COLLINGSWOOD – Wearing sneakers and carrying water bottles and rosaries, pilgrims stepped out of Saint John Church and into the sunny, muggy streets.
Led by Bishop Joseph Williams, the 100 pilgrims set off on their 3.8-mile journey from Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish the morning of Sept. 6 to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Camden.
Through downtown Collingswood, across busy Route 130, and past Camden’s shops, residences and hospitals, the pilgrims walked – their Marian hymns mixing with “hellos” and “good mornings” given to those they passed. They also handed out miraculous medals and parish Mass times.
Organized by Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish, this Jubilee Walking Pilgrimage was an opportunity for faithful to journey together with a powerful mission –to spread the witness of Christ, said Father Steven Bertonazzi, parish pastor.
Indeed, that message was preached by Bishop Williams, who celebrated Mass at 9 a.m. before the walk began. During his homily, he urged those gathered to let nothing come before the service of God.
“Have we forgotten to live the Sabbath?” Bishop asked, reminding all of the pilgrimage retold in the Book of Exodus, the “great liberation” of God’s people to the “freedom of the promised land.”
The weekly celebration of the Eucharist, he continued, is “the first expression of our freedom,” part of God’s desire that we “enter into His rest … to stop, to contemplate, to wonder, to thank Him for creation and to worship in thanksgiving.”
Too many people today, Catholics included, forget the Sabbath and “the fulfillment of jubilee and our freedom for communion with God, in which our dignity is restored week by week from the sin that makes us slaves,” the Bishop said. As such, the walking pilgrimage – and the people taking part – can bring a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
“We all have our part in inviting these lost sheep back to the greenest of green pastures … the Holy Mass,” he said.
One of those pilgrims recognizing her mission was Stephanie Grayson, who traveled from Mays Landing with her husband, Scott; 16-year old twin children, Hannah and Timothy; and 6-year old daughter, Victoria.
“There’s so much stress and anxiety in our world today, so much division and hurting, and this walk is an opportunity to share our love of God with our community – and show that we believe in a higher power to keep us safe,” she said.
The Graysons were among 20 from Saint Vincent de Paul Parish, a contingent that also included their pastor, Father John March.
“This was an opportunity to spend the morning with our entire church family, and for my husband and I to continue teaching the faith to our children,” Grayson continued.
Arriving at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception shortly before noon, the pilgrims were treated to a tour of the historic church by Father Stephen Robbins, parochial vicar.
Since its first Eucharistic celebration in 1866, the Cathedral has been a sign throughout its years “that God continues to provide for His people, where they are and who they are,” Father Robbins said, noting its construction right after the Civil War; its role in the founding of the Diocese of Camden in 1937, just before World War II; and its continued presence.
Gazing in awe at the stained glass depicting the saints and the life of Mary, the Mother of God, Milagros Diaz said it was a blessing to be in the cathedral and spend the day meeting new people. Diaz, of Our Lady of Hope Parish in Blackwood, said he was grateful, too, for the Bishop’s presence as well as the many priests “who made so much effort to get us all together.”
In a similar way, Father Bertonazzi said he was pleased not only to see people enjoying the walk together, but the presence of those they passed along the way.
“I felt the power of the Holy Spirit through our interactions,” he said. “We said hello to those we met. Some didn’t want to hear us, but others smiled and stopped, pleasantly surprised by the group, and asked us, ‘What is this?’”
“We’re throwing out seeds for the Holy Spirit to move,” he said.
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