Diocese to sponsor four-day pilgrimage, A Journey of Faith

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
March 4, 2004

The Diocese of Sioux City is sponsoring a four-day pilgrimage, A Journey of Faith, April 13 to 16. The highlight of this bus trip will be viewing the traveling Vatican art exhibit, Saint Peter and the Vatican: The Legacy of the Popes, at the Cincinnati Art Museum in Ohio.

Consisting of almost 400 objects, some of which have never been on public display, this is the largest Vatican collection ever to tour North America. Cincinnati is one of only four North American cities included in the exhibit's tour and it is the only location offered in the Midwest.

According to Steve Elbert, director of the development for the diocese, the Office of Stewardship and Development wanted to organize this trip to offer a little taste of the Vatican closer to home.

"Our office conducted a jubilee pilgrimage back in 2000. We visited different churches in our own diocese," he noted. "The people who participated expressed an interest in traveling to some other sights."

Elbert and Jim Wharton, director of stewardship and planned giving for the diocese, will serve as hosts for the trip. Father Tim Johnson, pastor at St. Mary Church in Remsen, will be the spiritual director of the pilgrimage.

"We will offer prayer time and daily Mass that will accent the spirituality and faith of the places we visit during the four days," said Father Johnson.

The priest pointed out that pilgrimages are good for people as they offer an opportunity to take themselves out of their normal routine to see faith from a different perspective.

"It will enrich what we already have in our own lives and within our own parish communities upon our return," said Father Johnson. "Besides the places that we visit, the community of individuals that we spend time with will also be a sacred place where we encounter Christ and grow in our faith."

The pilgrimage, which is open to people from throughout the Diocese of Sioux City, will depart from Nativity Parish in Sioux City at 7 a.m. on April 13. That evening the group will stay overnight in South Bend, Ind.

On day two, following morning Mass and a tour of the campus of Notre Dame, the bus will depart for Cincinnati.

After morning Mass on day three, the pilgrims will visit the Vatican exhibit.

The Vatican exhibit consists of a collection of relics, art, artifacts and historic documents. As part of Pope John Paul II's legacy as the "people's pope," the Holy Father is touring his private collection together with other Vatican objects dating back 2,000 years.

The pilgrimage will take them to Belleville, Ill. that evening. After morning Mass on day four, they will tour Our Lady of the Snows and then depart for Sioux City. The expected return time is 9:30 p.m.

"The pilgrimage will be fun and offer a chance for some fellowship with people from throughout the diocese," said Elbert. "We are looking forward to a really fine time."

Cost of the pilgrimage is $325 per person which includes transportation, double occupancy lodging on April 13, 14 and 15; and the art exhibit ticket. No meals are included, however, continental breakfast is served at most of the hotels.

Elbert noted that they are hoping to fill one 49-passenger bus on a first-come, first-serve basis.

For more information, log on to www.scdiocese.org or phone (712) 255-7933. Registrations and checks for the full amount must be postmarked no later than March 31. Send registrations to Diocese of Sioux City, PO Box 3379, Sioux City, IA 51102-3379.