Grove City faithful embrace diocesan unity through Jubilee pilgrimages
By Allison Mosier07/08/2025
As part of the ongoing Holy Year celebrations, Deacon Owen Wagner of Beloved Disciple Catholic Parish in Grove City organized two pilgrimages this spring, one to St. Leo Magnus in Ridgway and another to St. Peter Cathedral in Erie. These two sites, designated as official pilgrimage locations for the Diocese of Erie’s Jubilee Year, offered parishioners a powerful opportunity to reflect, connect and receive the spiritual graces necessary for a plenary indulgence.
Deacon Owen said the decision to coordinate the pilgrimages stemmed from a desire to help parishioners “step beyond the boundaries of their home parish and encounter the church in its fullness.”
“Being Catholic means more than belonging to one community,” he explained. “It means being part of something universal, connected to people and places that stretch far beyond our own pews. These pilgrimages were a chance to remember that, even across counties and towns, we are one body in Christ.”
The first pilgrimage brought the Grove City pilgrims to St. Leo Magnus in Ridgway, where Father Justin Pino, pastor of the parish and diocesan archivist, warmly welcomed them. The group attended Mass together, entering into prayer and thanksgiving at one of the oldest churches in the diocese. Afterward, Father Pino shared the parish’s history and his insights into the legacy of the many popes named Leo. His enthusiasm for church history added depth to the visit, particularly in this Jubilee Year under newly elected Pope Leo XIV.
Nestled in Elk County, St. Leo Magnus Church stands as a testament to the enduring faith of the Catholic community in rural Pennsylvania. Parishioners from Grove City were struck not only by the beauty of the church but by the realization of just how expansive and diverse the Diocese of Erie truly is. “People are often surprised that Grove City is part of the Diocese of Erie,” Deacon Owen noted. “But this visit helped us see that while we may live far apart, our faith binds us together.”
The second pilgrimage, held several weeks later, brought a group north to St. Peter Cathedral in Erie. Their visit began with a guided tour by historian and parishioner Phil Gallagher, who shared insights into the cathedral’s rich history and sacred architecture. The group was also led down to the crypt, where many of the diocese’s bishops, including Archbishop John Mark Gannon, are laid to rest. The experience culminated with the celebration of Mass, where the pilgrims united their prayers with the wider church and offered the Eucharist for the intentions of the Holy Father.
“The cathedral helped us connect to our spiritual heritage,” said one pilgrim. “We stood where so many others have stood, clergy and faithful Catholics throughout history. It was a deeply moving experience.”
Both pilgrimages were more than just day trips; they were steps in the process of receiving a plenary indulgence during the Jubilee Year. The church grants a plenary indulgence, which is the full remission of temporal punishment due to sin, when specific spiritual acts are carried out with the proper disposition.
To receive a plenary indulgence during the Jubilee Year, the faithful must do the following at least once:
- Receive sacramental confession and absolution
- Receive Holy Communion
And carry out any of the following:
- Make a visit to either St. Peter Cathedral, Erie, or St. Leo Magnus Church, Ridgway, and pray for the intentions of the Holy Father
- Visit the sick or others in need
- Perform personal acts of penance for an entire day, such as:
- Abstain from eating meat
- Abstain from distractions
- Abstain from unnecessary consumption of food or drink
- Perform significant acts of charity
Only one plenary indulgence may be obtained per day, and it may be offered either for oneself or for the soul of a deceased person.
These pilgrimages reminded the Grove City pilgrims that faith is never lived in isolation. In prayer, history, sacrament and fellowship, they experienced the unity of the Body of Christ, alive across time and parish boundaries. As Deacon Owen shared, “We may come from one corner of the diocese, but this journey reminded us just how vast and diverse our Catholic community truly is.”
View photos from the pilgrimage here.
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