By Bishop David Ricken | On Mission
Most of us are familiar with the Walk to Mary, the beloved pilgrimage event held annually in the Diocese of Green Bay on the first Saturday of May which draws approximately 6,000 faithful pilgrims from across the United States each year. Recently, it was honored with the prestigious Discover Green Bay 2024 Event of the Year Award. This recognition highlights the profound impact and witness the Walk to Mary has on the Green Bay community and beyond.
The Walk to Mary is more than a physical journey — it is a spiritual encounter where pilgrims are invited to reflect on their faith, grow closer to Christ and share that faith with others. The 22-mile walk winds through the City of Green Bay from the National Shrine of St. Joseph in De Pere and leads to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion, the sacred grounds where Our Lady appeared three times in 1859.
This year’s recognition holds particular significance considering the 2025 Jubilee, a time when Catholics around the world are called to be Pilgrims of Hope — to fan the flame of hope found only in Jesus Christ and to be witnesses of this hope for others.
As I reflect on this past Sunday’s Gospel, I am reminded of how the apostles encountered Jesus on the mountain during the Transfiguration. Like Peter, John and James, we are called to “go up the mountain” and deeply encounter Jesus. However, after encountering the glory of Jesus, we must “go down from the mountain” and share our gift of faith with the world.
The Walk to Mary embodies this calling, providing an opportunity for a personal encounter with Jesus through the Blessed Virgin Mary (going up the mountain) and, in turn, offering a chance for evangelism and renewal within both our Catholic Community and the greater Green Bay area (coming down the mountain).
To embark on the Walk to Mary is to answer the call to step beyond oneself, encounter God in a profound way and become a witness of hope to the world.
Registrations are now open for the 2025 Walk to Mary and I warmly invite you to consider participating this Jubilee Year. The pilgrimage’s destination, the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion, has been designated a Jubilee Pilgrimage Site for 2025. This is a wonderful opportunity to encounter the spiritual graces Our Lord desires to give during this special year.
Discover Green Bay’s 2024 Event of the Year Award affirms what I and so many pilgrims have seen since the inception of the Walk to Mary: a powerful public witness to faith and a source of grace and unity for all who participate. It is a tribute to the many staff, volunteers and pilgrims whose dedication and faith bring this event to life each year.
For more information about the Saturday, May 3, Walk To Mary and to register, see walktomary.com.
