Tarmac Online

By Timothy Stoeber ’26

As the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope concluded on January 6, 2026, Chaminade seniors and trip moderators reflected on their experiences witnessing the Jubilee this past summer in Italy, alongside students and teachers from fellow Marianist institution, Kellenberg Memorial High School.

The 38 students and eight moderators began their pilgrimage preparation long before the July 24th departure date. Parent meetings and an overnight retreat at Kellenberg’s Emmanuel Retreat House brought both the Flyers and Firebirds closer together and closer to God. Fr. Daniel Griffin, S.M., Kellenberg alumnus and Chaplain of the Bro. Joseph C. Fox Latin School, served as the trip leader. He explained how his pilgrimage planning began once the Year of Hope was announced by Pope Francis on May 9, 2024. His vision was made a reality thanks to the partnership with Dawn Azrak at Custom Tours, Inc.

The pilgrims began their journey in the countryside of Milan, where they received a private tour of the tomb of St. Gianna Molla. After that, Fr. Dan celebrated the first Mass of the pilgrimage. Moving westward, the pilgrims encountered the Shroud of Turin, which is believed to be the burial cloth used to cover Christ’s body while in the tomb.

The group traveled to Arezzo and took in the atmosphere of the Piazza Grande, the famous city square which dates back to the 1200s and was essential to the set of the movie Life is Beautiful. In Assisi, the Pilgrims of Hope visited the tombs of both St. Francis and St. Clare.

The highlight for many of the pilgrims was coming face-to-face with the fully intact body of St. Carlo Acutis, who is revered at both Chaminade and Kellenberg. St. Carlo died in 2006 at merely 15 years of age from leukemia but is nevertheless acclaimed for his example of faith and devotion to Mary as a modern-day saint. Carlo Acutis was recently canonized on September 7, 2025.

Dennis Harrington ’26 remarked, “I felt my faith really transformed throughout the trip, especially at the tomb of St. Carlo Acutis. Looking at his body, I felt that he could have been a classmate. He looked like an ordinary teenager, but he is a saint, reminding me that each and every one is called to holiness.”

Once in Rome, everyone was given the opportunity to pass through the Holy Doors of the Four Major Papal Basilicas of Rome: St. Paul Outside the Walls, Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major, St. Peter’s Basilica, and Archbasilica of St. John Lateran. The pilgrims were led on guided tours throughout each, which provided insight into the history and splendor of each Papal Basilica.

On July 30th, the pilgrims attended Pope Leo XIV’s weekly General Audience where he was escorted through the paths of St. Peter’s Square in the Popemobile before his public address. John Gaffney, Kellenberg senior, explains how he was “pushed by the crowd right where he [Pope Leo] was going to pass by. Mr. Brian Gallery ’18 saw this and handed me a Marianist bracelet. As the Pope passed by, I reached out and he took it out of my hand. This experience was an amazing part of the trip; it symbolized the Holy Father’s willingness and drive to spread God’s message to the youth gathered there. For me, it was such a wonderful invitation to bring the joy I had in that interaction back home to share.”

During their time at the Marianist General Administration, the international headquarters of the Society of Mary, the pilgrims met Fr. André Fétis, S.M., the Superior General of the Marianists, and saw first-class relics of Fr. Chaminade, Bl. Adele, and Bl. Jakob Gapp.

Bro. Ryszard Decowski, S.M. ’77 said, “Seeing the headquarters made me proud to see that the Society of Mary has so many vibrant international communities around the world.”

While the pilgrimage was rooted in faith, the group also visited many of Rome’s historic landmarks including the Pantheon, the Roman Forum, the Colosseum, and Catacombs of Saint Callixtus. Along the way, students and teachers experienced authentic Italian culture through shared meals of local cuisine and delicious gelato, which became a daily treat.

Seamus Cunnane ’26 explains, “We spent 11 days together, in prayer and reflection, but also in transit, in free time, and sharing meals, which gave us an opportunity to grow closer together, make new friends, and truly be present to one another, something difficult to achieve in our modern world. Looking back, I feel as though we had the opportunity to experience the presence of God not only in the Eucharist and many sacred spaces, but also in the joy of community.”

In terms of religious artwork and architecture, the pilgrims viewed masterpieces such as the Baroque triptych of the Life of St. Matthew by Caravaggio in the San Luigi dei Francesi Church. The Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel housed huge crowds as one of Rome’s most popular attractions. The Sistine Chapel’s ceiling art by Michelangelo, including the Last Judgment and the Creation of Adam, captivates roughly 20,000 daily visitors.

Mr. Brian Gallery ’18 emphasized, “Seeing Michelangelo’s art in the Sistine Chapel for the very first time can be described as nothing less than breathtaking. I was astonished by how the visual depiction of the Creation, Fall, and Redemption allows us to truly understand the plan that God has for humanity. Also, the need to physically look up towards the ceiling, thus, in some sense, Heaven, served as a reminder that God desires an active relationship with us; a truth that is so much clearer when seen rather than read in a book or heard during a homily.”

On August 3rd, Fr. Dan celebrated the final Mass of the pilgrimage at the Basilica of St. Augustine, which has the tomb of Augustine’s mother, St. Monica. During the final group dinner, every Flyer and Firebird gave a short speech about what they enjoyed most and were most grateful for on the trip. In one final act of leadership, Fr. Dan reminded us that since we were so blessed to make it to Rome during the Jubilee Year of Hope, we are called to spread the Good News to all those who could not make the journey.