In early July, Friars Nick Romeo, John Koziol, Bryan Hajovsky, and Chris Dudek were blessed to accompany nearly 40 young people from across our Franciscan ministries on a pilgrimage through Italy. Participants came from UNC Chapel Hill, Archbishop Curley High School, St. Francis High School, St. Julia Parish (Siler City, NC), and St. Stanislaus Parish (Chicopee, Mass.).
Together, we followed in the footsteps of St. Francis and St. Clare, journeying through Rome, Assisi, Greccio, Florence, Venice, and Padua. At each stop, we celebrated Mass, prayed together, visited sacred places, and deepened our understanding of our Franciscan heritage. Along the way, friendships were formed, faith was strengthened, and the joy of living the Gospel in the spirit of St. Francis and St. Clare was shared by all.
Please keep these young pilgrims in your prayers as they continue to walk with St. Francis in their daily lives. May the seeds planted during this pilgrimage continue to bear fruit, and may God grant many more opportunities for our young people to encounter Christ through the rich traditions of our Franciscan family.
~ Submitted by Fr. Chris Dudek, OFM Conv.
