Father Tom Gibbons, CSP, leads the reconcilation service that was one of the opening features of the pilgrimage. The service took place in the Paulist-served Church of Santa Susanna in Rome. ENLARGE PHOTO | ENTER SLIDESHOW

Twenty-four Paulist pilgrims walked in the footsteps of Paulist Founder, Servant of God Father Isaac T. Hecker, in Rome during the 2013 Paulist pilgrimage to Rome. The pilgrims came from across America to partake in the April 20-27 spiritual journey led by Father Larry Rice, CSP, Father Paul Robichaud, CSP, and Father Tom Gibbons, CSP.

The annual Paulist has become an annual tradition of faith and community building, according to Father Larry Rice, CSP, pilgrimage chaplain and first consultor of the Paulist Fathers.

“Each pilgrimage allows us to share the legacy and mission of the Paulists in a unique way,” he said. “And along the way – even though we may not have known one another at the beginning of the journey – we come to form a small community of faith bound by our shared experiences.”

The group’s spiritual journey began on the evening of April 20 with an introduction to pilgrimage and reconciliation service. The pilgrims were then had the chance to get to know one another over an Italian feast. The next day, the pilgrims joined the Santa Susanna community for Sunday Mass, took a tour of the centuries-old church and enjoyed Paulist hospitality during lunch at the Paulist residence.

Fannie Shelton received Holy Communion from Father Tom Gibbons during Mass at the Basilica of St. Mary Major. ENLARGE PHOTO | ENTER SLIDESHOW

Monday was true walk in the footsteps of Father Hecker as the pilgrims celebrated Mass at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in the very chapel where Father Hecker went to pray after being released from the Redemptorists. The group received a warm greeting as they toured the Redemptorist general headquarters, where Father Hecker stayed for a few days while pleading his case to the order’s superior. The pilgrims then toured the museum of the Office of the Propagation of the Faith, headed by Cardinal Alessandro Barnabo during Father Hecker’s time. The cardinal was a mentor to Father Hecker and helped to pave the way for the founding of the Paulists. He was also cardinal-priest of Santa Susanna. The pilgrims went on to visit the North American College, where Hecker stayed during one of his trips to Rome.

Pilgrim Ed Meninger, whose brother-in-law was deceased Paulist Michael Hunt, said walking in Father Hecker’s footsteps only deepened his knowledge and appreciation of the Pauist spirit and ministry.

“We really got some insight as to who Father Hecker was and his vision for the Paulists,” said Mr. Meninger.

The next day, the pilgrims were on the road early to visit Tre Fontane, the site of St. Paul’s execution. After a group prayer service, this peaceful, tree-lined oasis in the city provided the perfect opportunity for the pilgrims to reflect and pray on their own. Then it was on to the Basilica of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, once the world’s largest church built over St. Paul’s burial site. After celebrating Mass in one of the basilica’s chapels, the group processed down into the confessio by St. Peter’s tomb for a prayer service.

Many of the pilgrims considered getting a glimpse of the new Holy Father during Wednesday’s papal audience a pilgrimage highlight. The pilgrims joined the tens of thousands of the faithful who received a blessing from Pope Francis. The pope also blessed the religious articles the pilgrims brought with them.

“I never thought I would be part of something like this,” said Franklin Shelton, who traveled to Rome with his wife, Fannie. “This is the kind of thing that other people tell you about, and you don’t think you will ever have that experience. But here we are with all of these people coming from around the world for the same reason and standing in the presence of the Holy Father.”

The pilgrims were free the next day to explore more of Rome on their own or take a day trip outside of Rome to places like Florence, Assisi and Siena.

On Friday, the pilgrims had an early morning farewell Mass in the Irish Chapel of St. Peter’s Basilica. Some of the pilgrims then toured the Scavi excavations underneath the basilica where St. Peter is buried.

Having a quick moment to pray in front of the burial site of St. Peter was the pinnacle moment of the pilgrimage for Shirley Zeitter, a parishioner of the Paulist-served Cathedral of St. Andrew in Grand Rapids, Mich.

After lunch many of the pilgrims gathered to tour the Vatican Museum, which includes the Sistine Chapel, where the College of Cardinals recently elected Pope Francis. The group then gathered for a reception at the Paulist residence before enjoying one last meal together in Rome.

“The was a wonderful and memorable journey,” said Father Robichaud, pilgrimage chaplain and postulator for Father Hecker’s cause for canonization. “Be sure to look out for announcements about future pilgrimages here on the Paulist Web site, your parish bulletin and Paulist Today, the Paulist newsletter. We hope you can join us!”