United in faith: Rome pilgrimage leads to lasting bonds

Surrounded in the Piazza Navona square by

the 80 people who made a pilgrimage with him

to Rome, Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin talks with

Robert Van Note, a member of St. Pius X Parish

in Indianapolis, on June 26. The Piazza Navona

is built on the site of an ancient Roman stadium

from the first century.

(Photo by John Shaughnessy)

The following is a final story submitted by John Shaughnessy, assistant editor of The Criterion. It will be the last post added; this blog will remain up, though, for anyone who wishes to look back over the pallium pilgrimage to Rome.

ROME—On a morning that would distinguish Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin’s connection to Pope Francis and his leadership of the archdiocese, an unexpected sequence of scenes forever defined the archbishop in the hearts of the 80 people who made a pilgrimage to Rome with him.
 
The scenes started shortly before 6:30 on the sun-kissed morning of June 29, the day when Archbishop Tobin would later kneel in front of Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Basilica to receive his pallium—a circular band made from lamb’s wool that symbolizes his role as the shepherd of the archdiocese and his communion with the pope.
 
Yet three hours before that historic moment, Archbishop Tobin stood in front of a bus parked in the middle of a street near one of the hotels where he stayed with his fellow pilgrims, and greeted each of them by name, with a smile and with variations of the words, “I’m happy you’re here to celebrate.”
 
As the bus made the short trip to Vatican City, the archbishop used the public address system microphone to tell a joke before turning serious as he led prayers “for the churches of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, especially the Batesville Deanery” where a series of closings and mergers of parishes were announced recently.
 
Just before the bus parked in a compact area between St. Peter’s Basilica and the residence that Pope Francis calls home, the archbishop told the pilgrims, “I hope everyone has a wonderful celebration this morning.” Stepping from the bus, he posed for picture after picture with pilgrims, old friends and family members until he finally had to enter St. Peter’s 30 minutes later.

Read the rest of the story here

Order Photos from the Pilgrimage

You can now order reprints of the photos you've seen on this blog, as well as photos that were taken by a professional in Rome (a group photo as well as photos from one of the dinners):
  

• Order photos taken by John Shaughnessy for this blog
• Order photos taken by a professional photographer in Rome

Pricing for our photo reprints are as follow and include shipping/handling:

• 4" x 6"
  • $4 for first print
  • $2 each additional print
• 5" x 7"
  • $5 for first print
  • $3 each additional print
• 8.5" x 11"
  • $8 for first print
  • $5 each additional print
• 13" x 19"
  • $20 for first print
  • $12 each additional print

   

United in Faith: Criterion Photo Spread

Click on the image below, taken from our July 12 print edition, to see a larger version:

  

  

The Pallium Journey: A Marian Perspective

The following was written by Daniel Conway, senior vice president at Marian University in Indianapolis:
 

On June 28-July 1, 15 pilgrims from Marian University in Indianapolis joined more than 80 pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Indianapolis in Rome at St. Peter’s Basilica, the Pontifical North American College, and the Church of St. Alphonsus Liguori—the official church of the Redemptorist order in Rome and Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin’s home for 18 years.
 
On June 30, the Marian pilgrims also attended Mass in Assisi at the Basilica of St. Francis to pray for the university community, for the Sisters of St. Francis in Oldenburg, Ind.—who founded Marian University—and for the Church in Indiana.
 
Representing Marian University were our chairman of the board of trustees, Bill Eckman, and his wife, Teesa; chairman emeritus, Jack Snyder, and his wife, Jennifer; Greg and Sarah Hempstead; Joe and Jan Clayton, and five members of their family; and me (I currently serve as senior vice president at Marian) and my wife, Sharon.
 
The Marian pilgrims shared many inspiring and joyful experiences, and they often expressed among themselves—and to others—how proud they were to represent Marian University as Archbishop Tobin received the pallium from Pope Francis. It was truly a historic moment for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and for Marian University.
 
As frequently happens with pilgrims, we got to know each other well. Traveling nearly 5,000 miles from Indiana to Rome in close quarters reveals aspects of personality that are not apparent in briefer, more occasional contacts.

 
Read the rest of this reflection
 

A Photo of the Man Responsible for this Blog

In case anyone wondered, another pilgrim captured a photo of John Shaughnessy, assistant editor of The Criterion, while in action on the pallium pilgrimage (you can see him below in the green hat).
  
It was John who not only took photos each day on the pilgrimage, but who also interviewed local Catholics on the trip and put together the daily updates (which were really like mini-news stories).

