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21: We are pilgrim people. An interview about our upcoming Marian pilgrimage to Washington, D.C. · Beyond The Beacon

• 0:07
  SPEAKER_01: Welcome to Beyond the Beacon with Bishop Kevin Sweeney, a podcast of the Diocese of Patterson.
• 0:12
  SPEAKER_01: I'm Jay Agnish, Communications Director for the Diocese and editor of the Beacon newspaper.
• 0:17
  SPEAKER_01: With me is Bishop Kevin Sweeney.
• 0:18
  SPEAKER_01: Good morning, Bishop.
• 0:19
  SPEAKER_01: How are you doing?
• 0:20
  SPEAKER_02: I'm good, Jay.
• 0:21
  SPEAKER_02: Hello than the Yankees, as we're saying.
• 0:25
  SPEAKER_02: I'm doing well.
• 0:26
  SPEAKER_02: How are you?
• 0:27
  SPEAKER_01: What's going on with the Yankees?
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_02: I'd rather not talk about it now that I've brought it up, but uh it's a strange year for Yankee fans where September games are supposed to be about playoff position.
• 0:41
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 0:42
  SPEAKER_02: Quite unusual.
• 0:42
  SPEAKER_02: They're not they haven't been eliminated yet, so it's not over.
• 0:45
  SPEAKER_02: They're on a one-game winning streak now after last night.
• 0:47
  SPEAKER_02: So is there a mathematical chance that they could still get in?
• 0:51
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 0:51
  SPEAKER_01: Or are you just that hopeful?
• 0:53
  SPEAKER_02: No, it's uh they'll they would say if they were mathematically eliminated.
• 0:57
  SPEAKER_02: There are only what, like six games on the 500 or something?
• 0:59
  SPEAKER_02: Uh well um anyway, let's move on to another topic.
• 1:05
  SPEAKER_02: So Father Michael goes to the parish to the Yankees uh in uh Wilkes Bar, right?
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_03: Yes, the Triple A, uh Wilkes Bear, uh Scranton Wilkes Bear Railriders, which is the triple A team.
• 1:16
  SPEAKER_03: So you can see the future coming up all those things.
• 1:19
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, it's always great to see it because the the the quest for a lot of those players that are in the minors is that they want to get to the majors.
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_03: So they gotta work hard.
• 1:27
  SPEAKER_03: They gotta work hard.
• 1:29
  SPEAKER_01: So with us is Father Michael Rodak uh Rodak, the pastor of St.
• 1:34
  SPEAKER_01: Jude the Apostle in Hardiston and director of pilgrimages for the Diocese of Patterson, also a Yankee fan.
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_01: And uh so welcome, thanks for joining us.
• 1:43
  SPEAKER_01: Good morning to you.
• 1:44
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you.
• 1:45
  SPEAKER_01: So uh we're gonna get into uh very special pilgrimage that we have coming up on October.
• 1:50
  SPEAKER_01: But first I'm gonna ask if the bishop could open us up in prayer.
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_02: Sure.
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_02: Today is the 24th of August, the feast of St.
• 1:57
  SPEAKER_02: Bartholomew the Apostle, and uh we'll place ourselves in God's presence in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
• 2:06
  SPEAKER_02: Amen.
• 2:06
  SPEAKER_02: And as a pilgrim people on the journey we ask Mary to walk with us, to journey with us day by day, and to lead us always closer to Jesus, her son and our Lord, as we pray.
• 2:20
  SPEAKER_02: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
• 2:23
  SPEAKER_02: Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
• 2:27
  SPEAKER_02: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
• 2:32
  SPEAKER_02: Amen.
• 2:33
  SPEAKER_02: Our Lady's seat of wisdom, pray for us, pray for us.
• 2:36
  SPEAKER_02: Saint Bartholomew, pray for us, pray for us.
• 2:38
  SPEAKER_02: All holy men and women, pray.
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_02: Pray for us in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
• 2:42
  SPEAKER_02: Amen.
• 2:43
  SPEAKER_01: Amen.
• 2:43
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you, Bishop.
• 2:44
  SPEAKER_01: Gonna turn it over to you.
• 2:46
  SPEAKER_01: Um so we've invited Father Michael here.
• 2:48
  SPEAKER_01: What do we hope to talk about today?
• 2:50
  SPEAKER_02: Our pilgrimage to Washington, D.C.
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_02: Delayed a little bit, but uh um I'm looking forward to my first as bishop uh in the diocese of Brooklyn where I served.
• 3:00
  SPEAKER_02: It was always uh a wonderful opportunity to uh every other year we would go, I think, in the Brooklyn Diocese.
