✨An Advent Pilgrimage: Journey Into the Heart of Waiting✨
- SJE
- Nov 11
- 3 min read
Join us on December 6 for a one-day Advent Pilgrimage led by Deacon Robert Gromala — a sacred journey to holy sites that invites you to pause, pray, and rediscover the true peace and joy of the Advent season.
The Christmas countdown is on… but before the wrapping paper, the cookies, and the chaos— what if we hit pause?
Advent is not just the pre-Christmas season. It’s a sacred time of holy anticipation, a chance to prepare our hearts for Christ’s coming — both at Bethlehem and in our everyday lives. It’s the Church’s gentle reminder to slow down, breathe, and listen for God in the quiet.
And this year, you’re invited to do exactly that — in a beautiful, one-day Advent Pilgrimage led by Deacon Robert Gromala, with the help of Stella Maris Tours.
🕊️ A Day of Prayer, Beauty, and Renewal
Date: Saturday, December 6, 2025
Time: Check in at St. John the Evangelist Church, 10701 Olcott Ave., St. John at 7:15a.m. | Return around 5p.m.
Cost: $150 per person (includes travel, tours, and lunch!)
We’ll travel together as a parish family to some of the most inspiring Catholic sites in the Diocese of Gary and beyond:
Holy Angels Cathedral, Gary, IN — Begin the day with Mass and prayer at the heart of our Diocese. In this Jubilee Year, your visit may even bring a plenary indulgence—a beautiful grace to receive this Advent.
University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN — Experience a guided campus and chapel tour at one of the most beloved Catholic universities in the world, with time to reflect and pray in its breathtaking chapels.
Lunch at Dainty Maid Food Hall — Good food, laughter, and fellowship—because joy and community are part of the journey!
St. Stanislaus Church, South Bend, IN — End your pilgrimage with prayer and reflection in a stunning, newly renovated sacred space, guided by the FSSP (Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter) pastor.
💜 Why This Pilgrimage?
When asked what inspired him to lead it, Deacon Robert shared:
“I felt the Holy Spirit tug on my heart, and from that I felt inspired to lead an Advent Pilgrimage. Like so many of us, I often find myself rushing through December trying to ‘get everything done.’ Advent is meant to slow us down, to help us prepare room for Christ — not just in the manger, but in our daily lives. I wanted to create an opportunity for us to journey together, to breathe a little deeper, pray a little more, and really enter into the beauty of waiting with hope.”
🌟 The Heart of Advent
Advent is a time of joyful waiting. It’s about rediscovering peace in the stillness, hope in the darkness, and joy in the small moments.
Deacon Robert adds, “My hope is that this pilgrimage helps each of us rediscover what Advent is truly about — finding peace in the waiting, joy in the ordinary, and a renewed closeness to Jesus. If this experience draws even one person a little nearer to the light of Christ, then it’s all worth it.”
🚍 Don’t Wait to Wait Well
Spots are limited—and this pilgrimage will fill quickly! Give yourself the gift of a day to refresh your soul before the Christmas rush.
👉 Register today at our [Advent Pilgrimage – December 6] page.
Let’s journey together this Advent — not in a hurry, but with hearts ready to welcome Him. 💫