“Where You Stand Determines What You See”— Turning All Things Over to God By Jennifer Henninger

t’s difficult for me to articulate how this pilgrim- Mass to the fellowship with the other pilgrims, Iage influenced me personally as I still haven’t have encouraged me to become more involved in completely wrapped my head around the whole our parish and our community. experience. I really had no expectations going in to I also found that the multitude of opportunities for this trip. I was going along because Mark asked me prayer helped me to grow spiritually as well. I’ve never to go. I didn’t want to leave my kids, I didn’t want to felt closer to God or more open to just pray what it is leave our relaxed summer routine, and I didn’t want in my heart. The opportunity to take our spirituality to leave my air conditioning and washing machine! out of the confines of a four walls and a roof made it When I left home, I couldn’t wait to get back and easier for me to just talk to God and pray on a more resume my normal life. When I got back, I felt like personal level. I have brought this experience home my normal life had completely changed! with me by remembering to turn all things over to During our time in Italy, we were reminded that God and to pray anytime, anywhere. “where you stand determines what you see.” As I feel that this pilgrimage had a wonderful effect on the trip began, I stood in O’Hare airport asking our marriage. While I love my husband deeply and Mark if I really had to board the flight to Rome. I believe that we have a very strong relationship, we was terrified of flying and was in physical pain at had become servants to our daily life and the busy the thought of being away from my kids. I couldn’t schedules of our children. The blessing of 12 days begin to see past what I would be missing at home together, relying on each other for support all along and that is where I stood. As you can imagine, I the way, renewed something in both of us. Since couldn’t see much. However, as I began to see the we’ve been home, we’ve continued to recognize the pilgrimage for what it was, and not for what I was importance of supporting each other and I pray missing at home, I saw what a wonderful experi- daily that our relationship will continue to live in ence it was and my perspective changed. that blissfully happy place we found in Assisi. Before I left, I really didn’t realize how shallow my Additionally, it was the first time in a very long time faith had become and what I was missing spiritu- that we have truly grown in our faith together. As ally. The experiences of the pilgrimage, from daily

Continued on next page Catholics, I think sometimes we feel that our faith we experienced while in Italy, especially when he is a very private thing. The pilgrimage helped us to may not be able to remember them as fully. I hope open up more to each other about our faith and I that I will be able to remind Mark of the Franciscan hope to share that open communication with our values throughout the season, to see all people as the children here at home. creatures that God created them to be, not just as an opponent, or an official, or an athlete who isn’t quite Finally, the pilgrimage influenced me personally. as on board as he should be, and reminding him Before this trip, I had no desire to move outside of to “preach the gospel always; when necessary use my comfort zone and travel, especially not overseas. w ord s .” Now, we are already planning our bucket list of trips, including taking the kids to Germany, going I hope to share our renewed excitement about our back to Eastern Europe, and exploring Iceland! I faith with our family. I want them to look forward also found that I really liked the pilgrimage experi- to that time that they get to spend with God and ence and hope to have the opportunity to do addi- that we get to spend together as a family. I want to tional pilgrimages in the future. I also truly enjoyed be a better spiritual leader for our family, in words meeting all of my fellow pilgrims. From dinners and in action. at Casa Papa Giovanni to our time in the Piazza I hope that by sharing my experience, from my fear Commune, the time for fellowship was one of my of leaving through the transformation and peace favorite memories. that I felt once I was there, I can encourage other While I technically don’t work at Marian, I do have moms with young families to get outside of their some influence on someone who does! I plan to help comfort zone and do something for themselves, support Mark in his work at Marian by reminding their marriages, and their faith – whether it be a him of several of the lessons we learned and things pilgrimage overseas or just a retreat locally.