• 3:06
  SPEAKER_02: And as a pastor and priest, uh even when I was vocation director, uh accompanying uh God's people uh parishioners uh on the journey, literally to Washington, uh DC, to the beautiful shrine of the Immaculate Conception, uh and then celebrating Mass, uh Rosary, confessions, talks.
• 3:28
  SPEAKER_02: Uh Father Michael can give all the details, but uh I was very happy coming here to Patterson and learning that uh under Bishop Saratelli and probably before him as well, there's uh a custom of um was it every two or three years?
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_02: Every three years.
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_03: Uh one year uh uh Bishop Saratelli had to move it because he was called to Rome.
• 3:45
  SPEAKER_03: So so it we had to cancel one year.
• 3:47
  SPEAKER_03: That's why we went from 13 to 17.
• 3:49
  SPEAKER_03: So we extra year.
• 3:51
  SPEAKER_02: Right.
• 3:51
  SPEAKER_02: And then from 17 the next one was gonna be 20, and we know what about 2020.
• 3:56
  SPEAKER_02: So a little delayed, but uh now on schedule for October 14th.
• 4:01
  SPEAKER_02: So I'm gonna ask Father Rodak to share with us some of the details about uh the plans that we have for our DOS and pilgrimage to Washington, D.C.
• 4:09
  SPEAKER_03: Well, thank you, Bishop.
• 4:10
  SPEAKER_03: Thank you for having me here and Jay as well.
• 4:12
  SPEAKER_03: I think that uh when people start to think about pilgrimage and being pilgrim people, I think it's a great opportunity for people to um really, uh especially in our world that we live in today, a need for prayer and a quest for prayer.
• 4:25
  SPEAKER_03: And no better place to do it but in a shrine dedicated to the Blessed Mother, who, as we know, is the conduit to our Lord, uh, as St.
• 4:34
  SPEAKER_03: Louis Marie de Montfort said.
• 4:36
  SPEAKER_03: And I think that for people to go ahead and participate in it, they bring their concerns, they bring their worries, their prayers, their intercessions, maybe somebody's sick at home, maybe it's a personal prayer or issue that they may be dealing with in their life.
• 4:49
  SPEAKER_03: But to bring it on this day, their petitions and needs to this splendorous church, this most beautiful church that we have uh in the United States.
• 4:57
  SPEAKER_03: It's uh truly a delightful place to go to.
• 5:00
  SPEAKER_01: America's church, thank you.
• 5:01
  SPEAKER_03: It is America's church, the largest church and uh in the top ten around the world as far as its size.
• 5:07
  SPEAKER_02: Uh it is uh And shows us that we're an immigrant church because the chapels along the sides uh on either side, I uh I know as you go in the door on the left is Our Lady of Nock, but the uh the Blessed Mother under all of her titles, especially from all the different countries that are represented in our immigrant church.
• 5:25
  SPEAKER_02: Absolutely.
• 5:26
  SPEAKER_03: And that they've been dedicated.
• 5:27
  SPEAKER_03: One of the most recent is one to Vietnam.
• 5:29
  SPEAKER_03: Right.
• 5:30
  SPEAKER_03: Uh so uh, you know, it this is a place, again, where people from all ethnic backgrounds can be able to find their relationship to the Blessed Mother and these individual shrines that are located either in the upper church or in the crypt church.
• 5:44
  SPEAKER_03: Right.
• 5:44
  SPEAKER_03: Uh so it is and also uh many uh saints uh shrines as well uh that are located in the uh church as well.
• 5:52
  SPEAKER_02: And on the campus of Catholic University, the Catholic University of America, which is uh university founded by the bishops, uh the cathedral, uh the basilica I know has a great story about being built.
• 6:01
  SPEAKER_02: It took some time to to build it and uh but under the auspices of all the bishops of our country.
• 6:07
  SPEAKER_02: So uh it really is that national shrine uh for us.
• 6:11
  SPEAKER_02: And uh in preparation for today, uh Jay shared a video that uh he had done when he was working in our neighboring Archdiocese of Newark.
• 6:19
  SPEAKER_02: And uh maybe uh uh uh I'll interview the interviewer.
• 6:24
  SPEAKER_02: Uh Jay, uh the recalling the experience because you you you were on the the bus and uh maybe you can share with us how the experience was for you.
• 6:34
  SPEAKER_01: Oh, it was it was awesome.
• 6:34
  SPEAKER_01: I think it was the first first pilgrimage I've ever been on.
• 6:37
  SPEAKER_01: I I um had the great privilege of getting up bright and early in the morning, five, five thirty or whatever.
• 6:45
  SPEAKER_01: I I got on a bus.
• 6:46
  SPEAKER_01: I was at St.
