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"We have seen such beautiful countries that it puts you in awe. You realize that only God could create that," remarked Carolyn Koval.

Mrs. Koval has been on almost every trip with what's become known as the "travel committee" at her parish, Holy Trinity in Cohoes.

The first trip, around seven years ago, was to Ireland. Deacon Gerry Matthews, a native of that country who was assigned to Holy Trinity at the time, led the group.

After the success of that trip, travel agent Julie Carrigan, who heads the travel committee, said a parish survey was conducted to see where the strongest interest lay in terms of travel destinations.

Since then, the group, which includes Holy Trinity parishioners and others, has gone to Yosemite National Park and Napa Valley in California; St. Joseph's Oratory in Montreal; Washington, D.C.; New York City and Boston. They've taken Mediterranean, Caribbean and Hawaiian cruises, too.

"Once they had that experience of traveling with other people they knew, it made them more interested in doing it again," said Ms. Carrigan, who books the trips through "Journeys by Julie," the travel agency in which she is a partner.

Susan Keiser and her husband, Leon, parishioners of St. Peter's Armenian Church in Watervliet, frequently travel with the group.

"We feel very, very fortunate to know these people and to be part of the parish community on all the trips," said Mrs. Keiser.

She loves how everyone looks out for one another on their travels: Once, her husband cut his hand and another group member immediately offered bandages he kept in his wallet.

"When I see him, that's what I remember most, and I have a big smile for him," Mrs. Keiser said.

Mrs. Koval also attested to the camaraderie on the trips. She's grateful not to travel alone. Fellow parishioners who had previously been acquaintances have now become friends.

"You get to know people on a different level," Mrs. Koval told The Evangelist. "You see them at church affairs; you do bond. You have a lot of memories together, and I really enjoy it."

Rev. James Ebert, the former pastor at Holy Trinity who recently moved to Mater Christi in Albany, accompanied the group on many past trips. The group attended Masses at their destinations when they could; when this wasn't possible, Father Ebert would find a community room on the cruise ship or elsewhere to celebrate Mass.

"We really enjoyed it when Father James came with us, because we always had communion," Mrs. Keiser said. "Those who travel together, pray together. It's really nice, because you don't miss church."

Father Ebert still joins the group for some trips; he went along on the most recent one to Switzerland, Bavaria and Austria.

Excited to see the Swiss Alps, Mrs. Koval went on that trip as well. She said it is probably her last "big one" for the year, but that "you never know.

"I always enjoy myself," she said. "I'm always happy to go; I'm always happy to come home."[[In-content Ad]]

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