Pilgrimage to Jasper, Ferdinand to highlight German Christmas traditions
The Christmas Angel is a traditional figure who greets revelers at Ferdinand’s Christkindlmarkt. (Submitted photo)
By Natalie Hoefer
The Germans that settled in southern Indiana brought with them many traditions: their Catholic faith, their steadfast work ethic, their food—and their centuries-old celebration of festive shopping at “Christkindlmarkts.”
The history of these markets dates back as far as the 12th century in the Germanic regions of Europe, when vendors would display their wares in lavishly decorated street markets during Advent.
To share in this German pre-Christmas tradition, the archdiocese is sponsoring a pilgrimage to southern Indiana to visit various churches, a grotto and the Monastery Immaculate Conception of the Sisters of St. Benedict. The trip will also celebrate the opening of—and offer opportunities to shop at—Ferdinand’s Christkindlmarkt. The pilgrimage will take place on Nov. 15-16. (Register for the pilgrimage here)
A motor coach will depart from the Archbishop Edward T. O’Meara Catholic Center in Indianapolis at 8 a.m. on Nov. 15.
The first stop of the pilgrimage will be historic St. Joseph Church in Jasper for Mass. The current structure of the 176-year-old-parish was started in 1867 and took 13 years to complete.
On the way to lunch at Jasper’s famous Schnitzelbank Restaurant, pilgrims will stop by a grotto with two shrines made of geodes, a crystal-interior rock common to southern Indiana. Located on the grounds of Providence Home Health Care Center, the shrines took a decade to complete.
In the evening, pilgrims will be treated to the festive, traditional opening ceremony for Ferdinand’s 16th annual Christkindlmarkt.
The celebration begins in a candlelight service outside the Sisters of St. Benedict’s Monastery Immaculate Conception. In the midst of festive music and chanting, the angel of Christmas appears to remind all of the true meaning of the Christmas season.
The festivities then move indoors for a traditional German feast, more singing and music.
A good night’s rest at Santa’s Lodge will prepare folks for shopping at the Christkindlmarkt—more than 150 booths of crafts, quilts, wood carvings, jewelry, candles and more, spread out in various buildings around Ferdinand with shuttles for transportation.
“Originally, it was just one building when it first started,” said Kathy Tretter, editor and co-publisher of the Ferdinand News. As of 2012, the market had expanded to six buildings throughout the town, some with live entertainment, plus an antique market.
Wine vendors will sell their finest vintages, and pilgrims can enjoy lunch at local establishments.
After departing from Ferdinand, the pilgrims will celebrate Mass at Christ the King Church in Paoli. Christ the King Parish is administered by the pilgrimage’s leader, Father John Hall, who also is administrator of Our Lady of the Springs Parish in French Lick and pastor of St. Martin of Tours Parish in Martinsville.
The group will then dine in Bedford before returning to the Catholic Center at 8 p.m.
Father Hall is excited about his first experience as a pilgrimage guide.
In addition to leading prayer on the bus and sharing in the spiritual aspects of the pilgrimage, he hopes to draw on his 12 years ministering in southern Indiana to share with the pilgrims the history of the region as it relates to the archdiocese.
“With prayer on the bus, having two Masses, visiting the shrines and the Monastery [Immaculate Conception], I think this will be an opportunity for people to get away from the normal routine and see a different perspective of the faith at a fitting time,” says Father Hall.
(The cost of the trip—$269 for a double occupancy room and $299 for a single occupancy room—covers two breakfasts, one lunch, two dinners, transportation and lodging. For more information on the pilgrimage, contact Carolyn Noone at 317-236-1428, 800-382-9836, ext. 1428 or e-mail her at cnoone@archindy.org. To register, click here.) †
