FranU students walk in the footsteps of St. Francis

As a young Marine traversing the globe on active duty, Duke Duplessis’ travels afforded him to opportunity to visit the Vatican. 
Twenty years later, only weeks ago when Duplessis, a retired veteran who served in Afghanistan, once again toured the sacred walls of the Vatican his perspective had dramatically changed.
“It was much more meaningful to me,” he said.
Duplessis was one of six pilgrims participating in the annual Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University Pilgrimage who recently visited Italy.
“I did not know what a pilgrimage was but it was advertised to walk in the footsteps of St. Francis and that is what drew me to it initially,” said Duplessis, a Gonzales resident and a father of four with the couple’s fifth child on the way.
The annual pilgrimage, which is always scheduled at the end of FranU’s summer session but was drydocked the past two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic, began in 2016, one year after Tammy Vidrine was hired as the director of campus ministry. Vidrine said FranU’s goal was to schedule an annual pilgrimage where students would be able to learn more about St. Francis, deepen their relationship with God and build community with each other. 
FranU picks up the majority of the tab, with students only being responsible for a few meals and souvenirs.

“I think (the pilgrimage) gives them a better understanding of our mission, of who we are as Franciscans and what that means when they go out into the marketplace as a Franciscan,” Vidrine said.
The pilgrimage is open to all FranU students but they must first apply through Vidrine’s office. Vidrine and a staff member will go through the applications and conduct interviews. 
“From the interviews we get a sense of who should be chosen through the gifts of the Holy Spirit,” Vidrine said. “When we choose the students we seek a common theme, a common thread among them about what they are searching for. They might not even know but by the end of the pilgrimage they know why they came.”
The group meets on at least four occasions to start building relationships, learning the culture of Italy, what to do and not do and will even gather for one meal at a local Italian restaurant.
Before departing, FranU President Dr. Tina Holland and other school officials will present the pilgrims with a  journal, rosary and Roman Missal in a “sending” ceremony.
“The pilgrimage is about retelling the story of St. Francis at all of the sites that impacted his life, from his youth,  where he grew up, the cell where he was put in by his father,” Vidrine said. 
The agenda wavers little from year to year because as Vidrine says “different students, same story.” The itinerary includes such places as the Basilica of St. Francis Assisi, the Basilica of St. Clare, the Basilica of John Lateran & Holy Stairs (where Duplessis walked the 28 steps on his knees), the papal Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels & Porziuncola, the Vatican and Isola Maggoire (where St. Francis spent 40 days with only water and one loaf of bread).
“For someone to commit that much to the faith and that much wanting to emulate Jesus, what am I doing? How worldly am I living?” Duplessis said. 
In the evenings, the pilgrims gather for prayer and to share their reflections of the day. Students were also assigned days to blog about their experience.
“This pilgrimage was like a bath to me,” nursing student Maranda Patin wrote in a blog. “I have washed away all the things that I thought were bad about me and have been dried in God’s love.”
“This family that we have built is amazing,” Patin added.  “We have encouraged, guided and loved one another for all of our quirks and that is exactly what I needed. It is what we all needed in a sense.”
Duplessis said the pilgrimage also changed him, as he has developed more patience, has a calmness about him and a greater appreciation of his faith. He said his faith was reaffirmed by witnessing its history through the various sacred sites.
“There is a level of spirituality when you see (St. Francis’) grave and his four friars (buried with him),” Duplessis said. “And you see his basilica, its beauty and reverence. 
“He did not have an easy life but he made the best of it. That is a lesson to us.”
“After coming back I say more proudly I go to FranU. It has more meaning. I get more ownership out of it because of the pilgrimage and why we are Franciscans,” he added.
 I am so overwhelmed with joy and gratitude from this pilgrimage in Italy,” said Emily Winter, who is studying to become a physician’s assistant  “I have had the incredible opportunity to grow in my faith and build relationships with amazing FranU students and mentors while being in a beautiful place packed with history and spirituality. I have learned what it means to truly be Franciscan, and I hope to embody the same biblical values the St. Francis did.”
To read more about the pilgrimage and the bloggers’ comments visit franupilgrimage.weebly.com/blog.