Grasshopper Chapel Pilgrimage 2024
2024 Itinerary
Day 1: Friday, July 12th
Please be advised that the first day covers more than twenty-two miles, and is not suitable for children.
7:15 - 7:45 AM: Check-in at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Freeport, MN. For directions click here.
7:45 AM: Pilgrims blessing.
8:00 AM: The pilgrimage begins.
~4:00 and 5:00 PM: Arrival in Roscoe at St Agnes Church followed by Mass, supper, bonfire, and festivities.
Note:
Park on Main Street, to the south. Leave the parking lot and the street directly in front of the church free.
Bring a sack lunch.
Payment of $20 per individual at check-in to cover dinner, camping at Roscoe baseball field, and breakfast morning of day 2.
A suggested packing/camping supply list is linked here for these pilgrims.
Day 2: Saturday, July 13th
7:30 - 8:00 AM: All pilgrims check-in at St Agnes Church in Roscoe, MN. For directions click here
8:20 AM: The Pilgrim's blessing will be given by Father and Pilgrimage begins.
12:00 PM: Pilgrims break for a sack lunch.
~4:00 PM: Arrive at Grasshopper Chapel, followed by Mass, closing blessing, and picnic.
Note:
Drivers will be shuttled back to St Agnes to pick up their vehicles after completion of the pilgrimage and before mass.
Please pack and label your lunch. Bring it to check-in to be transported to the lunch site for you. Water and energy snacks will be provided along the route. The lunch-spot is located at the baseball field in Richmond, MN.
Pilgrims not able to walk or Pilgrims wanting to join are welcome to join us at the lunch spot. For directions click here.
The picnic after Mass will be potluck style. The main course/meat will be provided so please bring a side dish. All are welcome to the picnic.
No payment is required for participating in Day 2, but any donations are greatly appreciated!
Why should I go on a Pilgrimage?
"Throughout the centuries, faithful pilgrims have traveled to Catholic religious sites to pray at the tombs of the saints, to venerate holy relics, to fulfill a pious promise, or simply to achieve a greater knowledge and appreciation for their Faith. Traveling to the centers of our Catholic heritage has been an invaluable means of enriching our spiritual life and providing a deeper understanding of our Catholic treasures.
"Everyone has a personal reason for going on a pilgrimage. Some hope to receive special spiritual graces, others a bodily cure; some have petitions to present, while others wish to thank God for an answered prayer. Pilgrimages are a time for sanctifying the soul and growing closer to God, and are often made as act of penance and reparation.
"As Catholics living in the busy 21st century, we often forget the previous two thousand years of Catholic history. From the time of Christ until today, the Catholic Church has endured and has passed on its treasures and traditions from generation to generation. It is by traveling to countries rich in Catholic culture that we can appreciate and learn more about our Faith. This deeper understanding and love for our heritage immeasurably benefits our spiritual lives, and the gathered memories remain with us throughout our lives.
"A pilgrimage provides time to pray, to look within oneself, to learn more about Our Lord Jesus Christ and His saints, and to make decisions in our lives based on Catholic values and morals. By walking the roads traveled by Our Lord and the saints, we have the time to meditate on their lives and their examples. By assisting at Holy Mass, we have the opportunity to venerate God with the angels and saints. By traveling with other Catholics, we share our spiritual joy and fulfillment. When we come home, we will see things differently with renewed spiritual growth and with an aspiration to imitate the heroes of our Catholic Faith by opening our hearts to the graces and blessings so abundantly received during our pilgrimage."
Quote taken from: https://www.reginapilgrimages.com/
Past Pilgrimages to Grasshopper Chapel
The Grasshopper Chapel has been a source of spiritual food for MN parishes for many years. Saint Robert Bellarmine Chapel has organized this pilgrimage every year possible since 2019.
GCP 2023
God gave many graces during this years pilgrimage. During the first day, He challenged the pilgrims with a strong sun in the morning and a severe thunderstorm in the afternoon that broke again into clear skies. Several families joined on the second day to make the 12 mile walk to the Grasshopper chapel.
GCP 2022
The 2022 pilgrimage was successful and God sent us some rain to add to our penance and/or cool us off depending on how one perceived it. The number of pilgrims was reduced, but the fervor and tenacity to weather the rainstorm and persevere in this public display of faith was stronger than ever.
GCP 2021
After taking 2020 off, we set out again with even more pilgrims. This time we added an optional Friday route for men from Freeport to Roscoe. This was a enormous source of grace for all the pilgrims. For 2022 we will be making this an option for women as well.
GCP 2019
The inaugural Grasshopper Chapel Pilgrimage was a great success, thanks to the hard work of the many volunteers. There were 111 pilgrims, including many from St. Robert Bellarmine Church, a number of SSPX sisters, and faithful Catholics from across central Minnesota. Whole families were able to participate, bringing along young children and babies, and many of the elderly came to the Mass afterwards. We learned so much from this first pilgrimage, and were able to make many improvements based on suggestions solicited from the pilgrims, such as simplifying the check-in and parking, lengthening the pilgrimage, and getting more participation from across the state.