University of Mary High School Rome Pilgrimage

Somehow, we've already reached the last day of our pilgrimage. What an incredible day it has been!

We woke up bright and early to secure our seats for the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul Mass. Thanks to that early start, all 180 of us were able to celebrate Mass with the Successor of St. Peter, Pope Leo XIV. It was an incredible honor and the perfect way to spend our final day together. North Dakota was well represented throughout the celebration. Our entire pilgrimage was in attendance, four priests and one North Dakota-born bishop concelebrated the Mass, and UMary's own Maggie Popp had the honor of proclaiming the first reading. Tickets for this Mass are incredibly difficult to obtain, so we are especially grateful that every student had the opportunity to experience such an extraordinary celebration.

This evening, we'll gather one last time for a banquet dinner, where each chaplain will have the opportunity to share a few final words with the students. We’ll see you all soon!

Today was our last day out of Rome. We ventured through the medieval city of Orvieto. This is the location of a beautiful Basilica that houses another Eucharistic miracle! The students first had the facade explained to them. I was impressed by their ability to pick out nearly every image from our faith. Then, we had Mass, prayed near the Eucharistic miracle, and toured the beautiful Signorelli chapel.

Our students have had a really good experience over the past few days. Through the conversations, it is clear that the Holy Spirit is working on their hearts. Many students have talked to the chaplains or chaperones about the impact of what they’ve learned and how this impacts the way they want to live their lives. Please continue to pray for us as we have one last big day in Rome, and the return home!

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The graces continue to pour out on this pilgrimage. Today we departed Assisi and traveled to Siena to visit our dear friend, St. Catherine of Siena. Our first stop was the Church of San Domenico, where we prayed for St. Catherine's intercession and venerated two of her relics: her head and the thumb that famously pointed the Pope back to Rome.

After lunch, we visited the Basilica of St. Francis in Siena, a highlight of every pilgrimage. The Franciscan friars there graciously welcomed us to celebrate Mass and gave us the extraordinary privilege of venerating the 300-year-old Eucharistic miracle preserved in the basilica. This is an experience that very few pilgrims are blessed to have.

Each of your sons and daughters had the opportunity to spend time in prayer before our Lord truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. What an incredible gift! Our Heavenly Father has been abundantly generous to us throughout this pilgrimage, and today was another beautiful reminder of His love and faithfulness.

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Today was one of my favorite days of the pilgrimage. We began by visiting the tomb of Carlo Acutis, where the students learned more about his life and witness before spending time in prayer at his final resting place.

Next, we traveled to the Basilica of St. Francis. There, we celebrated Mass, toured the basilica, and spent time praying at the tomb of St. Francis.

Afterward, we visited the hermitage where St. Francis and his followers would retreat for prayer. The students had the opportunity to pray in the caves where they once sought silence and communion with God.

We ended the day by visiting the San Damiano Crucifix and praying at the tomb of St. Clare.

What a grace-filled day, surrounded by the lives and witness of so many saints!

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This morning was a beautiful way to spend our final hours in Rome before departing for Assisi. Our first stop was the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem, where students had the opportunity to pray near several relics of Christ’s Passion. We then visited the Scala Sancta, where students ascended the Holy Stairs. These stairs are the very steps Jesus climbed before receiving His judgment from Pontius Pilate!

Finally, we toured the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran, the cathedral of Rome, and the seat of the Bishop of Rome (the Pope!). This Cathedral is the mother and head of the Universal Church. It was here, at the Chair of Peter, that we had the privilege of celebrating Mass today!

Our students are really having an amazing experience. But don’t take it from me! Here is a quote from Saint Mary’s own, Emilia Garcia.

I’ve realized that Bismarck is a very small town compared to Rome, and I have experienced the universality of the Church in a completely new way during this pilgrimage. Today, as I climbed the Holy Stairs, I was struck by the realization that I matter—that Jesus ascended those stairs and ultimately gave His life for me personally.

At the same time, I realized that I have a role to play in the Church today: to share the Gospel and help pass on our faith to future generations.

Emilia and some of her friends are pictured below in the basilica of St. John Lateran.

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After our time with Pope Leo, we enjoyed lunch before setting out on our Centro Storico tour. Along the way, students discovered many of Rome’s hidden gems and visited some of the city’s most iconic sites, including the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, Piazza Venezia, Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Basilica dei Santi Dodici Apostoli, and Castel Sant'Angelo.

We concluded the afternoon with Mass at Church of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Be sure to check out the photo of the students walking past Castel Sant’Angelo—now that’s a big pilgrimage!

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Today, the photos capture our morning better than words ever could. We woke up very early and left campus around 5:45 a.m. to be among the first in line to enter St. Peter’s Square for the Papal Audience. It was well worth it. Most of our students were able to stand along a barricade just a few feet from the Holy Father. Just look at their faces!

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You never quite know who you’re going to meet in Rome! This evening we had a surprised visitor for Mass: Bishop Austin Vetter! He just happened to be traveling through Rome and asked if he could join us for Mass at the North American College, where he formed many of our seminarians. Bishop Vetter is the first Bishop from the state of North Dakota, and he spoke beautifully to our students about not being afraid to do what the Lord asks of them. Below is a picture of Bishop Vetter and his grandnephew, Ethan Miller.

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Today, we went back to the Vatican. The students who went to the Scavi yesterday, went to the Vatican Museums today, and vice versa. Today, we also had our penance service at the North American College. All of our priests, and several priests from Rome heard the confession of any student who wanted to go. In addition to having their sins forgiven, this also helps students to complete one of the necessary steps in receiving the plenary indulgence that is associated with visiting the four major basilicas in Rome. A beautiful tradition of pilgrimage! After confession, students were able to see the greatest view in all of Rome, from the rooftop of the North American College. Below are some amazing photos from the day!

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This afternoon, we visited the third of Rome’s four major basilicas: Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. It was a particularly memorable stop for several reasons.

We were honored to receive a tour from Cardinal James Harvey, a classmate of Bishop David Kagan and the Archpriest of the basilica. Cardinal Harvey has participated in the last two papal conclaves and also worked closely with Pope John Paul II.

During our visit, the students had the opportunity to pray at the tomb of Saint Paul the Apostle and learn more about his remarkable life and ministry.

To make the day even more special, we were joined by the godfather of the Rome pilgrimage himself, Jerome Richter!

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At this point in the trip, every day feels like a highlight but today may have been the most memorable of all. Half of the students visited the Sistine Chapel—an incredible experience in its own right—while the other half took part in the Scavi Tour. There, students had the extraordinary opportunity to see the bones of St. Peter.

Yes, you read that correctly. The very man whom Jesus named the rock of the Church—the reason pilgrims have come to Rome for centuries, and the reason St. Peter’s Basilica stands where it does—is the man we were able to encounter in a profound way today. It was a truly unforgettable experience, one that very few pilgrims get to experience. Tomorrow morning, the students who went on the Scavi will go to the Vatican Museums, and vice versa. Praise be to God for the witness of St. Peter, our first Pope.

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This morning, we began with a trip outside of Rome to the coastal town of Nettuno. It’s here that there is a special bit of American history. This is the location where around 7,800 Americans are buried who gave their life in the effort to liberate Rome during World War II. Many of the men and women buried here died on the nearby beach of Anzio where the Americans landed and eventually broke through on their way to Rome. We heard many stories of bravery and self-sacrifice and saw a handful of individuals from North Dakota as well. To top it all off, we finished our morning with a visit to see St. Maria Goretti, where Fr. Hill talked about St. Maria Goretti’s witness to the power of forgiveness.

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This afternoon, after a nice lunch, we went to our first major Basillica: Saint Mary Major. This church is filled with many little treasures, including the manger that held Jesus himself! Each student had the chance to pray in front of this incredible relic, and then we ended the day with Mass at the church of Santa Pressede. This church is the burial ground of two sisters, Pressede and Pudentiana, who converted to Christianity and devoted their lives to giving early Christian martyrs a proper burial after being executed for their faith. The Sacristan at this church made a point to go out of his way to tell us how respectful, prayerful, and attentive our students were in Mass. You should be proud of your children! 

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Somehow, today marks our last day of Rome. It has truly been a tremendous experience of grace throughout the past 11 days. Today, we finished by having Mass at the beautiful basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere and taking a tour around the city of Rome, where we saw many saints. Throughout the pilgrimage, we were able to pray at the resting places of 32 saints or blesseds. This includes 9 popes, 7 apostles, as well as Sts. Francis, Claire, Catherine, Agnes, Monica, Helen, and Carlo Acutis to name a few. We are excited for the students to have the opportunity to process all of the graces of the trip with their family and friends soon!

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It’s hard to believe that our time is quickly coming to an end. Today is our last day outside of Rome; we made our way to the great city of Orvieto. Here we were able to see a magnificent example of a gothic cathedral that is strikingly different from the Baroque and Romanesque churches of Rome. This great basilica also is home to the magnificent San Brizio Chapel. However, it is not just for the architecture and paintings that we go to Orvieto; we primarily go to pray before another Eucharistic miracle that enlivens our faith. How incredible that we were able to spend time praying at not just one, but two Eucharistic miracles during our time on pilgrimage!

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The graces just keep coming on this trip. Today, we left Assisi for Siena and followed the life of St. Catherine. We started at the Basilica of San Domenico, where we saw the skull and finger of St. Catherine, and learned about her love for Jesus and her marriage with Him. We learned how she chose the difficult crown of earthly suffering and sanctity rather than the crown of earthly glory. We also had mass at the Basilica of San Francesco in Siena, where we were not only able to receive our Lord, but also to reverence the amazing Eucharistic miracle that is nearly 300 years old. What a beautiful day! Below are pictures of the basilica of San Francesco, students adoring Jesus in the Eucharist miracle, and the town square in Siena.

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Today was a great highlight of the trip. We began with mass at the Basilica of St. Francis, and then had a tour of the basilica, with time to pray at his tomb. After that, we proceeded to make the hike up the very mountain that St. Francis himself would have hiked to get to his hermitage on the mountain. The Holy Spirit is present in this city, and He works through the lives and witness of Sts. Francis and Clare to move hearts. Let me tell you parents, that hearts are being moved on this trip. Many amazing conversations have been had with the students since coming to Assisi. Praise God for being so generous to us on this trip!

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All of a sudden, we are starting the last leg of our pilgrimage. After the Papal Audience, we left for Assisi. Pictured is the beautiful Santa Maria Degli Angeli. We began our tour of Assisi with a masterful presentation by Fr. Magnuson on the life of St. Francis and the freedom that he received through his marriage to Lady Poverty. We finished our day with mass and then proceeded to our hotel, where we will be calling our home base for the next 3 days. The students are excited to encounter the peace of this city!

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Today, the students worked hard to get to see our American Pope. We woke up early and left campus at 5:30 am to make sure we got front row seats to see Papa Leo. Today, the pictures speak for themselves! As a bonus, we also got to see Jonathan Roumie, and some of the cast from the Chosen, and show our excitement for their series. Check out this video, featuring Trinity Student, Asher Ellerkamp, you're going to want to watch until the end!

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Today, we took a beautiful break from the business of Rome in the morning to explore some very peaceful locations. The first was the Abbey of Tre Fontane. This is the location where St. Paul was beheaded, and gave his life for the faith. This abbey is run by Benedictines, and St. Benedict was the subject of the highlight of the day. We journeyed East of Rome to find the beautiful city of Subiaco, which houses the cave that St. Benedict himself fled to escape the debauchery of Rome, and where he eventually wrote his rule. We North Dakotans owe a special debt of gratitude to the Benedictine order because it is the Benedictine Sisters who first brought the faith, healthcare, and education to Dakota Territory.

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This day is sure to be remembered by our students. We woke up bright and early and spent the entire day at the Vatican. We first went through the Holy Doors, which means that each and every student has gone through the Holy Doors of each major basilica! What a tremendous opportunity for grace and hope. We also took our entire pilgrimage through the Scavi tour, where we were able to see the bones of the very man on which Christ founded the church: St. Peter! 

Landon Mitchell of Shanley High School had the following to say about his pilgrimage experience so far: “The most impactful part of the trip has been seeing and hearing the numerous stories of the people who have given their lives for Jesus. The lives of the martyrs and saints who have died to hand on the faith have inspired me to live out my Catholic faith more courageously and to strive to live a holy life.”

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This morning, we were able to see some of the best historical sights of Rome. These sights included the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Capitoline Hill, and the Circus Maximus. Students were particularly struck by the sheer size of the Colosseum, and how on earth they could’ve filled it with water for the mock naval battles. It is truly incredible to be able to walk through such a magnificent feat of ancient engineering. We also were able to go pray in the very prison that held Sts. Peter and Paul when they were spreading the Gospel. Dr. Nicholas Emmel provided an excellent reflection on what imprisons us in our modern lives, and how Jesus can set us free. Thanks be to God for our amazing chaperones! 

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Our third day on pilgrimage started with a trip to the smallest nation in the world: the Vatican City. While the Vatican is not even a square mile, the museums...

Today we began our journey through Rome with Jesus Christ himself. We started by seeing the church of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, or the Holy Cross of Jerusalem. In this church alone, we were able to see a nail from the crucifixion, two thorns that pierced Jesus’s head, the inscription that hung above Him on the cross, the finger of the Apostle Thomas that he placed in Christ’s side, wood from the Good Thief’s cross, as well as some of the wood from the cross from which Jesus hung. Students were able to pray in the presence of these relics while our choir sang several beautiful hymns. This morning, we were also able to journey through the catacombs of San Callisto, where our students saw a fraction of the miles of tombs where Christian’s, including several early popes, were buried while under persecution from the Roman Empire. Here are some pictures from the day, including my catacombs group: Shanley High School!

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Day one of the pilgrimage has not disappointed! All the groups have had relatively smooth travel days. However, the final group ended up leaving Bismarck 30 minutes late. This means that we saw our 55-minute layover quickly dwindle to a 25-minute layover. However, there is strength in numbers, and with some coordination with other groups, we were able to get the flight attendants to hold the plane and allow us to all board. Not only have all our students arrived safe and sound in Rome, somehow, by the grace of God, every one of our 158 bags made it to Rome. Grazie Dio! Now we finish our day with Mass, and a big communal meal before we venture into the city tomorrow.

Thank you for your prayers!