A group of 24 Catholics from Utah joined others from the Southwest for a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France, where they spent a day in prayer alongside Pope Leo XIV.
The group included parishioners from St. John the Baptist Catholic Parish in Draper, St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Parish in Park City, and St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Orem, as well as individuals from Las Vegas and Phoenix.
The pilgrimage took place from Sept. 24 to Oct. 3 and coincided with Pope Leo XIV’s visit to France and his time in Lourdes. Father Omar Ontiveros, the pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, led the group.
Fr. Ontiveros said the opportunity to experience sacred places alongside the successor of Peter was an appeal to strengthen faith and feel a closer presence of God. He noted that participating alongside a diversity of parishioners was a wonderful experience that allowed the group to learn from the faith and personal stories of others.
The pilgrimage included demanding but meaningful activities, such as a nightly candlelight procession where prayers are offered for the sick. Fr. Ontiveros stated that praying the rosary for the sick while walking around the sanctuary unites the group with the Universal Church.
For Brian Corcoran, a parishioner from St. John the Baptist, the experience of praying the rosary with the Pope provided an incredible sense of spirituality and connection to his faith.
Corcoran and his wife had originally planned a pilgrimage to Israel, but the trip was canceled due to the ongoing situation in that region. After seeing an advertisement for the Lourdes trip in a parish bulletin, they decided to join the group.
Corcoran noted that being around a large number of like-minded people in Lourdes provided a profound sense of community, which he found significant while living in Utah where Catholics are not the majority.
Fr. Ontiveros stated that the message he wishes to share with the community following the pilgrimage is the importance of continuing to walk together in faith. He encouraged parishioners to support one another by recognizing the face of Christ in every brother or sister in need.
