marianist.com/donate • 19 magine this: You’re a Catholic school kid in the 1950s praying for the conversion of Russia. Decades later, you’re in Moscow, and you’re a lector proclaiming sacred scripture at Mass inside the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Janet Rentko doesn’t have to imagine it. She lived it. “Wow. Takes my breath away when I think about it,” says Janet, about the vivid memory that still moves her. That experience stands out most among her pilgrimage memories. That says a lot because Janet’s been on a lot of pilgrimages — 15 so far. Twelve led by Marianists. “Two days into my first Marianist pilgrimage with Father John Mulligan in 2001, I was sure this was the group for me,” says Janet. “Last year’s pilgrimage to Spain and France was extra special. We were celebrating the Marianist Bicentennial and followed the footsteps of Blessed Chaminade. We visited Bordeaux, the site where the Marianists began, and celebrated Mass in Blessed Chaminade’s bedroom.” Janet has experienced dozens of sacred and holy places on pil- grimages across Europe, around the Mediterranean and beyond. Of all the Marianist mailings she received, there’s one that ignited her pilgrim adventures. It was the 2001 Marianist-led pilgrimage to Poland, Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic. Being half Polish, half Czech, she decided to go. Pilgrimages nurture her life-long interest in new experiences. Born in New York City, Janet grew up in a devout Catholic family and attended Catholic schools. The big city also exposed her to new experiences with ethnic groups, foods and customs. Her nursing career opened even more new experiences. For more than 40 years, Janet climbed the nursing ranks in Manhattan's Lenox Hill Hospital, and later, in the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska. “Each pilgrimage is special because we always learn in-depth about the places we visit,” she says. “A pilgrim- age is so much more than a great vacation. Faith is deepened, and you receive a feeling of peace.” Time to sightsee, relax and pray are all part of a pilgrimage day. It’s also a safe way to travel. “I traveled alone, but was never really alone because I always had the company of others,” says Janet. The celebration of Mass together is another special highlight. “Some- times Mass is in a beautiful historic church, a simple country church, a room on the ship or in a hotel,” she says. “In Corinth, we celebrated Mass in an open field using a huge boulder for the altar.” The shared experiences create special bonds, too. “By the end of the pilgrimage, you feel a lot like family and form friendships that last through the years,” she added. ”Traveling with the Marianists renews my faith and gives me a feeling of being a real part of the Marianist community.” ■ Kevin Conway is a freelance writer from Dallas. PEACE PILGRIM Making a Difference TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MARIANIST PILGRIMAGES, visit marianist.com/mission or call 1.800.348.4732. Janet Rentko finds peace in the sacred and holy places she’s encountered on 12 Marianist-led pilgrimages. By Kevin Conway Janet Rentko; an interior shot of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Moscow MARIANIST PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM I