Our Blue Pilgrims

The pilgrims pitched their tents for a good night's sleep

All signed up and ready to go!

Did anyone see my luggage?

It was a long walk in lovely back roads and our Sisters loved it!

I have been away from my blog for several weeks. August has been filled with wonderful events including our annual retreat, our annual vacation together, and for me visits with my family in Pennsylvania and upstate New York. I am back at my desk attempting to re-orient my thoughts to the tasks at hand!

During our vacation, believe it or not, we took part in the annual 4-day Walking Pilgrimage from Great Meadows, NJ to the National Polish Shrine of our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown, PA, a distance of 57 miles. While only two of our Sisters actually took part in the walking, (two days only) the rest of our community supported the pilgrims with our prayers, and we were on hand at the Shrine to greet the weary but joyful pilgrims and take part in the closing Mass. More than 2,000 pilgrims - men, women, children, priests, Sisters, Brothers and a Bishop - took part and the numbers keep growing every year.

The prayer intention of the pilgrimage was Vocations to the Priesthood and Consecrated Life. (See more about the history of the event along with other details by clicking on http://www.walkingpilgrimage.us/English/Pilgrimage_Main.html This link has a beautiful thought from Pope John Paul II about pilgrimages. We thought you might enjoy seeing some of the photos our Sisters took along the route.

Pilgrimages are not meant to be easy. There were no showers; there was simple food but lots of water, lots of sore muscles and blisters. It is a form of penance offered to God out of love. In life we are all on a pilgrimage and it is not always easy. But God has given us life and called us to be on this pilgrimage. We can offer our lives anew each day to Him - out of love!