The tour began in Krakow, Poland, where the group stayed at the Divine Mercy Shrine. They explored the beauty of the life of St. Faustina and the message of Divine Mercy. From there they traveled to Wadowice, Poland, the hometown of St. John Paul II, and celebrated Mass in the parish where he was baptized. The group also visited the prison cell of St. Maximillian Kolbe in Auschwitz, prayed at the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa and then flew to Turin, Italy, the home of Saints Don Bosco, Dominic Savio and Pier Giorgio Frassati. The group hiked the same trails that St. Pier Giorgio and St. John Paul II trekked in the Alps of Pollone, Italy, which allowed them literally to follow in the saints’ footsteps.

Victoria Podrebarac, a parishioner of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Austin, said she had just started meeting more Catholic young adults and was actively seeking more opportunities to grow in faith when she saw a message detailing the pilgrimage.

“I instantly felt a deep, clear yes in my heart,” Podrebarac said. “It was one of those moments where, despite not knowing how it would all work out with finances and time off, I just knew I was being called to go. From the moment I committed, I had this deep sense of peace and confidence, which I know came from God. I had been praying for a deeper connection and faith-filled friendships, and this trip delivered that in abundance.”

From Turin, the trekkers settled in for an eight-hour bus ride to Assisi, home of St. Francis, St. Clare and the newly canonized St. Carlo Acutis. The pilgrimage ended in Rome, where the group passed through the Holy Doors of all four major basilicas, visited Santa Scala (the Holy Stairs) and attended an audience with Pope Leo XIV.

The zealous group woke up very early the morning of the papal audience and were able to get front row seats in St. Peter’s Square, which allowed them to be within a few feet of the Holy Father as he passed by in the Popemobile. Many of them reported making eye contact with Pope Leo.

Newlyweds Cole and Clystiah Bordner, parishioners of St. Jerome Parish in Waco, came home with a notable memory.

As tradition has it, newlywed couples married for three months or less may sit in a special section of St. Peter’s Square, where the pope blesses them. The couples must wear their wedding attire and occasionally they can personally greet the pope.

“At the last minute, God opened a door and allowed us to join other married couples in the sposi novelli section. We believe in our hearts that the intercessions of our group and Father Chris were what opened the door for us,” Cole said. “It was such a grace to sit with other couples; it was a surreal experience, and something we will never forget.”

Father Smith, who is the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in La Grange, served as chaplain and guide on the trip. He felt called to bring pilgrims from the Austin Diocese to experience the beauty of the sacred places. He pointed out that their Italian tour director, who traveled along with them, said it was her first true pilgrimage experience because it was so rooted in prayer.

“I made sure to distinguish between a pilgrimage and a vacation,” Father Smith said. “We stayed in simple lodging and continued to surrender to the will of God during the entire two weeks. We also had Mass each day, said a daily rosary, had at least 30 minutes of personal daily prayer and ended each evening with small group sharing and night prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours. Of course, we had a lot of fun, too, all the while increasing our faith, hope and charity through deepened encounters with Christ and the saints.”

The trip, which took place last September, was open to all young adults ages 23-40 from Central Texas. A total of 23 attended from a multitude of parishes. Many of them had never been on a pilgrimage or to Europe so joining them was quite memorable for Father Smith.

“It was a great joy to be their spiritual father and guide and help them encounter Christ and our Catholic faith in a profound way,” he said. “I have great admiration for St. John Paull II, so it was wonderful to follow in his footsteps. I was so inspired by the young adults’ fervor and faith on the pilgrimage. They are a sign of hope for me and for our local church.”

The young adults on the pilgrimage were thankful for Father Smith’s leadership and care. They especially appreciated the time to pray, reflect and connect with one another and God.

Bianca Meza of Santa Cruz Parish in Buda expressed her gratitude for the opportunity.

“I feel beyond thankful and blessed for Father Chris’ spiritual leadership. Every location was so special; places where heaven meets earth. It was all so amazing, but the Holy Stairs in Rome were a highlight for me,” she said. “As I kneeled up the stairs, I felt so much sorrow, sadness, grief and heartbreak for Jesus. I imagined how he must have felt as he went up the stairs, yet he did it willingly and lovingly. Each step upward I felt more loved by Jesus and more courage to love him more. I came back with a heart full of joy, hope and courage; courage to love more, give more and forgive more. I will never forget this experience and highly recommend saying yes to an adventure with Jesus. He will never disappoint.”

For more information about Young Adult Ministry in the Diocese of Austin, visit centraltexascatholic.org.