From Delays to Grace: Our Italy Pilgrimage Journey

Our pilgrims pose in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City.

At the end of March, 42 parishioners set out on a long-awaited pilgrimage to Italy with Deacon Felix. It was a journey meant to deepen faith, walk in the footsteps of the Saints, and encounter Christ in a profound way.

The pilgrimage did not begin easily.

Travel delays, long TSA lines, and unexpected weather rerouted and split the group across many flights, unfortunately causing them to miss their first few planned days. It was not the start anyone had envisioned. And yet, in hindsight, it became part of the pilgrimage itself: a reminder that surrender is often the first step toward grace.

Once in Italy, the group began to settle into the rhythm of pilgrimage. They visited Bergamo, the birthplace of Pope St. John XXIII, and traveled to Deacon Felix’s hometown of Pradalunga, where the pilgrimage took on a personal dimension.

From there, they journeyed to Padua, home of St. Anthony of Padua, and continued on to Florence, surrounded by beauty that has inspired faith for centuries.

In Assisi, the pilgrims were present on the final day that the relics of St. Francis of Assisi were on public display, marking the 800th anniversary of his death. It was a rare and powerful moment that few pilgrims ever witness.

Pilgrims outside of the Shrine of Padre Pio.

Their journey continued to Loreto, where they visited the Shrine of the Holy House and honored Our Lady of Loreto. In Lanciano, they encountered the longstanding Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano, preserved and venerated for over twelve centuries—a tangible reminder of Christ’s real presence in the Eucharist.

The pilgrimage then brought them to San Giovanni Rotondo, where they walked in the footsteps of Padre Pio, a modern Saint whose life continues to inspire devotion and trust in God.

Finally, the group arrived in Rome, where they were joined by Fr. Garland. Together, they attended a Papal Audience in Vatican City and experienced the richness of the Church in its heart. One especially meaningful moment was celebrating Mass in the catacombs, where early Christians once worshipped in secret.

Despite a difficult beginning and a challenging journey home, every pilgrim returned safely.

Fr. Garland celebrates Mass in the catacombs, with Dcn. Felix assisting.

And perhaps that is the heart of it all: this pilgrimage was not perfect, but it was real. It was filled with inconvenience, beauty, history, prayer, grace, and new and life-long friendships. In the end, it became what every true pilgrimage is meant to be: not just a trip to holy places, but a journey that changes the heart.