Photo by Deb Gau Pilgrims from the New Ulm Diocese were joined by area residents and members of the Sisters of Mary Morning Star as they traveled through Marshall and Ghent on Tuesday. The pilgrimage will end in New Ulm on June 29.

MARSHALL — The people gathered outside Holy Redeemer Catholic Church on Tuesday came ready to walk. Their goal that morning was to travel several miles on foot, going from the city of Marshall to the city of Ghent.

Walking in a pilgrimage around the Catholic Diocese of New Ulm was a big commitment, but a positive one, said pilgrim and seminarian Matthew Collins. “We’re going to see all of the diocese,” he said.

Tuesday’s walk to Ghent was just one segment of the ongoing Pilgrimage of Hope organized by the New Ulm Diocese. A core group of seven pilgrims, joined by other Catholics from around the region, are traveling to each of the area faith communities in the diocese. The pilgrimage started Friday, traveling from New Ulm through Sleepy Eye, Springfield and Wabasso before arriving in Marshall.

The pilgrimage will end back at the New Ulm Cathedral on June 29.

The pilgrimage was inspired by the rededication of the New Ulm Diocese to “Our Lady of the Prairie,” and the completion of a commissioned painting of “Our Lady of the Prairie” by artist Damien Walker. Pilgrims are carrying a reproduction of the painting with them along the way.

On Tuesday, Walker actually met up with the pilgrims outside of Ghent, and stopped to take a photo with the group.

From the doors of Holy Redeemer, the group headed down Main Street in Marshall, carrying an image of “Our Lady of the Prairie,” and sometimes singing hymns.

The core group of walkers, called perpetual pilgrims, included Aaron Gnerer, Jake Brost, Mathew Collins, David Rabaey, Molly Koralewski, Aleah Vetsch and Amber Rosemeier. On Tuesday morning, they were joined by members of the Sisters of Mary Morning Star, and a few community members from Holy Redeemer parish. Two of the people walking along with the group, Robert and Mary Young, came from Chaska to take part in the pilgrimage.

“We’ve been looking forward to this for a while,” Mary Young said.

Collins said there were some physical challenges in the first couple days of the pilgrimage, with extreme temperatures.

“It was definitely a tough start,” he said, but Tuesday’s weather was milder. Collins said one of the positive things about the pilgrimage was getting to engage with people from every corner of the diocese.

After stopping in Ghent and Wilno, the pilgrimage would travel to the headwaters of the Minnesota River in Ortonville, before heading back east toward Appleton, Montevideo, and Willmar today. Additional stops are planned in Olivia, Litchfield, Winsted, Hutchinson, Glencoe, Winthrop, St. Peter and North Mankato. At the end of the pilgrimage, a welcome ceremony will be held in New Ulm at 3 p.m. on Sunday.