The journey is called the “Pilgrimage of Hope” and it will begin Sunday, June 22 at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New Ulm following a rededication of Our Lady of the Prairie and conclude, Sunday, June 29 with a welcome home Mass, at St. Mary’s in New Ulm. Throughout the week, the pilgrimage will stop at 20 different designated Area Faith Communities.

Leonard Gutierrez, director of Evangelization, said this is the first pilgrimage of this kind hosted in the New Ulm Diocese. The completion of a commissioned painting of Our Lady of the Prairie inspired it. The diocese commissioned the creation of the life-size painting last year. The painting was created by artist Damien Walker, founder of The Studio of Saint Philomena, located in New Zealand. Walker specializes in painting, restoration, and gilding. Last summer, he spent a week in the Diocese of New Ulm learning about its history, area and community before he began creating the painting of Our Lady of the Prairie.

Gutierrez said the New Ulm Diocese was founded in dedication to Mary. Our Lady of the Prairie was created to reflect the diocese’s history and features images of the land as well as some of the parish buildings. The first stop on the Pilgrimage of Hope begins with Bishop Zielinski rededicating the Dioceses of New Ulm to Our Lady of the Prairie during the Sunday Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. Following Mass, the faithful will join Bishop Zielinski in a Corpus Christi procession to the Catholic Pastoral Center in New Ulm, which will mark the beginning of the Pilgrimage of Hope.

The seven young adults taking part in the pilgrimage are Aaron Guerer, Jake Brost, Mathew Collins, David Rabey, Molly Koralewski, Aleah Vetsch and Amber Rosemeier. Throughout the route, the young adults will be carrying a replica of the Our Lady of the Prairie painting.

The Pilgrimage of Hope begins Sunday, June 22 at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity and will travel to 20 different designated Area Faith Communities within the New Ulm Diocese. Seven young adults will carry a replica of the recently completed painting Our Lady of the Prairie created by artist Damien Walker to the different faith sites. The route includes a blessing from Bishop Chad Zielinski of the Minnesota River headwaters in Ortonville on Tuesday, June 24.

Gutierrez said these young adults will walk a total of 90 miles to complete the Pilgrimage of Hope route, but some of the route will be completed by vehicle.

On the first day of the Pilgrimage of Hope, the pilgrims will travel on foot from Holy Trinity in New Ulm to Schoenstatt Shrine in Sleepy Eye. At 6:30 p.m. a Rosary procession will travel from the Schoenstatt Shrine to St. Mary’s in Sleepy Eye for a 7 p.m. Holy Hour.

At 8 a.m. Monday, June 23, the pilgrimage will reach St. Raphael’s in Springfield for Mass then travel to St. Anne in Wabasso for a 7 p.m. Holy Hour.

At 7 a.m. Tuesday, June 24 the pilgrims will take part in Mass at Holy Redeemer in Marshall. At 10:45 a.m. the group will reach Sisters of Mary Morning Star Covent in Ghent for midday prayer and lunch. At 2:45 p.m. the pilgrims will arrive at St. John Cantius in Wilno to pray the Rosary and take part in a potluck in the church basement. The group will travel to Ortonville for a 7 p.m. for Holy Hour.

At 6 a.m. Wednesday, June 25, the Pilgrimage of Hope will visit the headwaters of the Minnesota River, where Bishop Zielinski will bless the river. Following a 7 a.m. Mass and breakfast at St. John in Ortonville, the pilgrims will travel to St. John in Appleton for a 9 a.m. Rosary. At 10:15 a.m. there will be a prayer and lunch at St. Joseph in Montevideo. The group will then travel to Willmar. At 7 p.m. artist Damien Walker will speak about his painting during the stop at the Church of St. Mary in Willmar.

At 8:30 a.m. Thursday, June 26, the Pilgrimage of Hope will arrive at St. Aloysius Olivia for Mass. The procession will then travel to St. Philip in Litchfield for a 3:30 p.m. Rosary prayer. The Holy Hour will be celebrated at 7 p.m. at Holy Trinity in Winsted.

At 7 a.m. Friday, June 27, the group will celebrate Mass at St. Anastasia in Hutchinson, then travel to St. Pius X in Glencoe for a Holy Hour at 3:30 p.m. and reach St. Frances de Sales in Winthrop for 7 p.m. Holy hour.

At 7 a.m. Saturday, June 28, the Pilgrimage of Hope will reach St. Peter in St. Peter for Mass and then travel to Holy Rosary in North Mankato for 7 p.m. Holy Hour.

The Pilgrimage of Hope will return to the Holy Trinity of New Ulm for a 10 a.m. Mass. The pilgrimage will conclude at 3 p.m. with a welcome home celebration at St. Mary’s in New Ulm. Guest speakers at the welcome home celebration include Walker and Archbishop Emeritus Allen H. Vigneron. The pilgrims will provide testimonies.

The Pilgrimage of Hope is coordinated by the Diocesan Office of Evangelization. The pilgrimage represents the shared faith and hope of the diocesan family. Members of the faithful are invited to join the pilgrims at any of the Area Faith Community prayer events.