• 6:47
  SPEAKER_01: Al's in Caldwell, um and I uh for the purpose of making a a nice visual, you know, uh uh doc document really of what that trip is is all about, but I obviously had you know some great moments, um, reflective moments and reflection with with Christ and with with uh with our mother.
• 7:07
  SPEAKER_01: And uh yeah, it was great.
• 7:09
  SPEAKER_01: I so I made uh recorded the trip down on the on the bus.
• 7:14
  SPEAKER_01: Um we were doing praying the rosary and singing songs on the way down, and and um and when we got there, I got to spend time in what what is it like over a hundred chapels there?
• 7:26
  SPEAKER_03: We had ninety-nine, uh actually ninety-nine is is where it stands today.
• 7:30
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 7:30
  SPEAKER_01: And and yeah, there's some some chapels are kind of overflowing.
• 7:34
  SPEAKER_01: I meant Guadalu Guadalupe was uh quite a popular one.
• 7:37
  SPEAKER_01: Um and there were just throngs of p people.
• 7:40
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, every pew was was filled, and uh and there were it was standing room, and uh it was a great day.
• 7:47
  SPEAKER_02: Um and there was a brief interview with uh Cardinal Tobin, and I was struck as you know, kind of a simple thing, we say it, but that we are a pilgrim people, and that experience of uh journeying together.
• 7:59
  SPEAKER_02: Certainly the synod reminds us of that.
• 8:02
  SPEAKER_02: Uh but that we walk together in faith, and as he says, you know, sometimes we get knocked down on the journey or we get detoured.
• 8:09
  SPEAKER_02: And with a pilgrimage, there's always a sense of making some sacrifice, so getting up early in the morning.
• 8:14
  SPEAKER_02: You never know if uh you might uh get the uh trouble with the bus, or you know, they there there's gonna be things that could happen.
• 8:21
  SPEAKER_02: This but it's good to offer up those sacrifices, and it's so much a part of our uh Catholic tradition, the experience of uh pilgrimage, whether it be the Camino in Santiago de Compostelo or visiting some of the Marian uh sites, such as where I just had the opportunity in in uh Fatima and uh the to see people um uh going when I would had the opportunity to go to the Basilica of Our Lady Guadalupe in Mexico and see people walking on their knees uh making that pilgrimage.
• 8:49
  SPEAKER_02: And uh I uh somebody in the in your video shared about I think they were from Argentina and talked about going with a grandparent.
• 8:56
  SPEAKER_02: And yeah unfortunately it's not so much part of the United States experience.
• 9:01
  SPEAKER_02: I think Catholics who have done it um are familiar with it and and learn about it.
• 9:05
  SPEAKER_02: But some of our our our folks haven't maybe had the experience.
• 9:09
  SPEAKER_02: Uh uh Father Michael, uh have you found that in your years?
• 9:12
  SPEAKER_02: How many years have you been leading the pilgrimage, or how many pilgrimages have you led?
• 9:15
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, I've 13 was when I first started.
• 9:18
  SPEAKER_03: Uh so I helped out Monsignor Demkievich uh here in the uh diocese uh who ran in the one prior to that in 2010.
• 9:26
  SPEAKER_03: Uh and uh then Bishop Saratelli appointed me in, you know, so 1317, and now this would be the the next one here.
• 9:32
  SPEAKER_03: Okay.
• 9:32
  SPEAKER_03: Um but yes, you have people who are coming with so many different, you know, again, in you know, intentions.
• 9:39
  SPEAKER_03: Uh again, people are looking for that spiritual moment, that opportunity.
• 9:44
  SPEAKER_03: And no greater place to have it than in Washington, gathered as one diocesan group, you know, family, uh, because you mentioned before uh that the the church, the basilica, uh has been so connected to the bishops and and how is it connected to the people?
• 9:59
  SPEAKER_03: This is our nation's parish.
• 10:01
  SPEAKER_03: Right.
• 10:01
  SPEAKER_03: And uh we're there uh as people from all throughout the diocese, uh coming with all their different prayers and concerns, and then joining in prayer.
• 10:09
  SPEAKER_03: Uh part of the day we'll have uh communal prayer, uh the rosary, which will be multilingual.
• 10:15
  SPEAKER_03: Uh we'll have the divine mercy, there'll be time for uh prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament, time for reconciliation, uh, and then the the uh Holy Mass, uh which is our capstone of the day before people head home.
• 10:27
  SPEAKER_03: Uh, celebrator is just the bishop by our by our bishop.
• 10:30
  SPEAKER_02: And hopefully many of our priests will have uh the opportunity to uh or be able to work out their schedules, I know, because they we would certainly want them to help be there for confessions, but that opportunity again of uh journeying with our people literally uh again this challenge schedule can be challenging, but uh usually we have a good number of priests that join us as well, right?
