March 5, 2025

By Mary Beth Bracy, consecrated virgin
Contributing Writer

As the Year of Hope unfolds, local Catholics are excited about upcoming pilgrimage opportunities in the North Country and beyond. Diocesan passports are available to track the pilgrimage sites visited in our diocese. Several priests are also leading European pilgrimages in honor of the Jubilee Year.

Father Garry B. Giroux, judicial vicar of the Tribunal Office of Canonical Affairs and pastor of St. Mary’s, Waddington and St. John the Baptist, Madrid, shared that the diocese recently finished printing and assembling 2,600 Pilgrims’ Passports. Of those, 1,800 copies were inserted into the February 19 edition of the North Country Catholic; the remaining 800 copies were distributed to the 12 Pilgrimage sites throughout the diocese. A printable version of the Pilgrims’ Passport is also available on the Jubilee Year webpage of the Diocesan Website at https://www.rcdony.org/newsevents/jubilee-year-2025.html

“Inside the Pilgrim’s Passport is a brief explanation of what is a jubilee year,” noted Father Giroux. “The passport also included brief explanations of pilgrimage, an indulgence, temporal punishment and the basic requirements for obtaining a Jubilee Year indulgence. Each of the Pilgrimage Sites is listed with space to inscribe the date of the visit to the Site and, if so desired, space for writing a brief reflection from the pilgrimage experience. Also, on the back page of the passport is found QR Codes for both the diocesan jubilee year webpage and the Holy Father’s prayers intentions.”

Bishop Terry R. LaValley approved the Holy Year Calendar of Events, and the calendar is now on the Jubilee Year webpage; it was also included in the North Country Catholic, continued Father Giroux. “If other events are scheduled and made known to us, they will be added to the Holy Year Calendar.”

Local Deans of the four deaneries and pastors, catechetical leaders, and Catholic school principals are encouraged to promote Year of Hope initiatives.

“There are resources available on the Jubilee Year webpage and also on the Faith Formation webpage and on the Catholic Schools webpage of our diocesan website,” explained Father. Giroux. 

Father John M. Demo, pastor Blessed Sacrament Parish in Watertown, will be leading a pilgrimage to Rome and more from September 10-18.

“As part of the celebration of the Jubilee Year and the theme of Pilgrims of Hope, going to Rome and visiting a lot of our religious sites will hopefully renew our religious faith and (help us) encounter Christ in a unique way on the pilgrimage,” said Father Demo. “This is the first pilgrimage that I’ll be leading. I think I can share the excitement of the people that are first time in the Holy City. I wanted to have an opportunity to celebrate the Holy Eucharist in some of the sites that are near and dear to our religious tradition. The opportunity presented itself and, after some prayer and reflection, I thought it would be a good experience at this stage of my life.”

There are many sites that Father Demo is looking forward to visiting.

“The holy stairs, which our tradition believes are the steps that Christ climbed when he went before Pontius Pilate, (and) Assisi where St. Francis spent most of his life. And of course the Vatican museums,” he said. “I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like to behold the Sistine Chapel. Never having been over there, I am really looking forward to it. I’m really grateful to Mike and Kathy, their travel group Colette puts together a nice tour package. The timing is providential. I am celebrating my (37th) anniversary of priesthood on the 24th of September. It’s a very, very special time. Certainly with everything going on in the world, we can really use the prayers and experience of hope. The jubilee year really comes at a good time.”

An online brochure describing the trip and reservation link can be found at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1282559 and Mike may be contacted at SASS Travel, 315-788-4791 or sass1@twcny.rr.com

From September 28-October 8, Father Bryan D. Stitt, director of Worship for the diocese and pastor of St. Mary’s in Canton, will lead a pilgrimage to France, including Lisieux, Normandy Beach, Mont St. Michel, Paris, and Lourdes, which is also a Jubilee Year of Hope site.

“I’ve always wanted to go to Lourdes, ever since hearing about it as a small child; the story of Bernadette has always inspired my heart, but I’ve never had a chance (to go),” he said. “A friend of mine, Father (John) Hollowell, had a great miracle happen in his life there, and it added all the more hope for why we would make a trip there. People infirmed for the last 167 years have been finding physical healing and all the more spiritual grace at Lourdes. Plus my personal devotion to the Little Flower (were an encouragement for me). Her letters to a young seminarian, (in the book) Maurice and Therese, have always been a source of hope for me as well.”
Father Christopher J. Looby will also be leading a pilgrimage from October 15-23.

“The pilgrimage to Italy is an opportunity to journey not only to sacred sites but also deeper into the theme of the Jubilee Year of Hope,” he said. “Visiting places of great faith – Rome, Assisi, and beyond – will allow us to reflect on how hope has been lived out through the saints and how we’re called to embrace that same hope in our own lives. It’s a chance for renewal, prayer, and growing in communion with one another as we walk in the footsteps of so many who have gone before us in faith.”

Father Looby is participating in the jubilee in other ways, as well.

“Beyond the pilgrimage, we’re also embracing the Jubilee Year of Hope in our parishes this Lent through several initiatives,” he said. “We’re offering a special Stations of the Cross series focused on hope in suffering, a Lenten podcast called ‘From Sorrow to Hope’ exploring the Sorrowful Mysteries in light of the Jubilee, and a faith-sharing group where parishioners can reflect on scripture and deepen their spiritual journey together. All of these are meant to help people rediscover the hope Christ offers, even in the midst of life’s challenges.”
Father Andrew J. Amyot will be leading a 15-day pilgrimage, including visits to Venice, Florence, Assisi and Rome, from November 5-15.

“The Year of Hope is the reason why I’m doing the special pilgrimages to go through the Holy Doors in the four basilicas of Rome,” he said. “Also to visit the tomb of Carlo Acutis, soon to be canonized, in Assisi. It’s all connected. The Jubilee is every 25 years or so. I went to the Jubilee Year in 2000, for 2,000 years of Christ coming into the world. We place all of our hope and trust in Christ who is our joy and the source of our salvation. They expect millions of people to go to Rome for this year. It is also to see Pope Francis. I hope he recuperates so we will be able to see him.”

Additionally, Father Amyot reflected that this jubilee year is also (part of) the Eucharistic Revival, (and) Carlo Acutis is known for his great love of the Eucharist and preparing a display of all the places where a Eucharistic miracle has taken place.

“I’ve been to Rome quite a few times leading pilgrimages,” he said. “This is a special year for the Jubilee Year of Hope. They are having a special program at St. Agnes in Lake Placid which is based on Carlo’s great love of the Eucharist. I hope to go to that special gathering.”

The celebration, featuring the Eucharistic Miracles of the World Exhibition, an inspirational talk, and Holy Hour with Bishop LaValley leading a diocesan wide Consecration to the Holy Eucharist, will take place on April 26, the Eve of Carlo’s canonization.

“That should be a very beautiful thing to attend,” said Father Amyot. “The Pope is having several canonizations, one is Carlo, for the youth, and the other is Pier Giorgio Frassati, for young adults. Here again is a man who had great devotion and love for the Holy Eucharist. I hope we have time to visit Carlo’s tomb.”