90th annual Pilgrimage in Honor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help at Mount St. Macrina in Uniontown, Pa.
By David Mayernik Jr., Editor
Sister Elaine Kisinko, OSBM, told those gathered for the annual Children’s Procession during the 90th annual Pilgrimage in Honor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help at Mount St. Macrina in Uniontown, Pa. there are many words in our language; some “nice and beautiful” and some “not so nice.”
She urged them to hold three words close to their hearts.
“Some of the most beautiful words that we can say are three words together and they are: ‘Thank you, Jesus’,” she said.
“You can think about those words, you can say them to yourselves, you can say them when you pray, you can say them quietly if something doesn’t go right or if something does go right in school or on the playground or even at home. But always remember – very, very important – they carry with you the blessing you have received on this day.”
This year’s Pilgrimage, with the theme, “Theotokos: Our Rock, Our Refuge and Our Strength: Celebrating 90 Years of Grace,” held Aug. 30 to Sept. 2, was the 90th annual in the history of Mount St. Macrina.
Metropolitan Archbishop William C. Skurla, Bishop Kurt Burnette and Bishop Robert Pipta blessed those participating in the Children’s Procession at the Shrine Altar.
“It’s always good to see all the young people for the Pilgrimage and now it’s almost as many as the older people,” Archbishop William said.
“It’s a great thing to see for the future that you will come and maybe your mothers and fathers also were in the Children’s Procession many decades ago and now are back as your parents. We hope that continues on for years to come.”
The event holds the distinction of being the oldest and the largest Byzantine Catholic Pilgrimage in the country.
On Sept. 3, 1934 — Labor Day — about 3,000 faithful came by trains, chartered buses and cars for the blessing of the newly acquired home of the Sisters at Mount St. Macrina.
Many had gathered at St. John church on the other side of town, and they came in procession through the city of Uniontown carrying banners. Forty-two priests joined Bishop Basil Takach in the Divine Liturgy preceding the blessing.
Bishop Basil, with the permission of the Holy See and the enthusiastic support of the Sisters, decided to hold annual pilgrimages at Mount St. Macrina.
This would also provide an opportunity for spreading devotion to the Mother of God under her title as Our Lady of Perpetual Help, as Holy Father Pius XI requested of the Sisters.
“Together, we thank Jesus for the 90 years of this Pilgrimage and we thank Him for the 38 years children like you who walked in this procession. We can never ever mean it enough in our hearts to say ‘Thank you, Jesus’,” Sister Elaine, who serves as Secretary to the Archbishop, said.
“By your walking in this procession, you have given glory to Jesus and you have honored His Mother. You wore a medal for her, you presented flowers to her, and your very act of being together certainly is a very, very holy and good time. We are very, very grateful to you.”
