By Kathy-Ann Gobin
NEWTOWN – On the Feast Day of Saint James, the patron saint of pilgrims, dozens of parishioners from the Diocese of Bridgeport went on a pilgrimage to the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.
“It’s a holy place and I felt at peace,” said Patty Tersigni, a parishioner of St. Rose of Lima Church. “It was a wonderful day, meeting nice people.”
The Lay Missionaries of Charity organized the trip, and about 40 people gathered at St. Rose to travel by coach bus on July 25th to the shrine, which was designated as a National Shrine by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1996.
Parochial Vicar Father Cajetan Oleaghara accompanied them. Many members of the group walked the outdoor Stations of the Cross with Father, who said visiting the shrine is a way to uplift people’s spirits.
“As Christians, we always need to grow, and a pilgrimage is a journey of faith,” said Father Oleaghara, who was visiting the shrine for the first time. Father, who is from Nigeria, has been a priest for 16 years and recently celebrated his one-year anniversary of being in America.
Father Oleaghara said the serene environment of the national shrine is a welcoming place to reflect upon one’s faith journey.
“We need the grace of God. It is about becoming people whose hearts have been transformed by the mercy of Christ,” Father said. “We have experienced mercy so we can become merciful. God has been patient with us, and we have to be patient with other people.”
He said that we are called to be like Christ and every day is an opportunity to become closer to him “so that when people see us, they will see Christ in us.”
Queta Donovan, chairperson of the Lay Missionaries of Charity group, said she wanted others to experience the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy.
“I want to share the many graces we have,” Donovan said. “It’s a national shrine, and we are privileged to have that shrine so close to us.”
Many people visit the 375-acre property nestled in the Berkshire hills of Western Massachusetts. The drive to the shrine takes about two hours.
Donovan said she wants people to be open to the message of God and the love of God just like St. Faustina.
St. Faustina received visions of Jesus during her life. Jesus presented himself as the “King of Divine Mercy,” wearing a white garment with red and rays coming from his heart. She was asked to become the apostle and secretary of God’s mercy, a model of how to be merciful to others and an instrument for reemphasizing God’s plan of mercy for the world.
The homily during daily Mass focused on a baptismal connection to pilgrimage.
The priest said that pilgrimage is letting go of things that are obstacles, which can become a distraction.
“Prayer should permeate your day,” he said. “When something good happens say ‘Thank you;’ when something causes you suffering, ask God to walk with you through the suffering.”
“Do not be corrupted by attention. God knows your sacrifices. Do not desire attention, desire to serve,” he said.
St. James is widely venerated for his missionary work in Spain and serves as the inspiration for one of the world’s most famous pilgrimage routes, the Camino de Santiago. His relics are buried in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. Millions of people have traveled to the Camino de Santiago (The Way of St. James), especially on his feast day of July 25.
The experience of traveling to the shrine was memorable for the pilgrims.
“I thought it was very nice. It was very peaceful,” said Cathy Belcore, a parishioner of St. Joseph Parish in Brookfield. “It’s nice to experience at least once.”
Susan Tropeano, a fellow parishioner of St. Joseph in Brookfield, agreed.
“I love the peace and quiet and all the greenery,” Tropeano said. “I feel very relaxed and light. I enjoyed the prayer service. I will come back.”