Our thanks--many thanks--to John for all his hard work and dedication on the trip!

 

Photo Gallery from our Associate Publisher

Greg Otolski, associate publisher of The Criterion, has submitted his photos from the pallium pilgrimage. They can be viewed by clicking on the image below:

 

More Pallium Coverage This Week

John Shaughnessy, assistant editor at The Criterion, is working on follow-up coverage concerning the pallium pilgrimage to Rome. The story will focus on the events and places toured outside of the day of the Pallium Mass.
 
When the story is published later this week it will also be posted here. Stay tuned!
  

Pilgrims reflect on tears, cheers at ‘life-changing’ pallium Mass

By John Shaughnessy
  
VATICAN CITY—Three days after her 22nd birthday, Marianne Holland received a special gift from Pope Francis.
  
After the pallium Mass on June 29 in St. Peter’s Basilica, Marianne began videotaping the procession as the pope and the 34 archbishops who had earlier received their palliums walked along the middle aisle of the church.
  
Standing with her brother, Joe, near the end of their row of chairs, Marianne couldn’t believe what happened as the pope neared her.
  
“When he was walking out, he looked right at me and gave me the sign of the cross,” said Marianne, her excitement radiating in her eyes and her smile. “I could be biased. He could have been looking at the crowd. I just felt very blessed.”

The member of St. Simon the Apostle Parish in Indianapolis paused, smiled brilliantly again and added, “It was the coolest experience of my life.”
  
The experience of Marianne—who was also with her parents, Michael and Dolores Holland—reflected the emotional reactions shared by many of the 80 pilgrims from the archdiocese who made a pilgrimage to Italy with Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin from June 25 to July 2.
  
Click on the link below to read about reactions from other pilgrims about the pallium Mass where Archbishop Tobin received his pallium—symbolizing his leadership of the archdiocese—from Pope Francis.

Read the rest of the story here
   

'Fixed on Christ': Criterion Photo Spread

Click on the image below, taken from our July 5 print edition, to see a larger version:

    

 

Updates to Day Six

Our pilgrims have safely returned to the United States and John Shaughnessy, assistant editor of The Criterion, has been able to send along the full update he prepared for the final day of the pilgrimage.
 
Take the time to read the update here, and look for more updates on this blog on Wednesday, July 3rd.
  

Coming to Criterion Subscribers Soon...

Just sent to the printer this afternoon; in the mail to subscribers tomorrow:

  

 

Pilgrims Flying Home

Today marks the final day of the archdiocesan pallium pilgrimage. Right now, the Catholics from the archdiocese who traveled to Rome with Archbishop Tobin are flying back to the U.S. and will arrive in the late afternoon.
 
There is no prayer intention for the day other than for safe travel.
 
Stay tuned to this blog over the next day or two to get links to our official Criterion news coverage of the pilgrimage and also to see any additional updates that may be filed by our assistant editor John Shaughnessy.
  

Day Six Photos and Update

From John Shaughnessy, assistant editor of our weekly newspaper, The Criterion:
 
It was a day of “returning to roots” at the end of a pilgrimage that took Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin and 80 pilgrims from the Archdiocese back to the deep roots of their Catholic faith.
 
For Archbishop Tobin, the first stop on the bus journey on July 1 was a personally poignant one, returning him to the place that he called home for the longest extension of his life—18 years. In 1991, he left the United States to come to Rome as a leader of his order—the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, commonly known as the Redemptorists.
 
Twenty-two years later, he was back in the Church of St. Alphonsus Liguori—the founder of the order—celebrating the farewell Mass of the pilgrimage for the pilgrims from his new home, the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
 
In the church that is also a shrine to Our Lady of Perpetual Hope, the archbishop’s homily focused on the true hope and homecoming awaiting all people of faith. He talked about the power of evangelization, stating “the connection is in the hands of Mary” who leads people to her son, “the Savior of the world.”
 
“As we gather for the last time on this pilgrimage, let us ask Mary to help us to appreciate more the gift we have in Jesus … and to make us disciples of Jesus to bring this message to people in central and southern Indiana.”
 
Showing emotions at times during the Mass, the archbishop led a tour of the peaceful, beautiful gardens of the community where he used to live. He shook hands with and called out to old friends while he also posed for photos and shared memories with the pilgrims of the archdiocese.
 

Later on the bus journey, two Benedictine sisters on the pilgrimage displayed their emotions during a visit to the mountain community of Subiaco, the site of St. Benedict’s Abbey. Although they were a world away from their home at Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Beech Grove, Sister Juliann Babcock and Sister Rebecca Fitterer experienced a homecoming of the heart and the soul at the abbey.
 
