Pilgrimage to Retreat
The group poses in the Chapel of St. Benedict in Rome.
Discovering Jesus in the Eucharist Around the World
By Aiden Kanno
Most people would look at a trip to Europe or any foreign country as a vacation, but when you enter into that trip to seek something deeper, that trip can become transformative. This past July, I had the privilege of embarking on a journey through Italy along with Father Matthew Zetouna and 37 other pilgrims. We were blessed to visit 14 cities within just 14 days. These cities are home to some of the greatest saints and hold some of the richest history of our Mother Church.
An amazing blessing we had was Father Matthew Zetouna celebrating our Chaldean Mass every day in the churches we visited. What an honor it was to have such an amazing spiritual Father with us, along with Sister Immaculata Kassab, who graciously served as our spiritual mother.
This was my second pilgrimage. Last year, I was able to accompany Father Matthew on his pilgrimage to Spain and France. I expected the traditional struggles of a pilgrimage, lots of walking, encountering the native people, and enjoying beautiful sites. However, what I encountered was far more profound. I knew from the beginning that the Lord was going to show me something.
Italy holds some of the most beautiful churches in the world; they are filled with precious gold and fine marble. The buildings are so well articulated, and the monuments are a true inspiration from the Divine. The beauty of Italy’s churches lies in their stunning architecture, rich history, and the serene—and most importantly, the sacred—atmosphere that invites reflection and reverence.
Upon entering these churches, I realized most of the people visiting do not understand what a church is, or what sacrifice takes place on the altar. This is a perspective often stemming from a lack of understanding about their profound spiritual significance and history. The Lord showed me something about our gift as Chaldeans.
As Chaldeans, we are gifted to have such a strong faith, we are a people of prayer and love of God. Where the Eucharist is, there we will be. We do not need a magnificent church filled with gold and marble; all we need is Jesus in the Eucharist. Yes, it is beautiful to glorify God through all this artwork and all the beautiful architecture, but it means absolutely nothing if Jesus is not the center of it all.
A pilgrimage requires the denial of one’s own will and allows the Lord’s will to prevail, granting Him permission to take charge and work within you. My pilgrimage transformed into a spiritual retreat, a deep journey that led me to a renewed and intimate encounter with Jesus.
Visiting cities like Assisi and San Giovanni Rotundo ignited an even deeper flame in my heart because these cities are filled with Catholics seeking the same thing all of us pilgrims were, a deeper connection with the Lord. This shared love for the Lord strengthened our group’s bond, leading to a more faith-centered trip.
There is a difference between a pilgrimage and a retreat, but one thing they both have in common is the encounter we have with the Lord. A retreat typically involves separating yourself from the world and entering a time of prayer and reflection. With a pilgrimage, the Lord invites us to engage with the world in a deep spiritual way; walking the streets where saints once lived, praying in ancient churches, and celebrating Mass in the very churches where so many souls have encountered the love of Jesus—all this adds such richness to the spirituality of a pilgrimage.
One of the most profound aspects of this pilgrimage was the way it connected us to the universal Church. As Chaldeans, we are part of such a rich tradition, but in Italy, we encountered the universality of the Catholic faith. Celebrating Mass in these sacred places reminded me that no matter where we are in the world, no matter which tradition or heritage we come from, we are all connected through one thing, the Holy Eucharist.
This pilgrimage challenged us to surrender more fully to the will of God. Each day we faced the physical demands of travel, the uncertainty of what or who we would encounter, and the spiritual call to accept God’s will. During these times of uncertainty, I was reminded that this is like our spiritual life, it requires perseverance and to trust in the unexpected ways that God works.
Reflecting on this journey, I discerned that the true essence of a pilgrimage is not about the sights we see, but the transformation that takes place in our hearts. This pilgrimage reinforced the idea that if we are in the mountains on a silent retreat, or walking the streets of Rome, the purpose stays the same: to grow deeper with the Lord and invite him into our hearts.
Jesus is the same in America as He is in Europe. He allows us to encounter Him in the Eucharist, but this time on the other side of the world. He has something in store for each pilgrim, but it is up to them if they are willing to accept it.