Pilgrims of Hope: Continuing the Journey at Home

BY JENNIFER MIELE
Chief Development Officer

Faith formation leaders from around the Diocese of Greensburg joined Bishop Larry J. Kulick, as well as trip organizers Vincent Reilly, Managing Director of Faith, Family and Discipleship, and Kate Parkinson from the Office of the Bishop, on the journey of hope in Rome in March and April, and will now take what they learned and share it with their parishes. They were aided in intense, experiential catechesis by SeeTheSacred owner and guide Jill Alexy.

Tim Ruflin
Regional Faith Formation Director
New Kensington, Lower Burrell

“One of the great joys that I’ve experienced in this pilgrimage was our pilgrimage walk into Saint Peter’s Basilica, and to get to recite and to profess the Apostles Creed at the tomb of Saint Peter. To me it was a reminder of the great gift and the power of our faith; that generations of Christians for thousands of years have been proclaiming the same creed. We need to go back to the source of our faith to the apostle Peter, and get to proclaim that procession of faith which has given so much nourishment and encouragement to Christians throughout the generations. For me that was a powerful moment and one that I hope to take back and share with our communities in the Diocese of Greensburg. Just the great gift we have of being Catholics and the long lineage we have, and what a great gift to be able to share that with others.”

Katie Tylinski
Director of Faith Formation
Northern Armstrong County

“As we experience the living history of the Catholic Church, we look to the lives of the saints, those heroes of the faith that have inspired me so much, and their zeal for the Lord, and also the time that they took to pray, receive the sacraments and spend time in community, and that’s something that I will take back to by community and my Diocese. And because that’s been so impactful to me, I know the Holy Spirit continue this mission for our entire Church.”

Danielle Cribbs
Regional Faith Formation Director for Indiana County and Seward

“The most impactful encounter that I have had during our visit was to the churches of Saint Bartholomew and Saint Mary of the Garden. Their use of side chapels for devotion and catechesis is incredibly inspiring. As a formation leader who works with children and those progressing through initiation, it offers a new avenue for sharing.”

Theresa Mazur
Regional Faith Formation Director for Southern Fayette

“My experience has helped me to reflect on the Jubilee Year of Hope, because walking the lives of the saints helped us understand the hope that they had in giving of their lives. At Saint Clement when they were talking about the commissioning of Saints Cyril and Methodius, that really caught my interest and was exciting to learn how I could take that back to the churches and inspire the community of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Fayette County.”