Annual pilgrimage under way
Friday evening’s rain appeared to be no hindrance to the many who gathered together at Mount St. Macrina for the 72nd annual pilgrimage in honor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. While services are usually conducted outdoors, the voices of people from all over the nation could be heard singing at Mount St. Macrina’s Trinity Center. This year’s theme is “Mary, Hope for All Ages.”
The pilgrimage began when the Icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help was given to the Sisters of St. Basil by Pope Pius XI.
The icon is carried in procession each year during the opening of the pilgrimage and various other services throughout the weekend.
After the procession, Archbishop Basil M. Schott conducted the opening liturgy, and he wished those attending a happy new year, explaining that this time of year signifies a new liturgical year for Catholics.
“Every year at this time we make resolutions,” said Schott. “We look back at the resolutions of last year and we decide which resolutions we need to make today.”
He said that Christians can use the Bible as a checklist or guidelines for the resolutions that need to be made.
Schott said that in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus told his followers to proclaim the gospel to the poor, set free those who are imprisoned and give sight to the blind.
“We must look at our own lives,” said Schott. “How poor are we? Poverty also includes a lack of love and a lack of generosity. If we must proclaim the good news to those who are poor, we have to proclaim it to ourselves.”
Schott told the audience that people may also be imprisoned by their past, or by sins that have taken over their lives. He said that people must also be aware of their own blindness, and realize that they don’t always see with eyes of faith, hope and love.
“We can ask God to help us in all of these areas,” said Schott. “We come in the circumstances we find ourselves in today and we ask God to bring His salvation to us. As we journey through the days of this pilgrimage, it allows us to realize the spirit of the Lord is upon us.”
Sister Seraphim Olsafsky said the pilgrimage was about people seeking to be closer to God.
“Our presence here speaks of our inward longing for holiness,” said Olsafsky. “We seek assurance that we are infinitely loveable. We seek to pray and we are here for that very purpose. God wishes only for us to come before Him and to give up our time for Him. We need not be concerned with what to say or do. All that matters is that we wish to be in the presence of God and the Lord Himself will take care of the rest.”
Friday evening’s events also included a teen pilgrimage. Saturday’s schedule includes Mystery of Reconciliation (confessions) from 7:30 a.m. until noon.
There will be liturgies at 8 a.m. and noon and confessions from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. An orientation for teens will be held at 1 p.m., followed by a children’s pilgrimage and enrichment session that begins at 2 p.m. A teen pilgrimage will follow at 3 p.m. At 4 p.m. vespers and a liturgy will begin, followed by an enrichment session at 6 p.m. Another service will begin at 7:30 p.m., and a teen social will immediately follow until 11 p.m.
For more information, visit www.sistersofstbasil.org or call the monastery at 724-438-8644.