The 13 students and seven chaperones hit sites such as St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museum, several other larger churches in Rome, the Colosseum, the Spanish Steps, the shores of the Mediterranean, and an American cemetery in Nettuno.

The trip concluded with a Papal Audience, with several of the group having the honor of being able to shake hands with Pope Leo XIV, which was a highlight of the trip for many of the students.

Other activities included daily Masses celebrated in holy places, praying the rosary together each evening in the hotel chapel, walking where saints once walked, encountering relics and even the bodies of saints and popes, taking in the beauty of countless basilicas, ascending the same steps Jesus climbed to meet Pontius Pilate and seeing all of the 2025 Jubilee Year Doors, including passing through the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica.

The trip had been planned for around a year through Proximo Travel, as it had been several years since the last time such a trip had been taken. Monsignor Eugene Lozinski, who helped organize the trip, said planning began last May.

The group gathers in front of St. Peter’s Square in Rome.

“We started talking about it, and immediately some of the students were interested, so we pursued it,” he said.

Daily Mass was celebrated by Msgr. Lozinski and Father Tanner Thooft each day in a different location, and every evening the group gathered to pray the rosary after dinner.

“Words cannot describe how incredible our pilgrimage was,” Cathedral student Theresa Fischer said. “It was surreal to visit so many churches and holy places, to learn about the history of our faith, and experience our modern church in the holy city. It was life-changing to see the impact the Catholic faith has made in our world. God is so good, and I am so grateful to have had this opportunity to deepen my faith in him.”

Rome was the central location for the pilgrimage, with much of the group’s time being spent there.

“Walking through Rome was like taking a walk through history,” Cathedral student Logan Klawitter said. “Every block has some significance in both secular and church history, striking awe in any person that comes across it.”

Members of the group pose by the Mediterranean Sea in Nettuno, Italy

“Rome truly is the Eternal City,” Cathedral senior Alaina Blomberg added. “In every street corner, century-old church, and ancient relics, you can see God’s glory throughout history. The trip let us experience the foundations of our Catholic church and learn how to live out the faith by visiting the resting places of the most famous martyrs in the world, like St. Peter, St. Paul, and St. Maria Goretti. My love for Christ has greatly deepened, and I hope to share this love with others. ”

Overall, the students came away with what many of them described as an unfathomable and life-changing experience.

“This experience was not something you can describe using words from a dictionary,” Cathedral student Greta Bailey said. “But here are a few sentences that come close. Being in a city that was practically built on the Catholic faith was incredible. Faith, dedication, and love are taken very seriously in Rome, as seen in its magnificently beautiful churches and in the martyrs who gave their lives for their faith and love of God. For everyone who says, ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day,’ you’re right. The beauty of Rome and its history cannot be built — or replicated — in a single day.”

The pilgrimage to Italy was an unforgettable experience filled with faith, fellowship, and awe-inspiring moments,” Fr. Thooft added. “From walking in the footsteps of the saints and celebrating Mass in sacred places, to exploring the beauty, history, and culture of Italy, every day invited us to deepen our relationship with Christ.? We are grateful for the prayers that accompanied us and for the many blessings received along the way. This pilgrimage will remain in our hearts for years to come.”

Msgr. Lozinski said another such trip could be expected in the next couple of years.