Kathleen Brul: Walking with the saints

My name is Kathleen Brul. I am a mechanical engineering student at the University of Alberta and a member of the St. Francis Xavier Chaplaincy in Calgary. This past month, I was blessed to join the SFXC Jubilee Year Pilgrimage to Italy.

During our pilgrimage, we travelled throughout Italy, and while each city had its own charm, my favourite places were Sepino, Norcia, and Assisi.
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Sepino was a special place to visit, as it is the hometown of our beloved Fr. Cristino. We had the incredible privilege of being greeted by the Archbishop of Campobasso, joining a procession for the feast of St. Christina, and enjoying the traditional Italian experience of a five-hour meal at a beautiful local restaurant.

In Norcia, we visited the Benedictine Monastery of our fellow Calgarian, Brother Paul. The monastery was on top of a mountain, and it was such a peaceful place to visit. We had a private Mass in the Extraordinary Form, joined the monks in praying the Liturgy of the Hours, and learned a lot about the life of St. Benedict and the monastic traditions of the Benedictine order.  

Assisi was also one of my favourites because I was able to learn more about the lives of St. Francis and St. Clare, and the impact of their lives in our Church was so beautifully reflected throughout the town. Visiting the tomb of St. Francis was especially powerful for me, as I was able to reflect on his life of humility and radical love for God, which inspires me to live my own faith with greater courage.
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​Walking through the towns where some of the greatest saints used to live, and learning about the rich culture and history of our Catholic faith, will have an everlasting impact on my life. I am so thankful to our priests, Fr. Cristino, Fr. Troy, and Fr. Santiago, for leading us on this pilgrimage that I will cherish in my heart forever.

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Written by Kathleen Brul for Faithfully. Kathleen joined the young adults pilgrimage to Italy (Aug 2025) organized by St. Francis Xavier Chaplaincy. Photos courtesy of Kathleen Brul.