By Shelby Siefgried
for the Register
When Robert “Jody” LaBrie of St. Ann Parish in Doniphan first heard about the Catholic Diocese of Lincoln’s Eucharistic Passport Pilgrimage, he eagerly embraced the challenge.
“I’m an adoration guy, and this was right up my alley!” LaBrie said. “I knew right away, this was something I was going to do.”
LaBrie attributes his deep-rooted love for the Catholic faith to his family, who instilled it in him from a young age. Growing up as the second of 10 children in a Catholic farm family in central Nebraska, LaBrie recalled, “We didn’t have adoration very often then, but my family was really into praying the rosary. Anytime we went more than 10 miles in the car, we were saying a rosary.
“At a young age, my parents taught me and my siblings how to behave in Mass, to be respectful and reverent, and that grew into a special love for the Eucharist,” he continued.
LaBrie went on to attend Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan., where Eucharistic adoration was regularly available. The experience left a lasting impression on LaBrie, but his time in college was cut short, when illness struck a family member, and he returned home to help care for his younger siblings. He later joined the Navy and became acquainted with the chaplain, which led him to serve at daily Mass during his service. After marrying and starting a family, alongside a career in insurance, LaBrie remained actively engaged in his church community, teaching CCD classes, participating in the Knights of Columbus, and serving in various parish roles.
Now, at 83 years old and retired, LaBrie has more time to deepen his relationship with Christ.
“When I heard about the Eucharistic Adoration Pilgrimage, I said, ‘Wow, that’s something I’m going to do!’” he reiterated. “I have the time, I’m able to drive myself, and I love adoration.”
LaBrie’s prayer intentions during the pilgrimage included his late wife of 54 years, Carol, who passed away from cancer in 2018, as well as his son, Bartt, who was tragically murdered while serving in the Air Force in 1993. Additionally, he prays for his family, his parish, a local FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) missionary, and numerous other special intentions.
“I have a lot to pray for,” LaBrie remarked, “and the Eucharistic Adoration Pilgrimage was a great opportunity to do just that.”
He wasted no time in planning and scheduling his pilgrimage. He completed one stop per day, covering just under 4,000 miles from start to finish. For LaBrie, the journey was a meaningful part of the experience.
“I’d start each trip by saying a rosary in the car, like I’ve always done. Then I’d turn on Spirit Catholic Radio, and it helped me get into the right frame of mind before getting to adoration.”
LaBrie, a former board member of Spirit Catholic Radio and a longtime listener and supporter, recommends its programs to anyone interested in learning more about the Catholic faith.
“It’s so easy to just turn it on while you’re driving, and there are stations all across the state so you can tune in from almost anywhere.”
In addition to completing his hour of adoration and stamping his passport, LaBrie kept a personal journal of his pilgrimage and took photos of the places he visited.
“Every location is similar but different,” he noted. “The Blessed Sacrament is always the same, we’re the same universal church, in the same diocese, but it’s a pleasure to see the other churches because each one offers a different experience.”
LaBrie wrote a journal entry for each stop, detailing his experiences and the people he encountered, and collected a souvenir bulletin from each parish.
“It’s fun to see the different things all the parishes are doing,” he said. “You get a glimpse into the faith and communities from across the state. If it wasn’t for this pilgrimage, I most likely never would’ve seen many of these parishes.”
While each passport stop was unique, several left a lasting impression on LaBrie due to the people he met.
“When I got to the Newman Center, a group of FOCUS missionaries were there,” he recalled. “I started talking to them because I’ve supported a FOCUS missionary from my community, and of course they all knew each other! They gave me a tour of the beautiful church.”
LaBrie was inspired by the presence of college students at adoration.
“I was impressed by how many young people were there,” he said. “It felt like the fastest hour because the atmosphere was so uplifting.”
LaBrie was also particularly moved by his visit to Crete.
“I was there early for Mass, the school children sang in Spanish and English, and the chaplet of adoration was led by parishioners,” he recounted. “A class of students was going to confession that day, and each one came out and did their penance right in front of the monstrance. It was just beautiful and hopeful to see young children living their faith like that.”
Of all the parishes LaBrie visited, his home parish of St. Ann in Doniphan holds a special place in his heart.
“I’ve been in the parish since 1964, and I’ve always sat in the same pew,” LaBrie chuckled. Adoration at St. Ann’s is especially meaningful with the monstrance that was donated by the LaBrie family in memory of his wife. A statue in the parish prayer garden and a stained glass window by the pew where he sits all serve as reminders of those LaBrie keeps in his prayers.
“The church holds so many special memories, and being there makes me feel close to my family,” he said.
With his pilgrimage journal, LaBrie can easily revisit his personal journey across the diocese, and he hopes others will undertake the pilgrimage as well.
“It didn’t feel like an obligation; it was a privilege to spend time with our Lord,” he said. “So many people today don’t really believe in the true presence, that it’s truly the body and blood of Jesus, but if you learn about the Catholic faith and spend any time in adoration, it’s impossible to have doubt that it’s real.”
The Eucharistic Passport Pilgrimage, launched in August, invites people across the Diocese of Lincoln to visit specific churches during Eucharistic exposition and adoration. Free “passports” were distributed to all parishes in the diocese, in English and Spanish, listing the locations and hours, and each designated location included in the passport has a stamp, so pilgrims may stamp their passports when they visit.
There are 17 churches or chapels on the list, and people are encouraged to visit any or all of the sites, as they are able. The pilgrimage will be ongoing up to the national Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis next July. Learn more at www. lincolndiocese.org/passport.