• 10:49
  SPEAKER_03: We do, and we had enough uh last uh time that we had the uh pilgrimage in 17, we had 22 uh confession stations that we set up in the crypt church, going almost like completely all around.
• 11:01
  SPEAKER_03: And you know, people come in, seminarians help, you know, and directing people to where there's an empty spot.
• 11:07
  SPEAKER_03: Fortunately, we do have uh the opportunity for people to go to confession in their native tongue.
• 11:13
  SPEAKER_03: So uh so usually we've been able to satisfy that if people need to come and you know, say to go for Polish or Spanish or to Galag.
• 11:20
  SPEAKER_03: Uh we've been very fortunate.
• 11:22
  SPEAKER_03: So uh the opportunity to uh go in their native tongue and to uh speak to a priest and for the confession.
• 11:28
  SPEAKER_03: So it is just wonderful uh that you know that opportunity is present.
• 11:33
  SPEAKER_03: Uh again, I think going back to what you said earlier, Bishop, I mean this is, you know, an almost like an immigrant church that comes together as one body.
• 11:42
  SPEAKER_03: Really nice.
• 11:43
  SPEAKER_01: Right.
• 11:43
  SPEAKER_01: So if people want to learn more and reach out to you or register, uh there's a few different ways.
• 11:49
  SPEAKER_01: But if you if you go to pattersondioces.org, you'll see up on the top we have a banner that you can click on and it takes you to an information page uh with some of the details about the one-day pilgrimage or the two-day pilgrimage.
• 12:03
  SPEAKER_01: But basically in a nutshell, what do you what do you usually tell people how to how should people sign up?
• 12:08
  SPEAKER_01: Well, and when's the deadline?
• 12:09
  SPEAKER_03: Sure.
• 12:10
  SPEAKER_03: The sign-up uh well, let's start with this the two-day trip.
• 12:13
  SPEAKER_03: Um that sign up is coming close right now.
• 12:16
  SPEAKER_03: Uh we I really September 11th is the end of that.
• 12:20
  SPEAKER_03: Uh and what will happen is uh you know, I have to report to the hotel because there's a hotel accommodation involved.
• 12:27
  SPEAKER_03: Can you share some details about what's uh offered in the two-day trip as opposed to the two-day trip uh what you people will leave uh here from the diocese, uh we'll go down uh again on both trips, there's a stop on the way down uh and get to uh the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land, also located in Washington.
• 12:48
  SPEAKER_03: The I will offer mass at a uh monastery, there will be tours there, there will be an opportunity for people to be able to go to uh visit uh the Holy Land shrines, the replicas of them.
• 13:00
  SPEAKER_03: And they're very, very, very uh people who have been to you know Bethlehem told me that this is very much what it looks like.
• 13:08
  SPEAKER_03: And you know, I have not personally, but uh people who have been there uh say that this is a great replic replica of it, and they're able to uh go there and spend time in prayer uh and then uh go out to the Lord's Grotto uh that is also on the premises, weather permitting, God willing.
• 13:26
  SPEAKER_03: Uh and uh you know, we'll be there for probably about two and a half hours, three hours.
• 13:30
  SPEAKER_03: Uh people then will uh get back on the bus uh and then go to the uh shrine hotel for the night, uh, have dinner uh with you, Bishop, uh, and then uh we'll uh get up the next morning, have breakfast, and on their way back to uh the uh for the full day, they'll meet the people who are coming down for the one day trip uh over at the Basilica of the National Shrine.
• 13:50
  SPEAKER_01: So email uh FatherMichael at pilgrimage at pattersondioces.org if you have any interest or questions.
• 13:58
  SPEAKER_02: Um and then for the one day, most of the uh registration is done through the parishes, right?
• 14:03
  SPEAKER_03: Yes, and the reason for that is uh I don't get into the individuals who may be going from every parish.
• 14:09
  SPEAKER_03: It would be almost impossible to do that.
• 14:11
  SPEAKER_03: But what I'm do I I say the micro end of the pilgrimage is being done in the parish, the macro is being done by myself, and where people are um you know going ahead, signing up.
• 14:20
  SPEAKER_03: I I recommended that there was a you know spring, early summer sign up that took place up until about July 2nd.
• 14:28
  SPEAKER_03: This next sign-up taking place starting in September, preferably right on Labor Day weekend, going for a few weekends, uh and people will uh sign up there.
• 14:37
  SPEAKER_03: They will report the numbers to me, and then basically uh it's my job to get the buses to those locations.
• 14:42
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, how's the turnout looking so far?
