88th annual Pilgrimage at Mount St. Macrina in Uniontown, Pa.
By David Mayernik Jr., Editor
Many gifts were given and received during the 88th annual Pilgrimage in Honor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help at Mount St. Macrina in Uniontown, Pa.
Among the most noteworthy was the number of children and young adults present on the rolling hills of the Mount from Sept. 2 to 5.
Sister Susan Sisko, Provincial, commented on their presence during her address following Sunday’s Hierarchal Divine Liturgy.
“Hasn’t that been great? Our Pilgrimage is getting younger. The Children’s Procession was a great length. We have a ton of teens, we have a lot of young adults. I am really psyched for the next several years because we have so many young people who want to be here,” she said.
Before Archbishop William Skurla and priests blessed those participating in the Children’s Procession at the Shrine Altar, Sister Elaine Kisinko, OSBM thanked them.
“By your walking, always remember you gave a flower to Mary, you’re wearing a medal for her and you gave glory to her Son, Jesus Christ and you honored His mother,” she said.
Sister Elaine explained to children to always remember they are a “special gift.”
“You are a special gift because God gave you as a gift to your parents and to your loved ones. You’re a most precious gift to the bishops, to the priests, to we Sisters and to everybody here and especially, you’re a great gift to our Byzantine Catholic Church,” she said.
“When the Pilgrimage is over and we’re back at home and school, try to remember, you’re a great gift of God’s goodness and you are a special gift of what you can give to those who love you and cherish you and worry about you.”
With the theme, “Theotokos, the Seeker of the Lost,” this year’s Pilgrimage returned to its four-day schedule over the Labor Day weekend for the first time since before the pandemic.
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.
