Mount St. Macrina welcomes pilgrims
Pilgrims attend the 79th nnual pilgrimage to the shrine of our lady of perpetual help at Mt. Saint Macrina in Uniontown, Pa. on Saturday August 31, 2013.
Sister Seraphim Olsafsky, OSBM, is provincial of the Sisters of St. Basil at Mount St. Macrina in Uniontown.
Sister Seraphim Olsafsky, OSBM, (front-left) provincial of Sisters of St. Basil walks with fellow sisters during the 79th Annual Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help at Mount St. Macrina in Uniontown on Saturday.
Bishop Gerald N. Dino blesses the faithful during the 79th Annual Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help at Mount St. Macrina in Uniontown on Saturday.
Sister Seraphim Olsafsky, provincial of the Sisters of St. Basil the Great, officially welcomed participants to the 79th Annual Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Saturday morning at Mount St. Macrina, located along Route 40 just west of Uniontown.
“As we gather to honor Mary before the sacred Icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, it is a time to remember that Mary, the Mother of Jesus, lived by faith much like our own,” said Olsafsky, speaking at the close of the opening Divine Liturgy at the Shrine Altar. “However, her faith was unbending over a lifetime that was filled with unanswered questions, intense joy and unspeakable sorrow.”
Noting that Mary’s journey of faith began when she said yes to the Word of God, Olsafsky said, “Pilgrimage is a time to reflect on how we meet God in the persons and events through which he chooses to come to us. Pilgrimage is a time to meditate on our faith and the degree to which we place ourselves in the hands of our loving God.”
Several hundred pilgrims were on the beautiful grounds of Mount St. Macrina Saturday to attend the pilgrimage, including Joseph and Sandra Tobola of Smithport, Pa., in McKean County. The couple have known each other more than 20 years and married two years ago in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Byzantine Catholic Church in Virgina. Joseph Tobola said his family introduced him to the pilgrimage 10 years ago.
Joseph Tobola said, ” I like the place, the Sisters, the friars. Everybody comes together for these three days and you can see a union in the people and the community. ”
Sandra Tobola said, “It gives me time to think about my faith – something you don’t do out in the world when you are busy. Here it is peaceful.”
Morning activities included a procession with the Icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help from the House of Prayer to the nearby Shrine Altar. The procession featured cross bearers who carry crosses decorated with flowers and ribbons, the Sisters of St. Basil and clergy that included Bishop John Pazak of Canada and Metropolitan Archbishop William C. Skurla of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, under which patronage the pilgrimage is held.
Audrey Peek of Holy Protection of the Mother of God Byzantine Catholic Church in Denver was among the cross bearers. She is a native of North Braddock, Pa., who has been living in the West for more than 30 years.
“For the past five years, I’ve carried the cross for the procession,” said Peek, who has been coming to the pilgrimage since she was a youth. “It’s calming. It’s tradition. I see some of the people I know – priests and people from my church in North Braddock.”
Peek came with her mother and sister, who still live in Pennsylvania, and brought her daughter Sarah Peek, who said, “I like the tranquility and sharing the traditions my mom and grandma have carried on.”
George Walter, aka Pilgrim George, of Pittsburgh was among those attending the services. Walter, who began a spiritual journey of walking in 1970 that has taken him around the world, began coming to the pilgrimage in 1975. He missed from 1988-2001 when he was abroad but has since been a regular.
“I like the prayers and the singing and the worship. It’s like an experiencing a bit of heaven for the weekend,” he said.
Bishop Gerald N. Dino of Phoenix served as celebrant for the Divine Liturgy and then blessed the water at the Lourdes Grotto in a service immediately following. Afterwards, volunteers began distributing water to the pilgrims.
Among them was Thomas Duch Jr., who belongs to St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Cathedral in Passaic, N.J. He came with his 84-year-old father Thomas Duch Sr. and also traveled to North Hollywood, Calif., last week to pick up his 95-year-old aunt Helen Stroka to bring her to the pilgrimage.
“I’m 56 years old and I would say I probably have been here 48 times during my life,” said Thomas Duch Jr., who noted, “It’s a weekend where I freshen my faith.”
Stroka, who lived in Munhall, Pa., as a girl, said, “My mother used to come and sleep on the ground. That was their penance.”
She sat on a bench with friend Loretta Sagan, also of Passaic, who has been coming since 1954 when her sons were babies. Both women said they attend pilgrimage to honor the Blessed Mother.
“I thank her for everything. She helps me,” said Stroka.
Sagan agreed, adding, “I like the peace and tranquility. I like to sit quietly and meditate. I come to visit my people who are buried here, including my cousin Archbishop Stephen Kocisko.”
Thomas Duch Sr.. sat on a nearby bench with friends John Paulich, 84, and Michael Kraveck, 85, who all belong to St. Michael Cathedral in Passaic.
Duch has been coming for 52 years while Paulich started coming 10 years ago. This is Kraveck’s first time at pilgrimage although he mentioned his parents were at the first pilgrimage.
Paulich said, “It’s restful. I lost my wife five years ago and it gives you a chance to think about everything.”
“I think this place is fantastic,” said Kraveck. “The grounds are beautiful. It’s a lot of work.”
Duch noted the changes over the years with the grounds becoming more landscaped and the addition of amenities for pilgrims, such as benches, as well as the addition of hotels, restaurants and the shopping mall in the vicinity.
“Before there was nothing here,” said Duch, who noted that pilgrims often slept in a building at Mount St. Macrina on a cot. “You really roughed it but you didn’t mind. You enjoyed it. We looked forward to coming each year.”
The three men gave credit to the Sisters of St. Basil for maintaining the grounds and carrying on the pilgrimage.
Olsafsky noted the help the Sisters receive from many volunteers, and pointed out there were several new ones this year.
“They are such a blessing to us,” she said.
The pilgrimage, which continues today, also includes activities for youths and teenagers as well as enrichment sessions for adults. There are opportunities for confession and lighting of candles in addition to Divine Liturgies and processions.