The Pilgrimage of Hope was inspired by the completion of a commissioned painting of “Our Lady of the Prairie” and the rededication of the New Ulm Diocese to adopt this new title.

The Diocese of New Ulm was originally dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God, on January 31, 1958, the morning after the diocese was established. Last year, Bishop Chad Zielinski decided to rededicate the diocese to “Our Lady of the Prairie.”

Zielinski said that upon arriving at the New Ulm Diocese in 2022, his first task was to drive to all four corners of the rural diocese. In visiting parish sites he notices the thousands of acres of prairie land. This inspired the rededication of the Diocese as “Our Lady of the Prairie.”

Last year, Zielinski commissioned Damien Walker, a founder and director of The Studio of Saint Philomena in New Zealand, to paint a life-size image of “Our Lady of the Prairie” which was recently completed.

Bishop Chad Zielinski blesses the seven young adults who agreed to travel to each Area Faith Church in the diocese as part of the Pilgrimage of Hope. From (L to R) Bishop Chad Zielinski, Aaron Gnerer of Silver Lake, Mn; Jake Brost of Dassel, MN; Mathew Collins of Murdock, MN; David Rabaey of Ghent, MN; Molly Koralewski of Glencoe, MN; Amber Rosemeier of Murdock, MN and Aleah Vetsch of Silver Lake, MN.

The rededication ceremony was held at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Sunday morning. Along with the rededication, Bishop Zielinski blessed the pilgrims who would be traveling with a replica of “Our Lady of the Prairie” to each Area Faith Church in the diocese over the next eight days. Seven young adults were selected to take part in the entire pilgrimage. This included Aaron Gnerer, Jake Brost, Mathew Collins, David Rabey, Molly Koralewski, Aleah Vetsch and Amber Rosemeier.

The group had begun the journey following a rededication ceremony at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity early in the morning. By 2 p.m. a collection of pilgrims were walking County 27 in 95-degree heat carrying with them a replica of Our Lady of the Prairie. Their destination was the Schoenstatt Shrine to St. Mary’s in Sleepy Eye to pray the Rosary with other gathered faithful. From the shrine, the pilgrims traveled to St. Mary’s Church in Sleepy Eye for a holy hour.

The seven perpetual pilgrims on the journey arrived in Sleepy Eye tired but fulfilled in their mission.

Fifth-year seminarian David Rabaey said the first leg of the pilgrimage was difficult. The group walked in extreme heat ranging from 95 to 100 degrees along County Road 27. Rabaey said he was forced to stop at one point on the journey to treat blisters but was excited to be a part of the pilgrimage.

“It means a lot to do this,” Rabaey said. “When I found out about this, I hoped I would get the call to join. It’s a great chance to meet other young people in the diocese and it is an opportunity to pray for other needs of the diocese.”

Bishop Chad Zielinski rededicates the New Ulm Diocese to Mary under the new title “Our Lady of the Prairie.” In honor of the rededication, a painting of “Our Lady of the Prairie was commissioned and displayed at Holy Trinity during the rededication. Following the rededication, the Pilgrimage of Hope began a journey to Area Faith Churches in the diocese carrying a replica of the painting.

Fellow pilgrims Amber Rosemeier and Aleah Vetsch agreed it was a hot and difficult walk, but it was a chance to talk with their fellow travelers. Rosemeier said she was fortunate to be joined by her brother Samuel Rosemeier on this first leg of the trip.

Vetsch said the New Ulm to Sleepy Eye walk was one of the longest walks on the pilgrimage. With it complete they could look forward to the rest of the journey.

Aldean Hendrickson, the Tribunal Director for the Pilgrimage of Hope followed the pilgrims in a follow car. He confirmed the first leg of the trip was the hardest. County Road 27 is a higher volume road compared to the other routes they would be taking.

The pilgrimage traveled to St. Raphael’s in Springfield Monday, morning and St. Anne in Wabasso in the evening. Tuesday the pilgrimage will reach Marshall and Ghent, ending the day in Ortonville.

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.

Bishop Chad Zielinski stand next to the painting “Our Lady of the Prairie” during a special rededication service at Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. The diocese was rededicated to Mary with the title Our Lady of the Prairie. The painting was created by artist Damien Walker, a founder and director of The Studio of Saint Philomena in New Zealand.

The Pilgrimage of Hope will include stops in Appleton, Montevideo, Wilmar, Oliva, Litchfield, Winsted, Hutchinson, Glencoe, Winthrop, St. Peter, and North Mankato and return to Holy Trinity of New Ulm for a 10 a.m. Sunday, June 29. This will be followed by a welcome home celebration at 3 p.m. at St. Mary’s.

Guest speakers at the welcome home celebration include artist Damien 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.

The Pilgrimage of Hope began with a procession around the Holy Trinity Sunday that included the entire congregation. During this first part of the journey, Amber Rosemeier of Murdock, MN carried a replica of “Our Lady of the Prarie.”

The Pilgrimage of Hope was joined by several members of the faithful at Schoenstatt Shrine in Sleepy Eye Sunday evening. Following a prayer of the Rosary the faithful travel to St. Mary’s Church in Sleepy Eye as the next stop on the pilgrimage.