70+ miles. Five days. One intention.
This fall, Msgr. Tad Oxley, Fr. David Kidd, and Fr. Joseph Mominee will set out on foot across the Diocese of Toledo for the third annual Walk for Vocations—a five-day pilgrimage of prayer and sacrifice for an increase in vocations to the diocesan priesthood.
And they are inviting the entire Diocese to walk with them.
Walk one mile or all 70+. Volunteer along the route. Offer a day of prayer or fasting. Take a prayer walk in your own community. Or join us for the Closing Mass at Our Lady of Consolation in Carey.
However you participate, unite your prayers with Catholics across northwest Ohio and make each step, each sacrifice and each prayer an offering for the men God is calling to the priesthood.
Each Step a Prayer for More Priests.
Schedule
Msgr. Tad Oxley, Fr. David Kidd, and Fr. Joseph Mominee will be walking 70+ miles over five days in prayer and sacrifice for an increase in vocations to the Diocesan priesthood. You are welcome to join for all five days, one day, or even a portion of one day.
Sunday, September 27
See the route – 11.37 miles
- Start: 2:00pm I Rosary Cathedral, Toledo
- End: 7:00pm I St. Joseph, Maume
Monday, September 28
See the route – 14.01 miles
- Start: 9:00am I St. Joseph, Maumee
- End: 5:30pm I St. Thomas More, Bowling Green – Mass offered upon arrival
Tuesday, September 29
See the route – 14.67 miles
- Start: 9:00am I St. Thomas More, Bowling Green, then walking through the St. Aloysius, Bowling Green campus
- End: 6:00pm I Holy Family, North Baltimore – Mass offered upon arrival
Wednesday, September 30
See the route – 13.8 miles
- Start: 9:00am I Holy Family, North Baltimore
- End: 5:00pm I St. Michael, Findlay – Mass offered upon arrival
Thursday, October 1
See the route – 17.58 miles
- Start: 8:30am I St. Michael, Findlay
- End: 5:00pm I Our Lady of Consolation, Carey – Closing Mass offered upon arrival
How Will You Participate?
You don't have to walk 70 miles to be part of the Walk for Vocations.
WALK
Join the pilgrimage for all five days, one day, a few hours or even a single mile. No particular distance is required. Come and pray with us for as much of the pilgrimage as you are able.
Meet at the departure location for that day. Bring water and a packed lunch. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Plan for transportation back to your vehicle at the end of the day.
You do not need to register to join the walk for vocations, but you're welcome to! It gives us a better idea of numbers for planning purposes. Sign Up to Walk
VOLUNTEER
Help make the pilgrimage possible. Volunteers are needed to assist the priests and pilgrims throughout the five-day journey. Sign Up to Volunteer
PRAY & FAST
Can't join us along the route? Walk with us spiritually. Mark September 27–October 1 on your calendar and intentionally offer prayer and sacrifice for an increase in vocations to the diocesan priesthood.
You might:
- Offer a day of fasting for vocations.
- Pray a Rosary for the men God is calling.
- Spend time in Eucharistic Adoration.
- Offer your daily work, difficulties or sacrifices for vocations.
- Take your own prayer walk through your neighborhood or community.
- Continue the diocesan commitment of one Hail Mary each day and fasting on Fridays for priestly vocations.
Wherever you are, your prayer can become part of the pilgrimage.
JOIN THE CLOSING MASS
Come together with pilgrims and faithful from across the Diocese as the Walk for Vocations concludes at the Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation in Carey on Thursday, October 1. The pilgrims are scheduled to arrive at approximately 5:00 p.m., with Closing Mass offered upon arrival.
Whether you walked 70 miles, one mile or prayed from home, join us as we place the fruits of the pilgrimage before the Lord in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Walk for Vocations?
The Walk for Vocations is an annual four-day walking pilgrimage through the Diocese of Toledo, offered for the intention of an increase in vocations to the diocesan priesthood.
Inspired by European pilgrimages such as the Camino de Santiago and the Via Francigena, the walk was first undertaken in 2024 by Fr. Joseph Mominee, Fr. David Kidd, and Monsignor Tad Oxley. Covering more than 70 miles on foot, the three priests discovered that what began as a test of endurance quickly became a profound spiritual experience. Blisters, shin splints, and aching muscles turned into an offering of penance for vocations—suffering united to prayer.
The pilgrimage includes daily Mass, stops at parishes along the way, and miles marked by rosaries, lectio divina, and the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Pilgrims—both priests and lay faithful—join together, each step a prayer for those God is calling to the priesthood.
When does it take place?
The Walk for Vocations takes place each year in early autumn.
Why a walking pilgrimage?
As Fr. Mominee explained, “The major intention for vocations to the priesthood just made perfect sense.” Pilgrimages have long been a part of the Church’s tradition, and this diocesan “Camino” is now becoming one of them. The walk is not only a physical challenge but also a public witness of faith—inviting the faithful to join in prayer and sacrifice for vocations. As one pilgrim remarked: “We need more men who are open to the priesthood, and this is one way to pray and sacrifice for that.”
What is the experience like?
The faithful who join for a portion of this walk typically find the experience physically taxing (depending on the number of miles) but spiritually rewarding. Read about the2024 Walk for Vocations in Graceful Living magazine and the 2025 Walk for Vocations on the website. You can also see photos from the 2025 Walk here.
What should I know before joining?
The pilgrimage begins each day at one church and ends at another. You will need to coordinate transportation back to your vehicle at the end of the day (unless otherwise specified). You can join for any amount of the pilgrimage — one mile or seventy! Bring comfortable walking shoes, plenty of water, and your rosary.