|
Newberry
Springs, CA: Archimandrite Wesley (Izer), representing Bishop
George, Eparch of Van Nuys, led a record number of
pilgrims at the annual Eparchial pilgrimage in honor of the
Mother of God, "Searcher for the Lost" at Holy
Resurrection Monastery held over the Columbus Day long weekend,
October 8 through 10. In all over 600 people came together for
the two and a half days of prayer and fellowship in this desert
monastery. |
Pilgrims
mingle after the celebration
of
the Divine Liturgy. |
Vespers
The liturgical events began on the evening of Friday, November 1st with
Great Vespers in honor of the Mother of God served by the Hegumen of the
Monastery, Fr. Nicholas in the outdoor church. He was assisted by two
deacons: Father Deacon Gerald Sondergaard of the Russian Catholic
community in San Francisco and Father Deacon Irenaeus Dionne of the
Russian Catholic community in El Segundo. Archimandrite Wesley presided.
The monastery's cantor, Br. Maximos, led the singing, assisted by Marian
Steinberg together with cantor Cheryl Franklin from St. Nicholas Church
in Fontana (together with two of her children) and Stephen Petack of St.
Mary's Cathedral in Van Nuys. The stichera and other proper texts for
the service were specially composed by a monk of the Monastery.
Reconciliation
Archimandrite Wesley set the theme for the entire pilgrimage with a
brief but moving admonishment near the end of the Vespers celebration.
He called on all present to reflect on the need for conversion and
repentance, and encouraged everyone to take the opportunity to make a
good confession to one of the many priests who accompanied the pilgrims.
The monks closed the first day with the simple but very beautiful
monastic celebration of Small Compline in the monastery church. By a
happy coincidence this service reinforced the theme of repentance and
reconciliation. At the conclusion of this service Father Nicholas
prostrated himself as prescribed by the Byzantine liturgical books and
asked forgiveness from the assembled community and pilgrims. The people
then made their own heartfelt acknowledgement of the need for
forgiveness. The day ended at about 10.00 p.m.
At 10.00 a.m. Saturday, Matins was served by Fr. James Babcock of Holy
Cross Melkite Greek-Catholic Parish in Fullerton, CA. assisted by Father
Deacon Edward Falk. Various Melkite Catholic cantors led the lively
singing in English, Arabic and Greek. During the celebration of Matins,
and throughout the day, long lines formed as pilgrims received the
mystery of reconciliation.
Prayer and Pilgrimage
Then, shortly before 11 a.m., the bell rang out and Archimandrite Wesley
began the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, joined by Father
Nicholas and Father Philip Acquaro of St. Thomas Church in Gilbert, AZ.
Father Deacon Anthony Hernandez from St. Basil's Church, Los Gatos,
assisted. The choir of Holy Annunciation Byzantine Church in Anaheim, CA
led the singing, under the direction of Mr. Robert Pipta Sr.
This Liturgy was the spiritual highlight of the pilgrimage. In his
homily the Father Wes again stressed the need for reconciliation at all
times in life. He told the story of a young boy who called out for God
to reveal Himself, but who was in the end too wrapped up in his own hurt
to notice when God did indeed reach out and touch him. He called on the
pilgrims to imitate Mary, the Mother of God, whose attentive eyes were
able to find the young Christ in the Temple. Her search should be the
model for our own. At the end of the Liturgy the pilgrims were given two
souvenir cards: one commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Byzantine
Catholic Metropolia of Pittsburgh, the other depicting the icon of the
Mother of God, "Searcher for the Lost" donated specially by
photographer Chris Farrell of Barstow commemorating the 1999 pilgrimage.
Lunch was served outdoors by a dedicated corps of volunteers made up of
representatives from many communities-including the small, but growing
community of local people who now worship regularly with the monks.
Adding to the multi-cultural feel of the event, the children of many
ethnic backgrounds vied to break open a pinata donated by the Loupas
family.
|
Young
Pilgrim at Prayer |
Anointing
The final liturgical event on Saturday was a Procession with the Icon of
the Mother of God, "Searcher for the Lost", together with a
combined Moleben and service of anointing conducted by Archimandrite
Wesley.
On Sunday about 70 people stayed over for the Matins and Divine Liturgy
served by Father Nicholas assisted once again by Deacon Anthony. |
Many Eastern Churches represented
As is becoming a tradition at the Monastery, the pilgrimage was notable
for its ability to attract Eastern Catholics of a variety of
jurisdictions who were all drawn together by a common need for prayer
and worship. Numbers were swelled especially by a large group of
Chaldean Catholics from the San Diego area who managed to fill five
buses for the pilgrimage.
In his homily on Sunday, Father Nicholas referred to the manifest piety
of the many pilgrims. This he said was an important sign of hope for the
Church which needed to heed the danger posed to it by a secular spirit
that makes light of the simple piety that has sustained the Church
through generations. He called on everyone to return to their homes with
an urgent sense of the need to pray, fast and live the Gospel so that
the message of Jesus Christ might be proclaimed with new vigor to the
world. He especially called for a renewed devotion to the traditional
services of the Byzantine Church, notably Vespers and Matins, so that
the Church might retain its prayerful heart and stay vibrant and strong.
Next year's pilgrimage will be held on again on the Columbus Day
weekend. All are welcome! |