• 14:45
  SPEAKER_03: Well, we have had some parishes who already have buses filled.
• 14:48
  SPEAKER_03: Uh still I'm trying to prod some pastors and get our parishes to to move on it.
• 14:53
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 14:53
  SPEAKER_03: Uh you know, I realize that September is a very busy time in the parish as as people come back from vacation or people just get back to the ordinary after the summer lull, uh schools being closed.
• 15:04
  SPEAKER_03: Um, but you know, it is essential that uh, you know, the information does get uh out to the people uh and the people have that opportunity to sign up.
• 15:13
  SPEAKER_03: Okay.
• 15:14
  SPEAKER_03: Uh so it is gonna be uh information has been prepared to uh go to the uh parishes uh and once that uh is received uh I'm hoping that the pastors or a coordinator, which they could appoint.
• 15:27
  SPEAKER_03: I have worked with coordinators, I had meetings with coordinators already over the summer.
• 15:32
  SPEAKER_03: Uh and what they'll do is um you know have the sign-up sheet and the information found in their parish bulletins.
• 15:38
  SPEAKER_03: And of course, if they do have questions, reach out to me.
• 15:41
  SPEAKER_03: Don't be afraid.
• 15:42
  SPEAKER_03: Patterson uh pilgrimage at pattersondiocese.org.
• 15:45
  SPEAKER_01: So if I've never been on a pilgrimage, why should I as a Catholic?
• 15:49
  SPEAKER_03: Great.
• 15:49
  SPEAKER_03: It's that's a great question.
• 15:50
  SPEAKER_03: Thank you.
• 15:51
  SPEAKER_03: That's a that's a phenomenal question, actually.
• 15:53
  SPEAKER_03: Uh and the reason for that is um that our roots are, all of us, uh, is to grow our spiritual life, okay?
• 16:01
  SPEAKER_03: And to be able to, the three premises of the relationship of God is to know, love, and serve Him.
• 16:06
  SPEAKER_03: So to be able to go ahead and to have that service, we need to know about God.
• 16:11
  SPEAKER_03: We need to, you know, develop our love with God.
• 16:14
  SPEAKER_03: We do that through the Sunday Mass, we do that through weekday masses, uh, through prayers that people could say at home.
• 16:19
  SPEAKER_03: But when you're going to a shrine, okay, when you're going on this pilgrimage, as I mentioned before, it's a journey that people could take their own prayer and intercessions, their concerns, their worries, maybe that whole point of growth.
• 16:31
  SPEAKER_03: But having the intercession of the saints uh and there's so many different places in which they could place uh their love in front of the Blessed Mother in these different individual shrines dedicated to her, that they could be able to go ahead and you know have that reliance from that uh is that you know there is a change.
• 16:49
  SPEAKER_03: People, you know, no matter if you know people went the last time in 2017 or 14 or any time earlier than that, that people have have the opportunity when they go to um you know walk away with a new fond relationship of God.
• 17:04
  SPEAKER_03: And that is, again, through the whole spiritual experience.
• 17:07
  SPEAKER_03: This is not a trip, this is not a sightseeing trip.
• 17:10
  SPEAKER_03: This is and I always say that to people.
• 17:12
  SPEAKER_03: It's not a sightseeing trip.
• 17:12
  SPEAKER_02: This is you'll see some of the sights of our nation's capital along along the way.
• 17:16
  SPEAKER_02: But but the point is, yeah.
• 17:18
  SPEAKER_03: This is this is not a sightseeing trip.
• 17:20
  SPEAKER_03: This is for you to have your soul dive into a greater relationship with God.
• 17:25
  SPEAKER_02: And maybe if somebody has never been to our nation's capital, which I was always surprised when we would go on the pilgrimage, that so many would say, Oh no, I've never been.
• 17:33
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, the Capitol is is beautiful, and it it could um going on the pilgrimage could inspire somebody to say, Oh, well, I'm gonna take a weekend and go and see the Capitol, the Smithsonian Museum, the the Lincoln, you know, all those.
• 17:44
  SPEAKER_02: That's a great thing to do, but not the the the the that's not the point of the of the of the day of the pilgrimage.
• 17:50
  SPEAKER_03: Right.
• 17:50
  SPEAKER_03: And the goal is is to you know strengthen or develop a prayer life.
• 17:55
  SPEAKER_03: And many times, I'm sure like you, Bishop, that there has been people who are needing that extra spiritual relationship.
• 18:01
  SPEAKER_01: Um, aspect too that struck me when I when I went.
• 18:07
  SPEAKER_01: Uh you're on the bus with all these people and together you're going through those doors and entering into the cathedral.
• 18:13
  unknown: Trevor Burrus, Jr.
