By John Rohlf, The Message assistant editor
Led by Bishop Joseph M. Siegel and Diocesan Director of Vocations Father Tyler Tenbarge, over 30 people took part in a diocesan pilgrimage to Italy.
Including Bishop Siegel and Father Tenbarge, a group of 36 people participated in the diocesan-led pilgrimage to Italy from Sept. 15-26. Bishop Siegel felt the group experienced many blessings during the pilgrimage, especially in the times of prayer at the various churches and shrines, and in particular passing through the Holy Doors at the four patriarchal basilicas in Rome. These shared experiences formed the participants from around the Diocese of Evansville into a community of faith and fellowship, he said.
Bishop Siegel added he was grateful for the opportunity to briefly meet Pope Leo XIV and share with him that our diocese was praying for him and his Petrine ministry as the Vicar of Christ.
Diocesan Chancellor and COO Dean Happe said he and his wife are “eternally grateful for the opportunity” to take part in this pilgrimage. The pilgrimage to Assisi and Rome was truly life-giving, he said.
“Being in those sacred places, being in the Vatican Square near the Holy Father and journeying with a great group of pilgrims from our diocese, including Bishop Siegel, brought a new depth and appreciation for the beauty of our Catholic faith and deepened my faith,” Happe said. “I pray that many Catholic faithful will have an opportunity to one day make a pilgrimage like this.”
Despite previously going on many pilgrimages, including one with the Savio group earlier this year, Father Tenbarge said having Bishop Siegel as part of the pilgrimage provided unique opportunities. Father Tenbarge noted he had never seen a Mass at the tomb of St. Francis of Assisi and they were able to have Mass there during the pilgrimage.
Sarah Vieth said the Mass at the Basilica of St. Francis “was just amazing for me” and set the tone for the rest of the trip. Vieth said visiting the Holy Stairs was another highlight from the trip.
“To have been in the places where the saints were born and lived their lives and performed their miracles, that just was really awe inspiring for me,” she said. “Just to think, oh my gosh, you know they’re real but it just brought home the reality of their lives…”
Kent Maurer decided to participate in the diocesan pilgrimage because of the opportunity to deepen his relationship with Jesus, as well as to experience the rich beauty of the church from St. Francis’ humility and simplicity to the grandeur of the basilicas of Rome.
“Having the opportunity to experience Assisi where St. Francis demonstrated his love of the Lord by stripping himself of all worldly materials to be a beggar for the beggars will hopefully help me to be humble and thankful in (all) that I think, say and do,” he said. “To truly focus on the lives of the saints. To not only venerate them but to imitate them.”
Erin Maurer said after returning from a very faith-filled pilgrimage to France in 2024, they were certain they wanted to do another pilgrimage this year. They were excited to experience spiritual formation and growth in their community. She said her highlights from the trip included going to the Sacrament of Reconciliation at St. Peter’s and enjoying the sublimity of the Basilica di Santa Croce that housed a nail from Jesus’ cross, a thorn from his crown, a piece of his cross and Thomas’ finger that entered Jesus’ pierced side.
Father Tenbarge thinks it was good for the diocese to take a representation of people from many parishes with Bishop Siegel to the Holy Doors in the Jubilee Year together.
“People travel all the time,” Father Tenbarge said. “And people will go from this parish or that group. But to have a representation of our bishop, our people, in the Jubilee Year, there’s something good about our diocese participating in a global event in an official way.”
Like others who attended the pilgrimage, Erin Maurer encouraged others to consider participating in a pilgrimage if given the opportunity. It is transformative when we visit the various holy sites and relive the stories of the apostles and saints from the first few centuries. Our faith becomes concrete and tangible, she said.
“If you want a concrete way to grow your faith, a pilgrimage is a fantastic springboard toward a life of holiness,” she said. “It’s impossible to come home and not see your life through a new lens.”