Photo by Clay Schuldt Participants of the first leg of the New Ulm Diocese Pilgrimage of Hope traveled on foot along County Road 27 from New Ulm to Sleepy Eye Sunday afternoon.

NEW ULM — Anyone driving County 27 between New Ulm and Sleepy Eye on Sunday afternoon would see an unusual site.

A gathering of area faithful had begun the first leg of an eight-day Pilgrimage of Hope. The mission is to visit sites connected to the New Ulm Catholic Diocese.

The Pilgrimage of Hope was inspired by the completion of a commissioned painting of “Our Lady of the Prairie” and the rededication of the New Ulm Diocese to adopt this new title.

The Diocese of New Ulm was originally dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God, on Jan. 31, 1958, the morning after the diocese was established. Last year, Bishop Chad Zielinski decided to rededicate the diocese to “Our Lady of the Prairie.”

Zielinski said that upon arriving at the New Ulm Diocese in 2022, his first task was to drive to all four corners of the rural diocese. In visiting parish sites he notices the thousands of acres of prairie land. This inspired the rededication of the Diocese as “Our Lady of the Prairie.”

Last year, Zielinski commissioned Damien Walker, a founder and director of The Studio of Saint Philomena in New Zealand, to paint a life-size image of “Our Lady of the Prairie” which was recently completed.

The rededication ceremony was held at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Sunday morning. Along with the rededication, Zielinski blessed the pilgrims who would be traveling with a replica of “Our Lady of the Prairie” to each Area Faith Church in the diocese over the next eight days. Seven young adults were selected to take part in the entire pilgrimage. This included Aaron Gnerer, Jake Brost, Mathew Collins, David Rabaey, Molly Koralewski, Aleah Vetsch and Amber Rosemeier.

The group had begun the journey following a rededication ceremony at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity early in the morning. By 2 p.m. a collection of pilgrims were walking County Road 27 in 95-degree heat carrying with them a replica of Our Lady of the Prairie. Their destination was the Schoenstatt Shrine to St. Mary’s in Sleepy Eye to pray the Rosary with other gathered faithful. From the shrine, the pilgrims traveled to St. Mary’s Church in Sleepy Eye for a holy hour.

The seven perpetual pilgrims on the journey arrived in Sleepy Eye tired but fulfilled in their mission.

Fifth-year seminarian David Rabaey said the first leg of the pilgrimage was difficult. The group walked in extreme heat ranging from 95 to 100 degree. Rabaey said he was forced to stop at one point on the journey to treat blisters but was excited to be a part of the pilgrimage.

“It means a lot to do this,” Rabaey said. “When I found out about this, I hoped I would get the call to join. It’s a great chance to meet other young people in the diocese and it is an opportunity to pray for other needs of the diocese.”

Fellow pilgrims Amber Rosemeier and Aleah Vetsch agreed it was a hot and difficult walk, but it was a chance to talk with their fellow travelers. Rosemeier said she was fortunate to be joined by her brother Samuel on this first leg of the trip.

Vetsch said the New Ulm to Sleepy Eye walk was one of the longest walks on the pilgrimage. With it complete they could look forward to the rest of the journey.

Aldean Hendrickson, the tribunal director for the Pilgrimage of Hope followed the pilgrims in a follow car. He confirmed the first leg of the trip was the hardest. County Road 27 is a higher volume road compared to the other routes they would be taking.

The pilgrimage traveled to St. Raphael’s in Springfield Monday, morning and St. Anne in Wabasso in the evening. Tuesday the pilgrimage will reach Marshall and Ghent, ending the day in Ortonville.

At 6 a.m. Wednesday, the Pilgrimage of Hope will reach the headwaters of the Minnesota River, where Zielinski will bless the river.

The Pilgrimage of Hope will include stops in Appleton, Montevideo, Wilmar, Oliva, Litchfield, Winsted, Hutchinson, Glencoe, Winthrop, St. Peter, and North Mankato and return to Holy Trinity of New Ulm for a 10 a.m. Sunday. This will be followed by a welcome home celebration at 3 p.m. at St. Mary’s.

Guest speakers at the welcome home celebration include artist Damien Walker and Archbishop Emeritus Allen H. Vigneron.

The pilgrims will provide testimonies.