Group of Seminarians travel 375 miles across Nebraska to ‘inspire a kind of love’

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Before becoming priests, six seminarians are joining Fr. Jim Morton on a selfless journey.

It serves as a way to connect with the people they’ll serve and to test themselves.

“I’ve never walked this much in my life,” said Alec Langan, one of the seminarians.

They are seeing Nebraska from a different perspective, one that hasn’t been done in a long time

“The hope is to inspire a kind of love for where they’re from,” said Fr. Jim Morton.

The pilgrimage stretches almost 375 miles across Nebraska’s dioceses.

It started at the oldest parish in Nebraska City and will eventually end at the westernmost parish in Benkelman.

Courtesy: Southern Nebraska Register/Diocese of Lincoln

“The idea of walking or going on a journey, like a pilgrimage, is a way to remember that life, our spiritual life, is not static or moving towards a place but towards God,” Morton said.

The Catholic Diocese shared photos and videos as the group began its journey on May 19.

Along the way to Benkelman, they will visit diocesan parishes in 25 communities, averaging 15-miles-a-day.

“This walk isn’t about us,” said Langan. “It’s about others. It’s about God. It’s about bringing people together in community.”

Each one of them did the best they could to prepare for the long walk, but the journey doesn’t come without its challenges.

“My feet were not prepared to put those miles on,” Langan said. “I had the proper gear, but I just don’t think my body was prepared, so I had a lot of blisters on my feet.”

One of the benefits of the walk is being able to physically disconnect from the modern world, Fr. Morton said.

But the physical aspect is part of the mission’s purpose.

“The daily grind, like getting up every morning at 5:30 and getting yourself prepared to walk this far and getting into the rhythm, that’s been hard,” Langan said. “Once we get going, it’s like OK, I’m glad I’m doing this.”

The seminarians will walk from St. Joseph Parish in Stratton to St. Joseph Parish in Benkelman on June 16, concluding their journey.