Sep 3, 2002 By Josh Krysak 4 min read

After a weekend of prayer and reflection, thousands of Byzantine Catholics left Mount St. Macrina’s 68th Annual Pilgrimage in honor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help with a renewed sense of excitement and enthusiasm. Veronica Varga, director of development and public relations for Mount Macrina said the Labor Day weekend event drew about 10,000 people, but, more importantly, inspired many of them to help create peace in their relationships and communities and excited them about the prospects of a growing church.

“People are really excited about the growth, what they see as a growing church.”

The retreat also gave Byzantine Catholics the opportunity to meet and listen to three newly appointed hierarchs in the Byzantine-Ruthenian Catholic Church. They include Metropolitan Archbishop Basil M. Schott, Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, the Most Rev. John M. Kudrick, Eparch of Parma and the Most Rev. William C. Skurla, Eparch of Van Nuys, all of whom were enthroned in the past four months.

Varga said she remembers an anonymous quote that Archbishop Schott used in his Sunday Homily, “There is no way to peace. Peace is the way.” She said that quote made an impression on her, and helped to clarify the message of the weekend.

Bishop of Van Nuys, William Skurla, during the closing Homily of the event, seemed to echo that message. Skurla said that something changed in the nature of the country following the Sept. 11 attacks last year, something that has made the harvest ripe for peace.

“This (Mount Macrina) is the most peaceful spot you could ever be in but it is time to go back to the people that don’t have the same understanding of the world,” he said.

“As we go back to our parishes, our families and our communities, we come as bearers of peace.” The bishop urged the crowd to do whatever is necessary to build peace throughout their communities, something that really seemed to hit home with many listeners.

“I thought it was great. It is a good time to talk about peace with what is going on in the world and what could be happening shortly with Saddam Hussein. So I think it was a message that was appropriate for the time,” said Bernie Kobzowicz a Uniontown native who now resides in Garfield, Ohio. He has been attending the pilgrimage for 37 years but feels he receives more from it each year.

I think its refreshing, every year we gain more from it,” he said.

Johnstown resident Steve Singel couldn’t agree more.

“It is quite appropriate for 9-11. We need the peace makers more than anything, not the war-makers,” said Singel, former Lt. Gov. Mark Singel’s father. Singel and his wife have attended the event for many years and always look forward to coming.

“It is really a pleasure and a thrill for us to come down every year,” he said.

This was the first time at the pilgrimage for Chicago residents Jim and Lois Greybar, who came down for an anniversary present. The couple said they could not have asked for a better weekend.

“The whole weekends message has been incredible. It definitely brings an inner peace to you,” said Jim. The couple agreed that they would attend future pilgrimages as often as they can. “I felt like it was too short, I wish it could have gone on as long a s possible,” said Lois.

It is that type of commitment and interest that Varga thinks made this year’s pilgrimage another success. ‘It was wonderful,” she said.

“Mary Lee Brown, from Cheryl New York, 26 years, brother Priest, Father Robert Carl

“The message of peace, it makes everyone leave here with a lot of peace. That’s the most important thing, peace with the world, peace with your family and peace with yourself,” she said.

“It’s beautiful, it always is.”