Dear Friend,

Before the crash, I promised to relate how our pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Zhirovits went, as a good friend has reminded me!

It took place in October of this year at St. Volodymyr's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Thornhill.

For a small parish, we had over 100 guests and visitors, together with press coverage and a TV camera in attendance!

Vladyka Cornelius Pasichny graced us with his presence among us and delivered two excellent sermons on the Mother of God and Her role in our salvation, one during the Liturgy and the other during the Moleben outside at the Shrine.

Four women carried a stand with a copy of the Icon to the outdoor mosaic Shrine. A copy of the icon now graces the walls of the Church and hall and there is a copy on the Tetrapod for the constant veneration of the faithful.

We've never had so full a church before . . .

It was like a new Pentecost as we honoured in prayer and song the Spouse of the Holy Spirit, the Mother of God in Her Holy Icon!

The agape afterwards was well attended and Vladyka Cornelius stayed to have lunch with us.

Vladyka has graciously consented to declare our Shrine such and encouraged us to hold this annually, which we will.

The parish is transformed. We are alive and vibrant in a way that only the Mother of God could have accomplished through Her all-powerful intercession before the Throne of God!

We may even start a Brotherhood of Our Lady of Zhirovits and what not.

Many people come to pray before the outdoor Shrine, including Latin Catholics who come to pray the Holy Rosary with us.

May the Mother of God protect us and may we all be devoted to the meditated Rosary of Our Lady!

Alex

Slava Jesu Kristu,

I would be interested in Brotherhood. Do you ahve a picture of the icon on the web?

Mir s Toboy.
Alexii

Alex: Congratulations to you and your parish for such a holy and successful pilgrimage. These wonderful "vidpusty" are among the best of the best in the culture of our people. I firmly believe that where there is devotion to the most holy Bohorodytse, there is a strong and spiritually united church.

Our "otpust" to the most holy Mother of God under the title of Our Lady of Perpetual Help has been one of the most consistently beneficial institutions in our entire Metropolia for the past sixty-seven years. Even as other aspects of church life have declined and been eliminated over time, the Uniontown pilgrimage, although not drawing the same numbers as during the 50s and 60s, etc., remains a large and indispensable aspect of our communal life. Its still good to see so many of our priests and faithful gather at the Mount and this gives us all something to look forward to each year, to refresh us both spiritually and fraternally. Many an intention has been answered and many a friendship made and retained through the annual pilgrimages.

I pray that your "vidpust" will be one that gains popularity in the years to come, to grace your people with the mantle of Our Lady's protection.

Most Holy Mother of God, save us!

Presvyata Bohorodytse Spasi Nas!

[ 12-17-2001: Message edited by: Joe ]