Father John Paul Knopik is looking forward to hosting pilgrims during the Source and Summit Tour planned by the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women when they visit Ave Maria Parish in Wheaton Aug. 1.
The tour is the third in a series of pilgrimages around the diocese the council has hosted as part of the local efforts to observe the National Eucharistic Revival.
“I was overjoyed at hearing the news that our parish had been selected as a stop on the bus tour,” Father Knopik said. “When [I was] entrusted with this assignment almost nine years ago, the parish seemed like a little mini-cathedral out here in the Red River Valley. The parishioners here pride themselves on their faith and their building. It is one of the hidden beauties — the people and the church — out in this direction that most people don’t know about.”
The tour begins at St. Paul Parish in Sauk Centre where a bus will transport pilgrimages to a variety of churches on the western side of the diocese.
“We want to help inform and encourage women on their faith journey in the Catholic Church,” said Jean Zwilling, church commission chair for the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, who is coordinating the tour. “Pilgrimages can be a means to do that and I love sharing the gems of our diocese. It just blows you away, the beautiful churches out there.
“I love the camaraderie of the pilgrims as we come together,” she continued. “We’re all there for the same reason – we want to honor and glorify our Lord and learn more about him. If you open your eyes, you can see the roots of our Catholic faith.”
The first stop on the tour is St. Charles Parish in Herman. Father Jose Chettoor will be the celebrant for the 8 a.m. Mass with a talk to follow.
“I am planning to talk briefly about the history of the parish and explain how the spirituality of the Catholic community in Herman is centered around the celebration of the Eucharist,” he said. “I may also share my vocation story and call on the pilgrims to pray for vocations during their tour.”
The tour continues to Ave Maria — part of the MAAA Area Catholic Community, which also includes the parishes in Browns Valley, Chokio and Morris — where adoration will be available in the church’s chapel.
In 1994, the parish had a Marian adoration chapel built in the northwest corner of the church, Father Knopik said. The décor includes wooden kneelers with blue cushions, a monstrance in the shape of Mary with her arms holding the Eucharist above her head and a wooden icon depicting the Annunciation.
“In my opinion, the prayer setting is true Mariology — Mary bringing us to her son,” he said.
Father Knopik said he also will talk about his experiences praying before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament over the past twenty-plus years and how spending time before the true light, the Son of God can transform people into looking even more beautiful — physically and spiritually — from the inside out.
After a lunch hosted by Ave Maria Parish, the pilgrims will make stops at St. Gall in Tintah and St. Thomas in Kent, both part of the Red River Valley Area Catholic Community. Father Leo Moenkedick will speak at St. Gall and the group will pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet at St. Thomas.
The tour will make its last stop at St. Olaf in Elbow Lake.
“I’m excited about it, especially as the pilgrimage starts and ends in two of the churches in COR Area Catholic Community,” said Father Chettoor. “It is my fond hope that the pilgrims will come to know of the history and faith tradition of the parishes in the west. May the tour help the pilgrims learn how Eucharistic spirituality is nurtured in these small rural parishes.”
Father Knopik said it would take more than a two hour stop to know and experience the beauty of the people and terrain of the Western part of the diocese.
“Living on some of the richest soil in the world does bring a challenge with weather and hard work,” Father Knopik said. “Generally, only the strong survive out here. I think the locals know it and pride themselves on it.”
Following Benediction at St. Olaf, the ride back to Sauk Centre will bring the nearly 12-hour event to a close.
“First and foremost, I hope the pilgrims nurture a closer, deeper relationship with Jesus, and his love for them,” Zwilling said. “Secondly, I hope they experience the deep-rooted richness of our faith. Jesus never left us — he gave us the Eucharist to be with us always.”
The route and schedule:
7 a.m. — St. Paul Church, Sauk Centre. Bus leaves.
8:15 a.m. — St. Charles Church, Herman. Mass, talk and adoration with Father Jose Chettoor.
10:25 a.m. — Ave Maria Church, Wheaton. Talk with Father John Paul Knock, adoration and lunch (free will offering, pre-registration required for lunch.)
1 p.m. — St. Gall Church, Tintah. Rosary, adoration and talk with Father Loe Moenkedick.
3:15 p.m. — St. Thomas Church, Kent. Divine Mercy Chaplet, adoration and talk about the history of the church by Father Moenkedick.
5:15 p.m. —St. Olaf Church, Elbow Lake. Benediction, adoration and talk by Father Chettoor about the history of the church.
If you go:
- All are welcome to join in at any of the stops. Participants may drive themselves or take the 56-passenger coach bus.
- Registration ends July 1. If participants plan to drive but would like lunch, please register so the church has a head count for the meal.
- Call Lora Knafla at 320-393-2701for bus and/or lunch registration.
Graphic by Barbara Simon-Johnson