Pilgrimage to the Shrines of St. Kateri & the North American Martyrs
More than 100 parishioners from across the Diocese joined Bishop Reidy on pilgrimage to the Shrine of St. Kateri and the Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs, also known as the Shrine of the North American Martyrs, to celebrate the feast day of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Lily of the Mohawks.
Walking in the Footsteps of the Saints
Everyone expressed how much they enjoyed the celebration of Mass in the Coliseum and hearing Bishop Reidy share his knowledge of and passion for the saints who first brought the Faith to these newly discovered continents. They witnessed and sacrificed, even to the point of giving their lives for the greater glory of God.
Bishop Reidy also spoke about the profound impact their witness had on the Native American people, with many First Nations people embracing the Faith. Remarkably, St. Kateri was born just 10 years later on the very grounds where the evangelizing Jesuit missionaries had shed their blood.
Bishop Reidy explained how St. Kateri’s extraordinary faith and austere way of life astonished the Jesuit missionaries. Along with the miracles attributed to her intercession, these are among the reasons she was declared a saint—a saint whom we have come to love, venerate and ask to pray for our intentions.
A Day of Prayer and Fellowship
Following a wonderful community lunch, our pilgrims enjoyed visiting the museum and the famous Ravine, where St. Isaac Jogues buried his companion, St. René Goupil.
The group then traveled to Fonda, New York, the village where St. Kateri later lived and was baptized. There, they prayed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy in the chapel and visited the historic archaeological site where her Mohawk Turtle Clan had built their longhouses.
Many pilgrims collected water from St. Kateri’s Spring, which Bishop Reidy blessed, making it holy water to bring home and share the blessings of this special day.
Our next pilgrimage with Bishop Reidy will be to the National Shrine of St. Anne in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, on September 15, the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows, followed by a luncheon buffet at the Publick House Historic Inn.
Watch for information and registration forms in your parish bulletins, vestibules and in future newsletters in the coming days. We hope you will join us for one of these special and spiritually enriching days.
