As our Jubilee pilgrimage comes to a close, our hearts are full – full of gratitude, full of wonder, and full of grace. We came seeking to walk more closely with Christ. We return enriched, changed, and sent forth as joyful disciples of the Risen Lord.
We began in Vienna – where East meets West, where empires once rose and faded, and where the soul of Europe still breathes through music, culture, and faith. We offered our first Mass on this soil, asking for open hearts and safe travels. The journey had begun.
Then came Poland, land of saints and sorrow, faith and resilience.
Auschwitz broke our hearts. We walked in silence where evil once reigned. And yet – hope still rose. In the ashes, we prayed for peace, for memory, for dignity.
Wieliczka Salt Mine – a marvel of human labor and prayer carved underground. We discovered that even in hidden places, beauty and worship rise to the surface.
Kraków welcomed us with charm and history. In the footsteps of Saint John Paul II, we wandered the squares, touched the stones, and felt the courage of a Church that stood strong.
Łagiewniki and the Divine Mercy Shrine moved us deeply. Before the image of Christ, rays of mercy flowing from His Heart, we surrendered it all. “Jesus, I trust in You” became our daily breath.
Czestochowa, where the Black Madonna held us in her gaze. Strong, silent, powerful – she drew our hearts to Jesus with a Mother’s love.
Warsaw, the capital rising from the ruins of war, reminded us of resilience, hope, and the power of faith to rebuild.
Then to Italy—heart of the Church, cradle of saints.
Rome greeted us with ancient stones and eternal life. In the great Four Basilicas – St. Peter’s, St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. Mary Major, and St. John Lateran – we felt the heartbeat of the universal Church.
During the Wednesday Papal Audience, we stood among thousands in St. Peter’s Square and received the blessing of Pope Leo XIV. It was a moment of communion beyond borders.
We entered the Vatican Museums, stood beneath Michelangelo’s frescoes, and felt beauty preaching truth. St. Peter’s Basilica welcomed us like home.
At the Colosseum and in the ruins of ancient Rome, we remembered the martyrs, those early pilgrims of hope who gave their lives for Christ.
In Assisi, peace entered our bones. The spirit of Francis and Clare whispered through the stones. Simplicity, joy, fraternity – how beautiful the Gospel becomes when lived simply.
In Padua, we met Saint Anthony, friend of the lost. We entrusted to him those we carry in our hearts – the wandering, the seeking, the beloved.
Finally, Venice – a city that floats like prayer on water. Here, we paused, gave thanks, and began the journey home.
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Each city, each Mass, each encounter, carved something eternal in us. We have seen beauty, experienced many graces, walked with saints, and with each other.
We return home grateful, blessed, changed, enriched, prepared, equipped, and ready. This was not just a pilgrimage. It was a call – to be Pilgrims of Hope, messengers of mercy, disciples of joy.
We go forward not to the end, but to the beginning of mission.
Let us walk on—in faith, in joy, in Christ.
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See our full album of photos from the 2025 Jubilee Pilgrimage on our Flickr page https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCiG5y