• 18:14
  SPEAKER_03: When people arrive, very much like you know the video that you were speaking about earlier, Bishop, uh of yours, Jay, that you had filmed uh from your last time over in Newark, uh is is very, very true.
• 18:24
  SPEAKER_03: Uh and people should take a look at that.
• 18:26
  SPEAKER_03: People have the opportunity to gather in the morning.
• 18:29
  SPEAKER_03: You're all gathered, you're tired, waking up early in the morning, getting on the bus for this long journey.
• 18:34
  SPEAKER_03: And it is a long journey.
• 18:35
  SPEAKER_03: It's it's it's you know, we're talking four and a half hours down, four and a half hours back, you know, a little bit extra time to for stops, uh, and you know, about five hours down at the basilica.
• 18:44
  SPEAKER_03: And you know, here you are, you're you're going on this journey, and you again you're placing your hope in God for this new relationship.
• 18:51
  SPEAKER_03: People are seeking and yearning for a greater relationship with God.
• 18:56
  SPEAKER_03: They are really are.
• 18:57
  SPEAKER_03: And and I I have found this, I'm sure like you have, Bishop, that people, you know, are looking for that opportunity for prayer for that special place, added that communal dimension that you just mentioned about Jay, when we are going ahead and praying as a pilgrim people, okay, in front of, you know, in the upper church, in front of that uh August uh sanctuary, that you know, people are praying the rosary and multilingual tongue, uh, then offering the divine mercy.
• 19:24
  SPEAKER_03: Uh prior to that we crowned the Blessed Mother.
• 19:27
  SPEAKER_03: Uh good music, too, right?
• 19:29
  SPEAKER_03: That'll help us to pray.
• 19:31
  SPEAKER_03: Which is also our first time that we're going to be having our diocesan choir there.
• 19:36
  SPEAKER_03: Oh, great.
• 19:37
  SPEAKER_03: Uh, which we have not done in the past.
• 19:38
  SPEAKER_01: So that's you know, they will be way up high in the choir.
• 19:41
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, they are.
• 19:42
  SPEAKER_03: But uh as we know, anybody who's gone to cathedral uh, you know, masses uh know that uh their voices will be heard well.
• 19:50
  SPEAKER_03: Believe it or not, for for such a large church, I mean, it you you will be able to hear.
• 19:55
  SPEAKER_03: Uh but it it just again, you're you're coming with that in that spiritual need.
• 20:00
  SPEAKER_03: Uh and you know, there's people that sometimes are hurting and and they'll find that peace.
• 20:05
  SPEAKER_03: They'll find also that opportunity, say, where you know they want to go to reconciliation that they haven't gone in a long time.
• 20:12
  SPEAKER_03: They'll have that opportunity.
• 20:14
  SPEAKER_02: It can be like a retreat day uh retreat.
• 20:16
  SPEAKER_02: It really is.
• 20:16
  SPEAKER_03: It's it's a retreat in in in in you know, in in a small retreat, you know, yeah, it's almost like right, right.
• 20:23
  SPEAKER_02: Uh Jesus said, you know, to his apostles at times, come away to a quiet place.
• 20:27
  SPEAKER_02: He he he showed by his example that finding that quiet place, going away, getting away from the routine, away from the day-to-day.
• 20:36
  SPEAKER_02: Uh uh and and and this is certainly not not something that uh most do every day if we get a chance in once every three years, uh it's it's obviously something different.
• 20:47
  SPEAKER_02: And that that difference can be a help to our spiritual life as Father Michael's just saying.
• 20:52
  SPEAKER_03: Taking the uh example of the gospels.
• 20:54
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, here we are having our Lord, the transfiguration going up the mountain with Peter, James, and John.
• 21:00
  SPEAKER_03: Again, the following week, he's going up the mountain to pray.
• 21:03
  SPEAKER_03: Right.
• 21:04
  SPEAKER_03: All right.
• 21:04
  SPEAKER_03: You're absolutely correct, Bishop.
• 21:06
  SPEAKER_03: The if if Jesus could do this, I think that's our great example in telling us we need to take this time.
• 21:12
  SPEAKER_03: We need to take this time.
• 21:13
  SPEAKER_03: That you know, and and the whole point of pilgrimage is one other thing that I like to point out again.
• 21:17
  SPEAKER_03: Why should they go on a pilgrimage?
• 21:19
  SPEAKER_03: And that is that it is a break from your normal, okay?
• 21:24
  SPEAKER_03: It is your your busyness of your schedule, going to this thing or that thing, this event to that event.
• 21:30
  SPEAKER_03: Uh, this is a break from that.
