The Diocese of Sioux Falls will again offer a pilgrimage overseas to a series of places invaluable to the faith.
Bishop Robert J. Carlson will lead a pilgrimage to Greece and Asia Minor from May 2-14 next year.
The pilgrimage called “In the Footsteps of St. Paul will visit many of the places where St. Paul advocated the new Christian faith to the Gentiles.
“This pilgrimage follows earlier successful pilgrimages that Bishop Carlson has done since he’s been here,” said Mark Conzemius of the Catholic Foundation for Eastern South Dakota, which is helping coordinate the pilgrimage effort.
This latest trip was inspired by the diocese’s last pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 2000. “We were following the footsteps of Jesus, then St. Peter, the first pope and now this is in the footsteps of St. Paul,” said Conzemius.
In addition, the pilgrimage will make a stop at Patmos, the island where St. John was exiled and wrote the Book of Revelation. “This tour is going to offer a wide variety in rich experience of our Christina heritage,” Conzemius said. “I believe it is going to very inspiring as well as a beautiful experience.”
“We do as much as we can to encourage pilgrims to be prepared for their trip,” said Conzemius. “We encourage them to pray about it and reflect on it so when they go on this experience, they will be able to get the most out of it.”
The pilgrimage will include the celebration of the Eucharist each day. “Often we will celebrate in the great holy sites that we either know by act or by tradition where certain things happened. Knowing that it brings the celebration of Mass to a whole other level,” Conzemius said.
He added that prospective pilgrims do not need to be biblical scholars to gain value from going on the pilgrimage.
For more information about the pilgrimage to Greece and Asia Minor or to register, call the Catholic Foundation for Eastern South Dakota at 988-3788 or toll-free 1-888-246-3386 or contact Peter’s Way Tours, Inc. at 1-800-225-7662.