05/19/2026
The pilgrims are off!!!
A group of seminarians will begin a pilgrimage May 19, walking 375 miles across the Catholic Diocese of Lincoln in less than a month.
Six seminarians studying for the diocese – five who attend St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Seward, and one from Mount St. Mary’s in Emmitsburg, Md. – will make the pilgrimage with Father James Morin
The group will begin at St. Benedict Parish in Nebraska City, the oldest parish in the diocese, and walk, averaging nearly 15 miles per day, visiting diocesan parishes in 25 communities before concluding June 16 with a final 18.6-mile stretch from St. Joseph Parish in Stratton to St. Joseph Parish in Benkelman, the westernmost parish of the diocese.
The men will carry equipment – Father Morin said a generous dermatologist provided enough sunscreen and sun shirts for the entire trip, for example – but the pilgrimage is designed with an element of adventure. They will stay at rectories or parish halls along the way.
Father Morin expressed gratitude to the pastors along the way for helping them out.
“Some parishes are throwing a potluck for us,” Father Morin said, “other pastors are planning on hosting us at the rectory for dinner and giving us a tour around town. We didn’t want this to be an extra burden for pastors, but we were open to any way in which they wanted to share the experience of their parish life.”
Read the full story in the Southern Nebraska Register: https://www.lincolndiocese.org/news/diocesan-news/19765-seminarians-plan-pilgrimage-across-flatwater
