Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I cordially invite you to join me on a once in a lifetime pilgrimage to beautiful and historic Italy! I do say “pilgrimage”, and not vacation, because we are taking a spiritual journey to the heart of Catholicism. One of the goals of any pilgrimage is a deepening of faith. Visiting a country like Italy, where the Catholic faith has been present and vibrant for so many centuries, will surely help any Catholic to better appreciate the faith that has been handed down to them.

Pilgrims will be able to attend daily the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, in a variety of the different churches we plan to visit in Milan, Florence, and of course the Eternal City, Rome! We will be able to walk inside the underground Catacombs of St. Callixtus where Christians prayed at Mass during the Roman persecution of the early Church. We will pray in the four major basilicas of Rome: St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Peter’s in the Vatican. We will even view the outdoor papal procession that occurs on Ash Wednesday!

Why is this pilgrimage something you should prayerfully consider? Pope Francis invites all to be a Pilgrim of Hope in the Jubilee Year of 2025, and a plenary indulgence is attached. We also live in challenging times, and a pilgrimage like this can restore the hope and trust that our Lord desires for all of us. I hope that you will join me for this spiritually uplifting pilgrimage!

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Sean Timmerman

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