Pilgrimage to Rome inspires parishioners of Ida Grove, Holstein

By JULIE KEANE, Globe staff reporter
September 23, 2004

IDA GROVE/HOLSTEIN - Twenty-four parishioners from Sacred Heart in Ida Grove and Our Lady of Good Counsel in Holstein can now say they have seen the Holy Father, viewed amazing pieces of art and celebrated the Eucharist in many basilicas in Rome.

Father David Hemann and a group of parishioners from his cluster took a pilgrimage to Rome for nine days this summer. Father David said the idea to take this pilgrimage developed when he was in Rome a few years ago.

"I have been to Rome many times," Father David said. "I studied there for four years from 1981-1985. I go back because I get Rome sick. It is such a tremendous experience. I was over there and I said to my friend Msgr. Michael Heras 'you know, it is wonderful to come over here and go to these holy places and pray, but I just feel like I need to share this with my parishioners. I want them to experience this.' It was at this point I decided I wanted to offer a pilgrimage for the parish."

The pilgrimage was open to anyone from the two parishes who wished to go. Twenty-four parishioners went on the pilgrimage. They left on Aug. 31 and returned on Sept. 9. The first two days were spent in Assisi. The group then traveled to Florence and to Rome, where the majority of their time was spent.

"It was definitely a pilgrimage," Father David said. "It wasn't a vacation even though there were fun elements. The meals were great and there were awesome things to see, but on a vacation you go more to rest. In a pilgrimage you go to a holy place to discover something about yourself and your own faith life."

The group took part in many novenas, rosaries, and various litanies and prayers. Father David said one of the highlights for everyone was having Mass at very holy places, along with seeing all of the art representing Jesus' life and kingdom.

"The first day we had Mass in Assisi," Father David said. "The theme of the pilgrimage was pointing to Jesus. All the beautiful paintings, building and frescos were all made to communicate faith, hope and love. They were built of testimonies of faith and point to the reality of Jesus Christ and his kingdom."

The group also visited many basilicas. They connected with the four major basilicas in Rome - St. Mary Major, St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. Peter's and St. John Lateran.

Michael Stover, pastoral minister for Sacred Heart and Our Lady of Good Counsel, said it was at these basilicas where he was able to reflect and mediate over the life of Jesus.

"All of the different basilicas we visited had the beautiful frescos and mosaics that tell the story we are so used to reading," Stover said. "Being in the presence of those made me understand more. The people of those centuries could not read so they had these painting to tell the story we read. I wish we had more time to meditate on those because that is how others learned about Christ. They could go into these basilicas and learn the stories."

During the pilgrimage, he had planned to surprise his wife by asking her to renew their vows. At St. Peter's, where the group had not orginally planned to celebrate Mass, the couple shared the renewing of their marriage vows.

"It was a complete surprise to my wife," Stover said. "We will be married 32 years in October. We did not have a scheduled Mass, but Father found out it was possible to get a Mass in St. Peter's. Before leaving I wrote out a speech asking her to renew our vows. We were honored to renew our vows in St. Peter's."

Father David said each person who took part in the pilgrimage would always remember seeing the Holy Father in Rome. They had the chance to have a Wednesday audience with the Holy Father in Paul the Sixth Audience Hall. It holds about 6,000 people and the group was 34 rows back.

"One word that describes the pilgrimage is full - it was full of food, full of churches and a full of fun," Father David said. "It was just a good time. I think it really united the cluster because there were people from Ida Grove and Holstein. I hope they can bring some of that fire back to the parishes."

Father David will also be planning another pilgrimage to Rome in 2007. He said the pilgrimage will be open to anyone wishing to go in the diocese.