Pilgrims from Lyons walk 75 miles to honor God, Fr. Kapaun, Fr. Padilla
By Tom Engelland
The idea was inspired by seminarian Deacon Nicholas Samsel, who spent his summer as a deacon in Rice County. He thought a pilgrimage for the men and young men of the parishes in Rice County would be a chance to give a traditional and yet powerful challenge to the men to grow in their faith. As pastor of the three parishes in Rice County, Fr. Michael Brungardt put the idea into action and, with the help of many, made it a reality.
The result was a 75-mile spring break pilgrimage, held March 18-21, for the young men of the youth group. Fr Brungardt and his fellow pilgrims started at the Fr. Juan de Padilla Cross near Lyons and ended in Pilsen.
Along with Fr. Brungardt, pilgrims were John Kuhn, Gary Vogt, Jose ‘Freddy’ Rodriguez, Junior Briseño, Jeff Dohrman, Bronson Rains, Ryder Heter, Jesús Mata, Andrew Chapman, Adahir Rivera, Ricardo Tapia, Edwin Rodriguez, Florence Barles, and Tom Engelland.
The men walked 4 days with overnight stops in Little River, McPherson, and Hillsboro. Every morning started with mass, breakfast, and then spiritual guidance and personal reflection to guide us on the daily walk.
Each day of the pilgrimage had its own characteristics, ranging from sunshine and perfect walking conditions, to wintry blizzard conditions with winds that exceeded 50 mph. The third day covered a 27 miles, which tested everyone’s endurance, but the group’s faith remained strong.
This pilgrimage allowed men to move at the pace of reality, to slow down and tune in to what God is doing. Through sunburns on day one, to -1 degree wind chills on day two, to the grueling distance of day three, the arrival in Pilsen brought more than just a sense of perseverance and accomplishment. It was truly an exterior journey that facilitated an interior one – a true pilgrimage.
The walk was inspirational as it reflected our lives on surviving tough conditions to get to the good sunshine moments. Evenings were spent with local parish priests. In McPherson Deacon Hap Ramsey gave a talk on Venerable Emil Kapaun. Deacon Ramsey also gave the men homemade rosaries to carry with them as they walked.
Holy Trinity in Little River was the first night in its parish hall. St. Joseph Parish in McPherson supplied us with a home cooked meal and great hospitality. Hillsboro Middle School was the third night’s stop. Mass at Pilsen was celebrated Friday afternoon, followed by an informative talk in the museum. This was an unforgettable experience with a determined group of men.
The pilgrimage honors both Fr. Padilla and Fr. Kapaun. Fr. Brungardt explained that Padilla was a Spanish Franciscan and the first missionary in the continental United States back in 1541. After watching the faith explode in Mexico after Our Lady of Guadalupe’s apparition in 1531, he boldly traveled to Kansas with Coronado from Mexico City to evangelize the natives of this land. Padilla was killed by the Quivira Indians in 1542 and is considered the proto-martyr of the Americas. His body is most likely in Rice County. Fr. Kapaun needs no introduction.
Barles said the pilgrimage was a unique opportunity to share in Christ’s sufferings and in Fr. Kapaun’s own life example of perseverance and self-sacrificial love.
“Even, and especially, with the brutal conditions and the pain, it was truly one of the greatest privileges of my life to walk this pilgrimage,” Barles said. “Experiencing such conditions and walking that distance gave all of us a practical opportunity to push and discover how much our bodies and minds could handle, how much pain we could endure, and grow in important virtues for life such as perseverance and courage. It taught us how to push on and do the next right thing, to move forward and take the next step, despite discomfort and pain.”
Barles also reflected that the experience stripped pilgrims of distractions and comfort to prompt them to be open and receptive to the Lord and his plan for their lives. “We got to experience the joys and importance of fraternity and how to lean on one another for support; and all lean and depend on Our Lord for strength especially when you are spent and empty and given everything,” he said. “Then we are able to see that it is Our Lord who sustains us and gives us what we need to move forward, which are very, very important reminders for us in our physical and spiritual lives.
Throughout it all, he added, pilgrims grew in prayer and relationship with the Lord as they offered every step, breath, and ounce of pain as a sacrifice to the Lord. They hoped it would glorify him as it strengthened them to love and serve selflessly by following the example of the cross.
“Ultimately, the Holy Spirit has called each and every single one of you here to be on this pilgrimage for a reason – to form our hearts, minds, and bodies to give of ourselves more and more and use our gifts for the greater glory of God, the salvation of souls, and the common good of all,” Barles said.
In the end, Deacon Samsel’s inspiration was a potent one. One that led those who participated, and those who followed the men’s journey, to a deeper faith.
Engelland is a parishioner and youth leader at St. Paul Parish in Lyons.
