Archdiocese sponsors Italy pilgrimage to witness Archbishop Tobin receive pallium on June 29

By Natalie Hoefer

The Archdiocese of Indianapolis is sponsoring a pilgrimage to Italy from June 25 to July 2 to witness Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin receive his pallium on June 29, the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

“I think that a chance to visit Rome is a wonderful opportunity to connect with the tradition of our faith, whatever the occasion,” said Archbishop Tobin. “However, the presence of faithful from the archdiocese at St. Peter’s on June 29 will be a beautiful sign of the hundreds of thousands of Catholics whom I am privileged to lead.”

The use of the pallium, which dates to the fifth century, is reserved for territorial archbishops and the pope. A pallium is an approximately two-inch wide, circular, woolen band worn around the neck, chest and shoulders. It bears six black crosses and has two pendants, one hanging from the front and one from the back.

This liturgical vestment represents an archbishop’s sharing pastoral care with the pope over the faithful of his archdiocese.

The eight-day pilgrimage begins with departure for Rome from Indianapolis on June 25.

The following day, pilgrims will visit the Catacomb of St. Sebastian, one of the oldest and largest series of Christian catacombs, or underground tombs, in Rome. The day will end with Mass and a welcome reception at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.

On June 27, the pilgrims will journey to Orvieto, an Italian town that sits atop a 1,000-foot high rock formation. The day-trip includes Mass at San Brizio Chapel.

The next day will be spent in Rome, known as the “Eternal City.” Pilgrims will celebrate Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, and have the rest of the day for personal sightseeing and shopping.

The highlight of the trip occurs on June 29 when Archbishop Tobin—and all archbishops appointed in the past year to lead an archdiocese—will receive their palliums from the pope prior to a Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. A reception will follow at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.

A day trip to Siena follows on June 30. Siena was the home of the famed saint and doctor of the Church, St. Catherine of Siena. The day includes Mass, a visit to the city’s cathedral and a guided tour of the city.

On the last full day, pilgrims will celebrate Mass in Rome at the Church of St. Alphonsus Liguori, the founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, more commonly known as the Redemptorists. This is the order which Archbishop Tobin joined in 1972 and served as the superior general for from 1997 to 2009.

A day trip to the town of Subiaco will follow. Not far from Rome, Subiaco is where St. Benedict, considered the founding father of western monasticism, first lived as a hermit and later established his first monastery. A visit to St. Scholastica Abbey and the sacred grotto Sacro Speco in St. Benedict Abbey are included in the day trip.

The pilgrimage will end on July 2. Pilgrims will arrive back in Indianapolis on the same day.

“The pilgrimage will give me the chance to show off a city that I called home for two decades,” said Archbishop Tobin. “I might be able to return in a small way some of the ‘Hoosier Hospitality’ that has been lavished on me.”

While the archbishop is uncertain of duties required of him by the Vatican during the pilgrimage, he said, “I trust that I will be able to participate in many of the side trips during the pilgrimage. I will be happy to celebrate the Eucharist with my fellow travelers in a number of beautiful places. If necessary, I can make sure that my companions get the desired flavor of gelato.”

The cost of the pilgrimage is $3,545 for a double occupancy room, or $4,145 for a single occupancy room.

The package includes round-trip airfare from Indianapolis, accommodations in a four-star hotel, a daily breakfast buffet, four dinners, transportation from and to the airport in Rome and to each of the day-trip destinations, Mass each day, and an English-speaking escort for the entire trip.

Pilgrims can also receive a Year of Faith plenary indulgence if they celebrate the sacrament of confession and pray for the intentions of the Holy Father at a designated site, which includes any cathedral church or papal basilica, during the week of the pilgrimage.
 

(For more information, contact Carolyn Noone at 317-236-1428 or 800-382-9836 ext. 1428, or by e-mail at cnoone@archindy.org.) †