By Nick Martell
It is a great blessing for Portland seminarians to be able to study in Rome at the North American College. But, studying abroad also poses some challenges. Chief among those challenges is being so far away from those I love. I miss our family, friends, the people of the Archdiocese, Archbishop Sample, and all of the faithful priests that have had a major impact on my life. So, any chance I have to be able to spend time with them is a gift from God.
Last week, this gift was made manifest when Archbishop Sample went on pilgrimage with us to Krakow, Poland, to follow in the footsteps of Pope Saint John Paul II. When Archbishop Sample, Fr. Peter Julia, and Fr. Randy Hoang arrived in Rome, we could not contain our joy at greeting them. What a blessing!
It was fitting that our pilgrimage began on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes because Our Lady was so important to Pope St. John Paul II. Archbishop Sample celebrated Mass with us at the North American College in what is known as the Immacolata Chapel, named for Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. In his homily, he encouraged us in our studies and preparation for the priesthood. He reminded us that Pope St. John Paul II’s papal motto was “Totus tuus,” meaning “Totally yours,” in reference to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Archbishop Sample entrusted our pilgrimage to the intercession of Our Lady, turning everything over to her, so that we might draw closer to Jesus through her intercession. We also sought the intercession of the three key Polish saints that we invoked during the pilgrimage: Pope St. John Paul II, St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, and St. Maximilian Kolbe.
After Mass, the group went to St. Peter’s Basilica to walk through the Holy Door so that we could obtain a plenary indulgence for the Jubilee Year. We concluded the blessed day by sharing a meal together, which strengthened the brotherhood of the vocation to the priesthood of Jesus Christ among us all.
Please know that we brought your prayers and petitions to these holy places. I trust fully that God will be working through these prayers, and I am expecting great miracles to come from this pilgrimage, all for the Glory of God. Please also continue to pray for us, as we draw closer to Christ, and closer to serving as His priests. God bless you all!
Divine Mercy, have mercy on us.
Our Lady of Czestochowa, pray for us.
Pope St. John Paul II, pray for us.
St. Maria Faustina Kowalksa, pray for us.
St. Maximilian Kolbe, pray for us.