Southern Nebraska Register
Father Louden Redinger, assistant pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Lincoln, will lead a pilgrimage to France June 15-24.
Father Redinger said he was first approached by parishioners John and Julie Love about leading the pilgrimage.
“I couldn’t contain my excitement and joy at the opportunity,” he said, “and feel very blessed to do so.”
He explained that, at 16, he attended World Youth Day in Madrid, Spain, as a pilgrim with the group from the Catholic Diocese of Lincoln. As part of the pilgrimage, the group was able to go to Paris and Lourdes, France.
“This once-in-a-lifetime trip was made possible for me through the prayers and financial support of my parish priest, the late Father Paul York in Crete,” he said.
While in France, Father Redinger said, the Holy Spirit prompted him to discern and consider a call to serving Jesus Christ as His priest.
“Fourteen years later, I’m looking forward to returning to the places which inspired me so much and giving thanks to Our Lady for calling me and sustaining me in priestly ministry,” he said.
The pilgrimage will include daily Mass and time to pray at some of the most sacred sites in France, including Lourdes and Lisieux, home of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, the “Little Flower.”
“For me, pilgrimages are a powerful way to obtain favors from God, as an act of penance, or as an act of gratitude for favors or blessings received from Him,” Father Redinger said. “The Jubilee Year of Hope 2025 is a graced time to take a ‘Pilgrimage of Hope,’ and in the words of Pope Francis, ‘a privileged time to rediscover, proclaim, and build hope in our lives.’”
To register to join the pilgrimage, or for more information, visit https://journeyoffaithtours.com/france25.
