Dc. Gary DiLallo
Contributing writer and photographer
Father Jason Hage — priest, pastor, vocations director and author — traveled from his Utica parish to the Southern Tier to lead an evening program for hungry souls. The parish mission took place Jan. 25 at Our Lady of Good Counsel parish in Endicott, with focus on prayer and reflection on healing wounds and accompaniment to the Cross.
His topic was “ The Cyrenian Way: Spiritual Poverty & The Art of Accompaniment,” a way of living that Father detailed in his book of the same name published in 2022.
“The only hope I had for the night of the mission was that people would respond to the call to become more compassionate Christians by choosing to intentionally draw near to and accompany their neighbor,” he shared.
The parish mission opened with guitar and song led by Jeremy Bobak, local musician and singer/songwriter, setting a prayerful mood for more than 80 attendees from around the area. And those there were visibly moved, lifting up their voices and arms to praise God in song.
Deacon Paul Heiland said, “I observed a unique acceptance to draw upon the wounds that we all carry, to be an instrument of grace in being compassionate and loving to others.”
Attendee Sally Herceg quoted Fr. Hage, saying, “Our wounds are a bridge to another’s wounds.” She added, “such profound words and so true. How many times in our lives does pain of any kind bring us together and bring us to Christ.”
Fr. Hage challenged attendees to find a partner and share conversation about their “wounds,” and then to pray over them, using their very words in describing their wounds. This was repeated so each partner was heard and had the opportunity to pray for their partner. Herceg noted that “we need this so much. We need to get out of our comfort zones and minister to others.”
Diane Rigotti was there and shared that “Father Hage gave an inspiring talk.” She was moved, in her words, by “the part about God using our soul’s woundedness for good and placing us in a place where we can use that to reach and help others in their woundedness.” Deacon Heiland said that “one of the pillars in the Cyrenian Way is silence. Listening to others; a tool taught to many of us in ministry, but not practiced enough. Instead of formulating a response, we need to listen prayerfully. We practiced this last night with a partner followed by intercessory prayer. I was moved to tears. This is a wonderful ministry Fr. Hage is leading. I would highly endorse this for any parish, and I encourage folks to attend.”
To learn more about Fr. Jason Hage and The Cyrenian Way you can visit the website, thecyrenianway.org, or watch “Introduction to The Cyrenian Way” from Father Jason Hage on YouTube. For information on hosting a mission for your parish or organization, email Father at [email protected] .
