Jubilee Pilgrimage

On May 28, 2025, our SMOY parish family made a pilgrimage to the Maria Stein Shrine of the Holy Relics.

In honor of the Jubilee Year, ninety-six pilgrims traveled by bus to the shrine, a designated holy site in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Pastor, Father Ed Smith celebrated Mass at the Adoration Chapel, and then pilgrims toured the Shrine. They visited the outdoor saint garden, the Chapel of the Holy Relics, and the museum. After lunch in the Upper Room, pilgrims had time to explore the beautiful grounds on their own.

The Maria Stein Shrine houses one of the largest collections of holy relics in the United States, and is a place for prayer, reflection, inspiration, and fellowship.

The Shrine is located in the Land of the Cross-Tipped Churches, a pastoral area settled by German immigrants in the 1800s. Within a 30-mile radius there are 46 Catholic churches. The steeples of the parish churches could be seen above the trees creating a view that reminded the faithful of God's presence among them.