Parishioners of Mary, Mother of Our Savior Parish in Utica made a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs, Auriesville, in honor of the Jubilee Year of Hope. More than 100 pilgrims joined in the full day, and close to 500 people came together for the holy day Mass in the Coliseum! It was a day filled with inspiration, hope, and joy. The parish choir was featured at this Mass for the Feast of the Assumption, which was also the 140th Anniversary of the founding of the Shrine.
A total of 118 parishioners participated in an Aug. 16 pilgrimage to the three dedicated diocesan sites for the Jubilee Year of Hope. They began the day touring the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse, followed by the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, also in Syracuse. Lastly, they visited the Shrine of St. Mary in Oswego before returning to their home parish of Divine Mercy.
Local architect and parishioner of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Dan Faye, gave a talk at the Cathedral about the architecture and history of the building. At the Basilica, parishioner and volunteer Paul Wrobel gave a talk about the history, and at Saint Mary’s Shrine, Father Canon Gardner explained the history there. Father Christopher Seibt exposed the Blessed Sacrament for Adoration at the Cathedral, Father Buttner led us in the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at the Basilica, and Deacon Brian Lauri led us in praying the Rosary at Saint Mary’s Shrine.
“The graces offered during this Jubilee Year of Hope are profound,” said Father Christopher Seibt, pastor of both parishes. “When explained to the parishioners of our Two Parishes, One Family of Sacred Heart and Divine Mercy, more than 100 of them came forward to encounter God’s mercy anew in this simple but profound journey that outwardly visited three beautiful places of prayer and worship but inwardly led us all closer to Christ through his Church. I was so moved by the power and working of the Holy Spirit and look forward to the spiritual fruit that it will bear in the days ahead, particularly at our parishes as they continue to strive to engage in this time of Apostolic Mission.”
