Hawks Participate in Pilgrimage of Hope for Creation
The nationwide initiative encourages connection to God’s creation and care for the Earth
Saint Joseph’s University students and staff gather outside Villanova Chapel
Oct. 4 marked Saint Joseph’s University’s first participation in the Pilgrimage of Hope for Creation, a nationwide movement to recognize the sacred relationship between humanity and creation.
The students embarked on a seven-mile walk from Villanova University to St. Joe’s campus and were joined by Villanova students and members of the greater Philadelphia community.
“I loved the opportunity we had to collaborate with students from other campuses,” says Nelly Rodriguez Sorza, MS ’27, who works with campus ministry through the ACESJU Fellowship and helped organize the event. “Villanova and St. Joe’s are considered ‘rival schools,’ but it was so nice to come together for such a great cause and welcome each other on both campuses.”
Additionally, the event was attended by SJU campus organizations like the Green Fund, which is dedicated to sustainability on Hawk Hill.
The walk featured six stops at local parishes where pilgrims participated in reflection, prayer and presentations about saints, as this year marks the 800th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of the Creatures, a religious song praising God for His creation, and the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ encyclical.
“It was so beautiful to see different parishes open up their doors for us and welcome us in with loving arms,” Rodriguez Sorza says.
According to Thomas J. Sheibley, director of campus ministry, the walk was an opportunity for students to experience nature and reflect on their own faith journeys.
“Through participating in the walk, pilgrims were invited to pray for grace, encounter Christ in creation and renew their relationships with God, the Earth and one another during the Season of Creation,” he says.
The event is in alignment with the SJU’s commitment to Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ initiative dedicated to protecting our common home through environmental stewardship. On their path, pilgrims were encouraged to pick up any trash they encountered and think critically about their impact on the natural world.
This year, the pilgrimage featured about 35 members, including some who joined along the way. Rodriguez Sorza and the campus ministry team plan to make it a yearly event, bigger and better each time.