• 21:32
  SPEAKER_03: And you're taking that break, not to go on, as I said, a sightseeing trip or to go to a movie or go to a mall, but you're taking this break to grow your spiritual relationship with God.
• 21:43
  SPEAKER_03: That's what we're called to do.
• 21:44
  SPEAKER_03: And we're called to that, you know, that that greater spirituality.
• 21:48
  SPEAKER_03: And there's nothing greater than a pilgrimage itself, and such a you know, a one that could be taking place down in Washington at the Basilica.
• 21:56
  SPEAKER_03: Aaron Ross Powell, Jr.
• 21:56
  SPEAKER_02: And something you could do as a family as well.
• 21:58
  SPEAKER_02: I when I wrote the article.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_02: A few weeks ago, I mentioned that it would be great if the whole family can come together.
• 22:04
  SPEAKER_02: But also maybe a parent and a child to get a quality time together, you know, maybe again something out of the norm.
• 22:13
  SPEAKER_02: Families have very busy lives.
• 22:15
  SPEAKER_02: And uh even though uh mom and dad might be driving to soccer games and sporting events, and there's that time together, but uh to have that whole day together, um uh again, if the whole family can do it together, that's wonderful.
• 22:27
  SPEAKER_02: Uh whether a couple um or you know, a parent and a child, um, something different and uh in the context of prayer and uh on the journey we we get to know each other, we uh talk to each other, we listen to each other uh in uh in a in a different way.
• 22:43
  SPEAKER_02: So um it it's a really wonderful opportunity for that.
• 22:46
  SPEAKER_01: So we are a pilgrim people, and you both are pilgrim people.
• 22:50
  SPEAKER_01: You've been to a number of pilgrimages over over the years.
• 22:54
  SPEAKER_01: Are there any pilgrimages um that st stick out to you?
• 22:58
  SPEAKER_01: Uh I know recently you were in Portugal, of course, Bishop.
• 23:01
  SPEAKER_01: Right.
• 23:01
  SPEAKER_01: Right.
• 23:01
  SPEAKER_01: And you were in Oklahoma not not too long ago.
• 23:04
  SPEAKER_01: Correct.
• 23:05
  SPEAKER_01: Um maybe the first pilgrimage you were ever on, or one of your favorites, or one that stuck out?
• 23:50
  SPEAKER_03: Well, I'm sure the bishop, I mean, maybe I mean you can't be going to to see the Holy Father and uh and uh you know for World Youth Day when you have the kids of the world, the the youth of the world, the young people, the young adults that are coming together.
• 24:03
  SPEAKER_02: And uh But also there, Fatima, uh there's uh part of the Fatima story is um uh one of the uh Lucia's, I think one of the visionaries, her mother was sick, and uh she prayed uh and they made a promise that her sisters and mom struggled with the accepting the vision uh at the time.
• 24:21
  SPEAKER_02: Uh but um they the mom was sick and the the sister said we'll we'll do anything.
• 24:27
  SPEAKER_02: Uh and so the mom was healed after Lucia asked the lady to uh blessed mother to to heal her mom, and the sisters made a promise that they would walk a certain way to the apparition site on their knees.
• 24:42
  SPEAKER_02: Uh again, it's uh a penitential custom, it's something that's part of our tradition.
• 24:47
  SPEAKER_02: And um there's a path uh at the shrine of Fatima which which traces the the spot from where they started.
• 24:54
  SPEAKER_02: It's probably I didn't do it on my I I I didn't realize what it was when I saw it until I heard read more of the story afterwards.
• 25:02
  SPEAKER_02: Uh so but there's this kind of strip that um it's almost like a sidewalk within the um and uh you see people walking along that path on their knees to one to the operation site, the Cova de Iria, where there's a beautiful chapel now.
• 25:15
  SPEAKER_02: So um so as I mentioned, uh when I went to Guadalupe, I was uh in um my third year in the seminary, and just something about the story of our Lady of Guadalupe that I just very knew very little about at the time, I just felt I wanted to go to Guadalupe and I went there as a seminarian, and uh to to the the faith of the people uh walking on their knees or going that made a promise to the virgin uh or um you know the devotion that you see um it it is it's contagious, it it inspires faith.
• 25:46
  SPEAKER_02: So so that was uh visiting Guadalupe was a very memorable pilgrimage for me.
• 25:50
  SPEAKER_01: I remember when we put the podcast together, you specifically requested for an image of Guadalupe, which is right behind you now.
• 25:58
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, that's amazing.
• 25:59
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 26:00
  SPEAKER_03: Actually, the just very briefly, and and I was in Oklahoma City, uh we our nation's newest shrine is uh to uh dedicated to Blessed Stanley Rother.
• 26:11
  SPEAKER_03: And uh that just happened actually this January of this year.
