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‘Festal Icon Walk’ aims to inspire prayer, contemplation of Feasts
The Festal Icon Shrine of the Nativity of our Lord on the grounds of Mount St. Macrina in Uniontown, Pa. is one of the many stops along the “Festal Icon Walk” to be conducted Sept. 3.
The 82nd Annual Pilgrimage in Honor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help will be held on September 3 & 4 at Mount St. Macrina, Uniontown, Pa. A new feature of the Pilgrimage for 2016 is the Festal Icon Walk. Join the Sisters of St. Basil in a prayerful journey as they walk to various Festal Icon Shrines throughout the Mount, singing processional hymns along the way.
Stopping at each shrine, the Sisters will lead pilgrims in singing the moving hymns of the depicted feast, hear a short meditation on that feast and ponder its meaning in our lives today before continuing to the next Icon Shrine. The Festal Icon Walk will take place Saturday, Sept. 3 at 2:00 p.m. Gathering location is at the Gazebo near the House of Prayer.
The official letter of welcome, additional articles and full Pilgrimage schedule appear below, and also in the AUGUST 2016 issue of the Byzantine Catholic World newspaper.
82nd Pilgrimage in honor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
The Sisters of the Order of Saint Basil the Great
Mount St. Macrina – Uniontown, Pennsylvania
September 3 & 4, 2016
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Friday, September 2
7:00 p.m. – Office of Small Compline Shrine Altar
Saturday, September 3
7:00 a.m. – 12 noon
MYSTERY OF RECONCILIATION (Confessions)
House of Prayer Patio
OPENING OF PILGRIMAGE
8:00 a.m. MATINS Shrine Altar
9:45 a.m. PROCESSION with icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help from House of Prayer to Shrine Altar
10:00 a.m. DIVINE LITURGY Shrine Altar
Welcome: Sister Ruth Plante, OSBM Divine Liturgy to be followed by PROCESSION to Lourdes Grotto for the Solemn Blessing of Water;
procession to return to the House of Prayer at the conclusion of the Blessing.
1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
MYSTERY OF RECONCILIATION (Confessions)
House of Prayer Patio
1:00 p.m. PARAKLIS Shrine Altar
2:00 p.m.
– CHILDREN’S PILGRIMAGE Children’s Tent
– ORIENTATION for TEENS Prayer Garden
– ENRICHMENT SESSION Trinity Center
– MYSTERY OF ANOINTING Shrine Altar
– FESTAL ICON SHRINE WALK Gazebo near the House of Prayer
3:00 p.m. TEEN PILGRIMAGE Prayer Garden
4:00 p.m. VESPERS with DIVINE LITURGY Shrine Altar
6:00 p.m. ENRICHMENT SESSION Mausoleum
7:15 p.m. PROCESSION from House of Prayer
to Mount Macrina Cemetery
7:30 p.m. PARASTAS Mount Macrina Cemetery
followed by CANDLELIGHT PROCESSION
from Mount Macrina Cemetery to Shrine Altar
AKATHIST to OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP
Following Akathist:
TEEN SOCIAL Prayer Garden
YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL Trinity Center[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Sunday, September 4
7:00 a.m. MATINS Shrine Altar
7:00 a.m. DIVINE LITURGY House of Prayer Chapel
7:30 a.m. – 12 noon
MYSTERY OF RECONCILIATION (Confessions)
House of Prayer Patio
8:30 a.m. Slavonic DIVINE LITURGY Shrine Altar
10:30 a.m. DIVINE LITURGY Shrine Altar
12:30 – 5:00 p.m.
MYSTERY OF RECONCILIATION (Confessions)
House of Prayer Patio
1:00 p.m. CHILDREN’S PROCESSION
with Special Blessing for Youth from House of Prayer to Mother of God Shrine
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. MYSTERY OF RECONCILIATION
(Confession for the infirm, sick and physically challenged) Manor Gazebo
2:00 p.m.
CHILDREN’S PILGRIMAGE Children’s Tent
ENRICHMENT SESSION Trinity Center
TEEN PILGRIMAGE Prayer Garden
MYSTERY OF ANOINTING Shrine Altar
3:45 p.m. PROCESSION from House of Prayer
to other of God Shrine
4:00 p.m. DIVINE LITURGY Mother of God Shrine
Words of Gratitude: Sister Ruth Plante, OSBM
7:15 p.m. PROCESSION from House of Prayer to Mother of God Shrine
7:30 p.m. CANDLELIGHT PROCESSION
(Beginning and ending at the Mother of God Shrine)
CLOSING OF THE 2016 PILGRIMAGE
Following the Candlelight Procession:
TEEN SOCIAL Prayer Garden Area
YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL Trinity Center
Monday, September 5
9:30 a.m. DIVINE LITURGY at Shrine Altar
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS SCHEDULE IS
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Theotokos: Inexhaustible Fountain of Mercy
Welcome to Pilgrimage from the Sisters of St. Basil 
Pilgrimage 2016
Glory to Jesus Christ!
Our Dear Friends,
We invite you to celebrate the 82nd Pilgrimage in honor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. This year’s theme, “Theotokos: An Inexhaustible Fountain of Mercy,” reflects Pope Francis’ call to everyone to observe an extraordinary Holy Year of Mercy.
In our Eastern Christian prayer and spirituality, “have mercy” is an often repeated phrase. It is both a petition and a prayer of thanksgiving acknowledging all that the Lord has done, is doing, and will continue to do. Because we are totally dependent on Him for all good gifts, our response is: “Lord, have mercy.”
Who among us does not need to call upon the mercy of the Lord? And who is better suited to bring our needs to Jesus than His most holy Mother – the inexhaustible fountain of mercy?
Whether you come to the pilgrimage for a day or for the entire time, you can be sure that mercy and grace await you. For 82 years countless pilgrims have made the journey to the Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help to be spiritually enriched and to find peace and mercy. How much more important is this journey today during a time of violence, restless turmoil, and spiritual decline? How uplifting to place your footsteps upon the footsteps of so many faithful souls who have gone before you!
We look forward to welcoming you and providing you with a prayerful and loving environment where you can seek and find the mercy of the Lord and be assured of the most loving intercession of Mary, our inexhaustible fountain of mercy.
With our love and prayers,
Sister Ruth Plante, Provincial
and the Sisters of St. Basil
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Thank you, cantors!
Sincere thanks are extended on behalf of the Sisters of St. Basil to all cantors who responded to the cordial invitation to join in the singing at liturgical services during the 82nd Annual Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help at Mount St. Macrina in Uniontown, Pa.
Your presence and leadership contributions are most welcome at all liturgical services during the Annual Pilgrimage. Cantors are especially encouraged to join the Cantors’ Choir during the following major services:
Saturday, September 3
Vigil Divine Liturgy – 4:00 p.m. (Shrine Altar)
Parastas – 7:30 p.m. (Mount Saint Macrina Cemetery)
Sunday, September 4
Hierarchical Divine Liturgy – 4:00 p.m. (Mother of God Shrine)
Moleben & Candlelight Procession – 7:30 p.m. (Mother of God Shrine)
We deeply appreciate your cantorial ministry, and look forward to welcoming you to Mount St. Macrina for the 82nd Annual Pilgrimage.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]
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