This earth is not our lasting home.
Details & FAQ
All High School Students (& Chaperones)
From June 1st through the 5th, the Office of Evangelization and Catholic Formation for Youth will take high school students and their chaperones on the Fr. Emil Kapaun 60 mile Pilgrimage from Wichita to Pilsen. Will the 60-mile trek be hard? No doubt! But, the opportunity to disconnect from the noise and participate in daily Mass, guided reflection, group prayer, and reconciliation, will open the door to growing in relationship with Jesus Christ and discovering His plan for you to advance in holiness.
June 1-5, 2022
- June 1 travel from ArchKCK to Church of the Magdalen 12626 E 21st. N Wichita, KS 67206
- June 2 First travel day 22 miles to McNeil Farm
- June 3 14 Miles to Peabody Park
- June 4 16 Miles to Kroupa Farm
- June 5 8 Miles to Pilsen, Fr. Kapaun Day Mass at 11am
According to David Baldwin from Catholic Truth Society, a pilgrimage, “at its simplest, is a physical journey, your journey. But it is a journey undertaken with spiritual intent, usually heading for a destination of religious significance.” He goes on to quote the Marquis de Tamaron, “A pilgrimage implies a voyage of self-discovery and a search for something greater and beyond oneself.”
Each year at the beginning of summer hundreds of pilgrims walk 60 miles in the plains of the heartland of Kansas to the hometown of Servant of God Emil Kapaun. They do it not only to remember the heroic Catholic priest and Army chaplain who is on the path to sainthood but to discover the true meaning of their own unique paths to sainthood.
Have you ever taken the time to discover who you truly are? The truth is, we cannot honestly know ourselves without knowing the God who created us, who loves us, and who desires nothing more than to have a relationship with us. So often, we let the noise of everyday life drown out the questions we carry inside that ask who we are and what our purpose might be. Instead, we listen to the opinions of our friends, our social media feeds, even our own fears. Maybe it’s time to encounter something greater than all that noise. Maybe it’s time for a pilgrimage.
To help cover the costs of food, transportation, gas, donations for facilities, etc. we are asking pilgrims to provide 3 things:
- $35 registration fee (invoiced at registration)
- One box of the following: granola bars, nutra-grain bars, sunflower seed, beef jerky, trail mix, ect. to share with the group.
- Fruit to be shared with the group. (You will be assigned (A list of what fruit will be sent to you the week before.)
- Good walking/tennis shoes (hiking boots are not recommended)
- Change of clothes for four days – one nice outfit for Sunday Mass
- 4 pair socks,
- Hat & sunglasses
- Sleeping bag or blanket, tent (ideally share with at least one or two others)
- Toiletries: toothbrush & paste, shampoo/soap, towels for shower
- Sturdy, reusable water bottle
- Rosary, Liturgy of the Hours book
- Poncho & sunblock
- Backpack — to carry anything you want with you on the trail. FYI – you will not have to carry your baggage.
- Transportation to and from the Archdiocese of KCK (meeting location TBD)
- All Meals
- Water and snacks
- Medical supplies
- Trail vehicle for carrying baggage
- Showers (Pilgrimage style)
Parishes are welcome to form groups, but if the parish does not have anyone to lead a group, teens could come with their own chaperone. Groups and individuals will register with the ArchKCK Youth Office, then the Youth Office will register our group with the Diocese of Wichita.
High School Students & chaperones only. 1 chaperone for every 8 students. Coed groups require at least one male and one female chaperone even if less than 8 students attend. Chaperones must be at least 21 year old and VIRTUS compliant.
“How many times does not Holy Mother Church tell us that our life on this earth is a journey? This earth is not our lasting home. God created us for a higher, a much more perfect home, our home in heaven with the joy of God.”