Every summer, Padua sends two members of the faculty and staff on a two-week pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi, Italy where they walk in the footsteps of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi. This summer’s pilgrims were Science teacher Mr. Seth Jennrich '95 & Registrar Mrs. Lynnette Zimmerli. (Pictured in the center: Zimmerli’s daughter Jenna ’25 joined in on the adventure, as well.)
In July, Zimmerli and Jennrich departed for central Italy, ready to be immersed in prayer, spiritual reflection, and learning, all grounded in Franciscan tradition. The pilgrimage included visits to small towns like Greccio and Assisi, as well as sacred places, including St. Peter’s Basilica, La Verna, the Basilica of St. Francis, San Damiano, and more. While in Rome, the pilgrimage included a trip to the Church of St. John Lateran.
Both pilgrims discussed the impact of a ritual known as the “Clare Walk,” which was particularly meaningful for Zimmerli, whose youngest daughter, Jenna ’25, accompanied the two on the journey and portrayed Clare. The walk commemorated St. Clare’s decision to leave her life as a noble woman and follow God’s call to imitate Francis and traced her physical route in doing so.
“I felt more of a connection with Francis and Clare,” Zimmerli said. “That’s something that I’ll always be able to draw on, to feel that calmness and that sense of peace.”
Jennrich added, “You made more of a physical connection because you went to the actual places where these people lived and worked.”
Thanks to the school’s commitment to preserving and growing Franciscan traditions, nearly 50 Padua employees have participated in the Assisi pilgrimage in the last 20 years. Their experiences have greatly contributed to the strong Franciscan spirit that exists at Padua today and for generations to come.
