Duke student pilgrims, along with staff from the Duke Catholic Center – including Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Michael Martin, OFM Conv. (Director), Sr. Mary Peter Ryan, FSE (Director of Retreats and Pilgrimages), Ms. Catherine Preston (Campus Minister for Faith Development), and Mr. Andrew Witchger (Director of Music) in the cortile of the Basilica Papale e Sacro Convento di San Francesco.

In May 2019, for the first time, our Campus Ministry at the Duke Catholic Center hosted its own Assisi/Rome Pilgrimage for students, thanks in part to a grant from our friars’ Fr. Justin Ministry Fund. Reflecting on Franciscan themes, the six days in Assisi included trips to the Carceri, La Verna and Greccio. The pilgrims then spent four days in Rome.

One student pilgrim noted:  “I went into the pilgrimage praying that God would open my heart to vocational discernment but afraid of what He might ask of me. My prayer was answered in the ten days of pilgrimage and my heart is more open than it has ever been! And while that fear remains, something about walking in the footsteps of Saint Francis and Saint Clare and praying in such sacred places has made me aspire to greater trust, faith, and love.”

Friar Michael expresses gratitute to his confreres of our province for the help in allowing some of the Duke Catholic Center students to witness Christ’s presence through a Franciscan lens. He sends a special thanks to Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Dan Quackenbush, OFM Conv. for an awesome tour and for facilitating some more special moments. (Friar Dan serves as an English speaking pilgrim guide at the Basilica.)