On December 26th twelve Williams students left for a pilgrimage to Rome, Assisi, and Sienna for what would be ten days to grow in faith and fellowship with each other. Fr. Caster, Chaplin of Williams Catholic, arranged the pilgrimage in conjunction with Fr. Layden from the University of Illinois. Williams students were able to meet students from the U. of I. with whom, though strangers, they had so much in common because of their shared Catholic faith. Thanks to the Williams Catholic Network, which took care of securing the funding, it was possible for Newman Catholic students to partake in this faith enhancing pilgrimage.

The pilgrimage awarded us a chance to see first-hand some of the most central figures, relics, and places of the Catholic faith. Seeing the breath-taking majesty of St. Peter’s Basilica, and then attending mass there with Pope Benedict XVI was an experience I will never forget. We also visited the catacombs, the Basilica of St. Francis, the Church of St. Catherine, the Holy Steps and much more. Yet, as Stella Onochie mentions, “the beauty of Rome was not something restricted to architecture and art. I felt as if I were immersed, wholly surrounded by a growing sense of community that exceeded my expectations completely.” Seeing the catacombs knowing they were the place where the first Catholics clandestinely met and the ability to touch the wall of the prison where St. Peter performed miracles gave us a concrete image of things which I, as a Catholic, hold much reverence for. And, the ability to experience this as a group made it all the more rewarding.

Amanda Santiago, a senior, says regarding the pilgrimage, “There are very rare occasions for young Catholics to witness such community in fellowship in the way in which we witnessed it on our pilgrimage. Without our alumni, I don't think we would have been able to have such an opportunity to witness that type of faith and adoration in Christ and be changed on account of it.” The pilgrimage was an opportunity to more closely experience the Catholic faith as we were able to see those locations that we hold in much reverence, and it was an opportunity to grow in fellowship with each other. And we at Williams Newman Catholic would like to extend a note a gratitude to those that made this experience possible.