“This is one of the main highlights of the whole trip for me,” said Sister Juliann, as she stood near an image of St. Benedict. “This is like coming home. This is the family’s roots. To stand where Benedict stood and to be able to pray for our community is a very holy thing for me. It’s very sacred space. I told all of the sisters I would be praying for them. ”
 
Sister Rebecca rejoiced in the spiritual homecoming, too.
 
“We started this pilgrimage with the archbishop talking about connections,” Sister Rebecca said. “For me, this is a very emotional connection with our roots.”
 
The connection between parents and children was also a part of the pilgrimage as Dolores and Michael Holland shared the journey with their daughter, Marianne, and their son, Joe. Their daughter, Dolores, who wasn’t able to make the trip because of work, was also in their thoughts as the pilgrimage traveled to places at the heart of the Catholic faith—to the Catacombs San Sebastian where early Christians were buried, to a chapel for Mass near the tomb of St. Peter in St. Peter’s Basilica, and to the hometown of St. Catherine of Siena, who always put her faith first.
Dolores Holland followed that path, too, in scheduling the pilgrimage for her family.
 
“I originally meant for this to be a healing trip,” said Dolores about a health concern in her family. “Now, it’s a thanksgiving trip.
 
“After all we’ve been through, it’s been good to be with holy people at holy places. We have been surrounded by goodness. It’s going to be life-changing for my kids, too. I’ve been lifted up by everybody’s spirit and faith.”
 
On a day of “returning to roots,” the pilgrimage offered even more stunning views of how deep the connections can grow when Catholics live their faith.
   
See a photo gallery from Day Six of the pilgrimage
  
See a group photo here
 

Group Photo from the Pilgrimage

Click on the image below to see a much larger version:

  

  

More from Pope Francis' Pallium Mass Homily

Via the Vatican Information Service:
 

 In his homily, Pope Francis spoke of the meaning of the verb “to confirm” in the context of the Petrine ministry, in response to the question, “What has the Bishop of Rome been called to confirm?”.

“First, to confirm in faith”, he said. “The Gospel speaks of the confession of Peter: 'You are Christ, the Son of the living God', a confession which does not come from him but from our Father in heaven. Because of this confession, Jesus replies: 'You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church'. The role, the ecclesial service of Peter, is founded upon his confession of faith in Jesus, the Son of the living God, made possible by a grace granted from on high. In the second part of today’s Gospel we see the peril of thinking in worldly terms. When Jesus speaks of his death and resurrection, of the path of God which does not correspond to the human path of power, flesh and blood re-emerge in Peter: 'He took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him ... This must never happen to you'. Jesus’ response is harsh: 'Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me'. Whenever we let our thoughts, our feelings or the logic of human power prevail, and we do not let ourselves be taught and guided by faith, by God, we become stumbling blocks. Faith in Christ is the light of our life as Christians and as ministers in the Church!”

“To confirm in love” is the second answer. “In the second reading we heard the moving words of Saint Paul: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith'”, continued the Holy Father. “But what is this fight? It is not one of those fights fought with human weapons which sadly continue to cause bloodshed throughout the world; rather, it is the fight of martyrdom. Saint Paul has but one weapon: the message of Christ and the gift of his entire life for Christ and for others. It is precisely this readiness to lay himself open, personally, to be consumed for the sake of the Gospel, to make himself all things to all people, unstintingly, that gives him credibility and builds up the Church. The Bishop of Rome is called himself to live and to confirm his brothers and sisters in this love for Christ and for all others, without distinction, limits or barriers. And not only the Bishop of Rome: each of you, new archbishops and bishops, have the same task: to let yourselves be consumed by the Gospel, to become all things to everyone. It is your task to hold nothing back, to go outside of yourselves in the service of the faithful and holy people of God”.

 
Read the rest of the extended quotes here
 

Day Six -- Itinerary and Prayer Intention

Today's Itinerary: pilgrims will celebrate Mass in Rome at the Church of St. Alphonsus Liguori, the founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, more commonly known as the Redemptorists. This is the order which Archbishop Tobin joined in 1972 and served as the superior general for from 1997 to 2009. A day trip to the town of Subiaco will follow. Not far from Rome, Subiaco is where St. Benedict, considered the founding father of western monasticism, first lived as a hermit and later established his first monastery. A visit to St. Scholastica Abbey and the sacred grotto Sacro Speco in St. Benedict Abbey are included in the day trip.
 
Today's Prayer Intention: For the priests, deacons and religious of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.