Msgr. Sirianni, Father Peirano lead Jubilee pilgrimage to Rome
January 7, 2025 at 5:31 p.m.
The first of 14 pilgrimages that Journey of Faith Tours has scheduled to Italy for the Jubilee Year of Hope is underway, and on board are 31 pilgrims from the Diocese of Trenton.
On Jan. 3, Msgr. Sam Sirianni, rector of St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, and Father Juan Daniel Peirano, pastor of St. Thomas More Parish, Manalapan, and parishioners from the two Monmouth County parishes, began a 13-day pilgrimage that includes visits to Rome, Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast, San Giovanni Rotondo, Lanciano, Loreto and Assisi.
Highlights of the pilgrimage in Rome were to have included attending Mass celebrated on the Solemnity of the Epiphany by Pope Francis at the Vatican on Jan. 6, during which Msgr. Sirianni and Father Peirano were among the priest concelebrants; visiting the Roman churches with Holy Doors – St. Paul Outside the Walls; St. Mary Major Basilica; St. John Lateran; and St. Peter’s Basilica. In Rome, a stop at the Colosseum was also planned.
Outside of Rome, the pilgrims were headed to see Montecassino Abbey, the Shrine of the Rosary of Pompeii, and take a drive-through tour through the Amalfi Coast where they would visit the Amalfi Cathedral. While in San Giovanni Rotondo, the pilgrimage stops were to include the Old Church of Our Lady of Grace followed by a bus ride along the Gargano Peninsula to the grotto of St. Michael the Archangel.
During their time in Lanciano, Loreto and Assisi, the pilgrims are visiting the Eucharistic Miracle that occurred in the eighth century in Lanciano; the Marian Shrine of Loreto, the Holy House of Nazareth; St. Francis Basilica; the tomb of Blessed Carlo Acutis and St. Clare’s Church.
Of the Jubilee, Carolyn Norbut, founder of Journey of Faith Tours, said it serves as “a reminder of God’s providence and mercy.
“It provides each of us an opportunity to come back into right relationship with God and one another. The Holy Doors that the pilgrims will pass through at the four major Basilicas in Rome symbolize the opening of the gate of mercy,” said Norbut, who also serves as associate director of the diocesan Office of Worship and as associate director of vocations for the Diocese.
Norbut noted that with the opening of the Jubilee Year in late December, “this group of 31 will be a larger part of an expected 35 million pilgrims that will journey to Rome with the youngest pilgrim being 17 years old and the oldest being 75 years old.”
Norbut said of the 14 pilgrimages Journey of Faith Tours will make to Rome for the Jubilee Year, eight groups are from the Diocese of Trenton. Three of the groups, she said, have opted to visit other countries “knowing that the crowds in Rome would be too much.”
Father Daniel Peirano, left, pastor of St. Thomas More Parish, Manalapan, and Msgr. Sam Sirianni, rector of St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, were among the priests to concelebrate the Mass for the Solemnity of the Epiphany with Pope Francis in St. Peter Basilica. Courtesy photo 
Booklet, videos and more available for Jubilee Year of Hope
Jubilee Pilgrimages: A Sacred Journey
Friday, December 05, 2025
E-Editions
Events
The first of 14 pilgrimages that Journey of Faith Tours has scheduled to Italy for the Jubilee Year of Hope is underway, and on board are 31 pilgrims from the Diocese of Trenton.
On Jan. 3, Msgr. Sam Sirianni, rector of St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, and Father Juan Daniel Peirano, pastor of St. Thomas More Parish, Manalapan, and parishioners from the two Monmouth County parishes, began a 13-day pilgrimage that includes visits to Rome, Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast, San Giovanni Rotondo, Lanciano, Loreto and Assisi.
Highlights of the pilgrimage in Rome were to have included attending Mass celebrated on the Solemnity of the Epiphany by Pope Francis at the Vatican on Jan. 6, during which Msgr. Sirianni and Father Peirano were among the priest concelebrants; visiting the Roman churches with Holy Doors – St. Paul Outside the Walls; St. Mary Major Basilica; St. John Lateran; and St. Peter’s Basilica. In Rome, a stop at the Colosseum was also planned.
Outside of Rome, the pilgrims were headed to see Montecassino Abbey, the Shrine of the Rosary of Pompeii, and take a drive-through tour through the Amalfi Coast where they would visit the Amalfi Cathedral. While in San Giovanni Rotondo, the pilgrimage stops were to include the Old Church of Our Lady of Grace followed by a bus ride along the Gargano Peninsula to the grotto of St. Michael the Archangel.
During their time in Lanciano, Loreto and Assisi, the pilgrims are visiting the Eucharistic Miracle that occurred in the eighth century in Lanciano; the Marian Shrine of Loreto, the Holy House of Nazareth; St. Francis Basilica; the tomb of Blessed Carlo Acutis and St. Clare’s Church.
Of the Jubilee, Carolyn Norbut, founder of Journey of Faith Tours, said it serves as “a reminder of God’s providence and mercy.
“It provides each of us an opportunity to come back into right relationship with God and one another. The Holy Doors that the pilgrims will pass through at the four major Basilicas in Rome symbolize the opening of the gate of mercy,” said Norbut, who also serves as associate director of the diocesan Office of Worship and as associate director of vocations for the Diocese.
Norbut noted that with the opening of the Jubilee Year in late December, “this group of 31 will be a larger part of an expected 35 million pilgrims that will journey to Rome with the youngest pilgrim being 17 years old and the oldest being 75 years old.”
Norbut said of the 14 pilgrimages Journey of Faith Tours will make to Rome for the Jubilee Year, eight groups are from the Diocese of Trenton. Three of the groups, she said, have opted to visit other countries “knowing that the crowds in Rome would be too much.”
Father Daniel Peirano, left, pastor of St. Thomas More Parish, Manalapan, and Msgr. Sam Sirianni, rector of St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, were among the priests to concelebrate the Mass for the Solemnity of the Epiphany with Pope Francis in St. Peter Basilica. Courtesy photo