditions. For these 12 pilgrims, the experience offered a real taste of the beauty and coherence of the one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church.
