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Dec 29th, 2019
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 26,315 Likes: 21
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Joined: Nov 2001
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Dear Friends,
We've had our second annual pilgrimage to the Mother of God of Zhirovits in October and things are going well in that department.
One problem the parish has come up against is that if we ask other parish priests to announce our pilgrimage to their parishioners, they tend to wait until the "day of" and that way, no one comes!
Any suggestions on how to get around this?
Also, I've thought that it might be a good thing for us to start, with the Bishop's blessing of course, a kind of prayer association in honour of the Zhirovits Mother of God.
People could be enrolled, receive an icon of the Mother of God, commit to some devotion to her and be commemorate in the Liturgies at our parish.
What do you think?
Any suggestions on how best to start this up?
Alex
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,196
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Alex,
It sounds like an interesting idea.
If I were thinking about forming an association of this sort, I'd first chat with my pastor (to eliminate any later possibility of suspicions of "going behind his back" as well as to get his blessing, LOL) then with the other folks who I was planning/hoping to work with. I'd draw up a basic "view at 50,000 feet" of what the organization would look like & do, it's mission/purpose, and its organizational structure. I would "feel" out tentative committments, then I would go no farther before laying it all before the bishop & asking his blessing.
Hope it flies!
Oh - and as for publicity, are you sending fliers & camera-ready stuff for their bulletins?
Sharon
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Joined: Nov 2001
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Dear Mother Sharon,
B'shem haAv, v'haBen v'Ruach haKodesh Elohim Echod, Amen!
With your permission, I'll download your post and discuss it with our pastor!
Alex
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Joined: Nov 2001
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Alex, Persimmons grow in the woods, and it's the wrong season for 'em.  Download away, with my blest fishes --- oops, I mean best wishes. Sharon
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Joined: Nov 2001
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Dear Mother Sharon,
Baruch haShem Adonai!
Fishes or no, you are tops on my scales!!
Alex
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Joined: Nov 2001
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Hi Alex;
Is it possible to put an ad in the Eparchial newspaper announcing the pilgrimage a month in advance? What about a secular paper too? Perhaps you could call the religion editor and see if they would do a story on the pilgrimage. We tend to get a lot of free publicity from both the secular press and the local RC diocesan newspapers.
Also what about recruiting volunteers to distribute flyers or notices to the various parishes, possibly posting them a few weeks in advance on the bulletin boards?
The prayer association sounds like a wonderful idea!! Keep us posted!
With Best Wishes!
Glory to Jesus Christ!
Stefan-Ivan
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Joined: Nov 2001
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Dear Stefan-Ivan,
Excellent!
Yes, I think there may be a reticence on the part of some pastors to announce the pilgrimage.
I'm looking into advertising possibilities this morning, following your lead!
Alex
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Joined: Jan 2002
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Dear Alex,
St. Cyril & Methodius UCC in Olyphant, PA has a shrine to Mother of God of Zhirovitsi and also holds a pilgrimage each fall. They have published a booklet describing the wonders of this Icon and its history, including a few local miracles attributed to it.
You may want to get in touch with the parish and obtain a copy of their booklet. With permission, of course, you might reproduce these and distribute them among local parishes during the summer months, so that people might plan ahead to attend.
John
Pilgrim and Odd Duck
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