Southern Nebraska Register
Father Joseph Steele, a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Lincoln, will lead a jubilee pilgrimage through Canada and the eastern United States Sept. 29 through Oct. 8.
Father Steele was ordained in 1997, and has served at parishes in Grant and Elsie, Plattsmouth, Bellwood and Lincoln. He is currently chaplain at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln.
“When I was asked to lead a pilgrimage to the shrines in Canada and the northeastern U.S. during the Catholic Church’s jubilee year, I was honored and very excited to be a part of it,” he said. “I went to seminary at St. Philip’s Seminary in Toronto, and did further studies at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Maryland. Therefore, I am really looking forward to revisiting many of these religious sites and sharing them with you, especially in autumn, when God’s artistic handiwork fills the landscape with such rich, beautiful colors.”
The tour includes stops in Old Quebec City, such as the Notre Dame du Kap, Canada’s national shrine to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Basilica Saint-Anne-Barennes; Montreal: the St. Xavier Mission and tomb of St. Kateri Tekakwitha; Stockbridge, Mass.: the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy and Norman Rockwell Museum; Fultonville, N.Y.: the Shrine of Our Lady of the Martyrs; Fonda, N.Y.: the National Shrine of St. Kateri; Niagara Falls, N.Y. and more.
Father Steele called the pilgrimage a wonderful opportunity to acquire an even richer, deeper understanding of the faith “as we travel together, celebrating daily Mass and praying at these many sacred sites.”
“With 2025 designated as a jubilee year by the Catholic Church,” he added, “it is an even greater opportunity to focus on our own personal faith, asking for forgiveness for our sins, and in turn, to grant forgiveness to those that have sinned against us.”
The theme of the jubilee year is “Pilgrims of Hope.” In the words of Pope Francis, “We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us, and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision.”
On the pilgrimage, Father Steele said, “we will have hope: hope for all of His people; hope for our Catholic churches around the world; hope for us each to grow in faith and love.”
For more information on the pilgrimage, visit executivetravel.com under Vacation/Escorted Tours and scroll to September for the official brochure, itinerary, and costs. Contact Barb Wallingford (402-430-5811) for more information or call Executive Travel (402-435-8888) to sign up.
