PILGRIMAGE

I am away with 43 other pilgrims, visiting Fatima, Lourdes, Montserrat, Barcelona, and other Catholic pilgrimage sites in Spain, Portugal, and a corner of France.

I have taken the daily mass intentions with me, and they will be offered on the various altar of my journey.

This pilgrimage is devoted to our Blessed Lady, and I hope you know that I will pray for you and yours, and ask Mary to watch over and guard you.

In a special way, we are going to dedicate our prayers and sacred journey for the healing of Father Joe Jacob, former pastor of St Eugene.

Personally, I believe that those of us who yearn to go on pilgrimage, often or in search of sacred ground, a sacred niche in the world, in which we can experience God in an intense way. We desire a spiritual experience, often hard to find in the day to day routine. A pilgrimage makes you pare down unnecessary things.

If you would, say a prayer for our group— that we may have safe and happy travels, and that we may encounter Christ in a new and life-giving way. If all goes well, I will be back in the parish late on 29 September.