A young adult pilgrimage group from Saskatoon has travelled to Italy on a Jubilee Year pilgrimage, led by Sr. Marta Piano of the Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity and Evangelization and Mission Leader John Hickey — who co-cordinate young adult ministry in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon — accompanied by Fr. Bassim Shoni, pastor of Sacred Heart Chaldean Catholic Church in Saskatoon. The pilgrimage from May 19-29 includes visiting sacred sites and holy doors in Vatican City, touring Rome, and also time in Cascia, Assisi, Florence, and Venice.
By Sr. Marta Piano, Pilgrimage Leader
[VATICAN CITY – Saturday, May 24, 2025] – Today was a “free day” for the young adult pilgrims from Saskatoon.
Pilgrimage leader Fr. Bassim Shoni accompanied a group of 13 pilgrims, who chose to go visit Castel Gandolfo, the summer residence of the pope, southeast of Rome, accompanied by Mr. Atheer, the director of AlSakhrah Travel Agency.
Others went to the Vatican Museums. Participant Warren Rego said: “Visiting the Vatican Museums shone a light on how the artisans through their artwork illustrated our Lord’s life through various interpretations that would inspire both Romans and Gentiles alike for future generations to come. It is awe inspiring to know that despite the chaos in this world we can cling to the history of the Catholic Church!”
Another pilgrim, Avalon Schraefel, observed: “For half my life I have been admiring Michelangelo’s work and dreaming beyond a hope that I could see the Sistine chapel and St Peter’s Basilica, never thinking I would be able to. On this pilgrimage, in addition to many other graces, I have experienced God’s bountiful love through his gifts of granting two dreams I never thought would be possible. One of my takeaways from this trip is that he wants to satisfy my deepest desires that he himself has placed on my heart, and that if he can fufill these dreams, then I can put all my trust in him to bring me to the ultimate satisfaction in heaven with himself, along with Michelangelo too. The pilgrimage truly ends there.”
Related: Update from the pilgrims for May 21 – LINK
Related: Update May 22 – LINK
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