By Shelby Siegfried
for the Register
Wallace woman’s plans to complete pilgrimage were put on hold when she suffered a stroke. “God has a way of slowing me down and changing my plans when needed. He’s always in control.”
At the edge of the Nebraska Sandhills in the small town of Wallace, Pat Heinemann begins each morning by unlocking the doors of St. Mary Church, a mission parish of Mother of Sorrows in Grant. Beyond the daily task of opening the church for parishioners, Heinemann often lingers for an hour or so in the quiet church for prayer.
Heinemann’s commitment to spending more time in prayer began years ago, fueled by a feeling of spiritual emptiness.
“There was a void in my life that I needed to fill,” she shared. “I’m drawn to adoration and holy hours. It’s a sacred time for me to talk with Jesus, to share my heart’s burdens, and to seek His wisdom in the stillness.”
When the diocese announced the Eucharistic Passport Pilgrimage, Heinemann immediately committed to the challenge.
“I knew right away that I wanted to do it,” Heinemann recalled, “I just love adoration, I wanted to experience the different parishes and chapels. I knew it would be a spiritual adventure.”
With her husband Bernard’s support, Heinemann began planning, aiming to complete the pilgrimage by Nov. 1. She quickly visited the four nearest locations in western Nebraska, and planned longer trips for more distant destinations.
But Heinemann’s plans were put on hold when she suffered a mild stroke.
“God has a way of slowing me down and changing my plans when needed,” Heinemann said, smiling. “He’s always in control.”
Despite not feeling well that day and hesitating to visit a doctor, she was eventually flown to a Denver hospital, where she spent a week recovering.
“Waking up in the hospital, my first thought was about completing the pilgrimage. It was disappointing to have my plans changed,” she recalled.
Heinemann was determined to keep going. She was thankful that the stroke was mild, and after rest and rehabilitation, she was able to get back to her passport pilgrimage. With friends Kathy Salsman and Michelle Sullivan, Heinemann continued her mission.
“After my stroke, I was uneasy about long drives alone,” she said. “Their help and God’s grace were essential.”
The women carefully planned their visits, aligning with the adoration times at each location and gradually collecting each stamp.
“We planned 11 stops on an eastward trip,” Heinemann noted. “Kathy drove, I navigated, and we managed three locations daily.”
The duo began each day with Mass, finding the journey spiritually enriching.
“It was certainly a challenge, but everything fell into place and we just kept going,” Heinemann said, laughing as she recalled the scribbled notes and schedules that covered their passport booklets.
Along the way, the women enjoyed seeing the beauty and variety of each church and chapel.
“We bumped into a former pastor, and friends who used to be at our parish,” Heinemann said. “In Rulo, we were able to visit with an entire vanload of fellow pilgrims making the journey. It was neat to share the experience with others, to see familiar faces and also meet new people along the way.”
She said her favorite stop was St. Michael Parish in Lincoln. Father Kenneth Borowiak, the pastor, recalled their visit.
“I was preparing for a school Mass when they came,” he said. “We discussed common acquaintances, and I gave them a guide of the saints in the church’s mural. They shared with me the different churches that they had visited across the diocese and told me of some of the unique elements of each of the churches.”
Father Borowiak invited Heinemann and Salsman to stay for Mass and introduced them to the students beforehand, while discussing communities of western Nebraska and the significance of the Eucharistic Passport Pilgrimage.
“The hospitality from Father Borowiak and the students at St. Michael was a delightful surprise.” Heinemann recalled. “We felt like royalty being introduced as travelers from a faraway land. It was nice to have Mass with the school children and to be welcomed into the parish.”
Reflecting on her travels and prayers, Heinemann feels grateful.
“God enabled me to complete this journey,” she said. “It was challenging, but I’m eager to do it again. I wanted to do cartwheels when I placed the final stamp on my booklet. The experience of spending time with the Lord was truly amazing.”
Heinemann encourages others in the diocese to undertake the Eucharistic pilgrimage.
“We all find time for vacations, fun activities and other things. Why not make the same effort to spend time with Jesus? Just begin and Jesus will help you,” she urged. “Do one stop at a time, nothing is impossible with God. He’s there waiting for you!”