• 26:15
  SPEAKER_03: Uh and I went out to um see that shrine, and but also they have on the other side.
• 26:21
  SPEAKER_03: Now, when you once you get out of New Jersey, it's hard to believe it, but you know, everything is big.
• 26:26
  SPEAKER_03: Uh so about a half a mile away, probably, maybe maybe not half quite, but at least uh at least a quarter of a mile, you you have the basilica here, I should say, the the the church, the cathedral, and then you have uh a dedication to Our Lady of Guadalupe.
• 26:41
  SPEAKER_03: So a hill that you climb up and everything like that, and uh being able to uh spend time uh with a uh very, very good uh replica of Our Lady Guadalupe on top.
• 26:52
  SPEAKER_03: And uh just a uh peaceful time that I was able to spend there.
• 26:56
  SPEAKER_03: The only time my reason I left was because it was the thunderstorm was coming in.
• 26:59
  SPEAKER_03: But uh sorry wanna get hit by lightning, but but it was just wonderful to have that prayer time in front of Our Lady, but you know, and then also uh the beauty of the uh cathedral that they have just built.
• 27:11
  SPEAKER_02: This past Monday was uh August 21st, which is the uh anniversary of the apparition of our Blessed Mother at Nock in County Mayo in Ireland.
• 27:21
  SPEAKER_02: And uh I just got an email from my aunt, my mom's sister, who's a religious sister, sister Aloysha's, telling me that the crowds were great.
• 27:29
  SPEAKER_02: They have a a custom of a novena in in Ireland, and that's really a national novena.
• 27:34
  SPEAKER_02: And still with all the struggles this for the church at the moment in in Ireland, the faith is there, and she was saying uh how great the crowds were through nine days leading up to the feast day is celebrated on uh August 17th, at least on the liturgical calendar, but uh many celebrate the feast on the the anniversary of the apparition, which was August 21st.
• 27:55
  SPEAKER_02: So uh so that that's certainly part of the Irish experience, uh that that pilgrimage to Nock.
• 28:02
  SPEAKER_02: Um so uh yes, the it's it's a beautiful part of our Catholic uh faith and that universality of the church where the the the idea of pilgrimage is the same, but it has different flavors and different manifestations in different cultures and countries.
• 28:17
  SPEAKER_02: Uh and so um yeah, it's uh it's very much a part of our faith.
• 28:21
  SPEAKER_02: And hopefully uh many will join us in October on our Daeson pilgrimage who have been on pilgrimages before and know the value and what a blessing it is.
• 28:30
  SPEAKER_02: And hopefully also many who have never been on a pilgrimage or never been to the national shrine will will join us and and make it there first.
• 28:36
  SPEAKER_02: Hopefully, first of many more to come.
• 28:38
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 28:38
  SPEAKER_03: I uh one thing I'd like to add as well uh is you know, for those who are hearing, and as you're encouraging Bishop, and and and I hope definitely people are taking that to heart, I I say also to people do not be afraid.
• 28:49
  SPEAKER_03: Don't be afraid to go.
• 28:51
  SPEAKER_03: Don't be afraid to get closer to God.
• 28:53
  SPEAKER_03: Um you're not alone.
• 28:55
  SPEAKER_03: You're not alone.
• 28:56
  SPEAKER_03: Everybody who who takes the journey at some point in their life realizes that, you know, the importance of God.
• 29:03
  SPEAKER_03: God is what ready to welcome.
• 29:05
  SPEAKER_03: As uh the Father welcomed the prodigal son, so is God welcome you here to that day.
• 29:10
  SPEAKER_03: And you knowing that you go there with your fellow parishioners throughout the diocese to be able to offer your day in prayer, but also to letting God come and speak to you in your heart and soul, uh, letting you be able to be transformed to a greater relationship with God.
• 29:28
  SPEAKER_03: I really truly believe from everyone that I've spoken to who have been on a pilgrimage, people that you know I've taken on pilgrimages here in the United States that I've taken people, is that people walk away renewed at the very least, and sometimes people being totally transformed.
• 29:45
  SPEAKER_03: And don't be afraid of that.
• 29:47
  SPEAKER_03: Right.
• 29:47
  SPEAKER_03: Let God lead you and you'll be fine.
• 29:49
  SPEAKER_03: Right.
• 29:49
  SPEAKER_03: That's beautiful.
• 29:50
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 29:51
  SPEAKER_02: Um as they say, God has never outdone in generosity.
• 29:53
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, it's giving up a day, but uh the you'll you'll the Lord will certainly reward you with many blessings.
• 29:58
  SPEAKER_02: As Father Michael said, don't be afraid.
• 30:00
  SPEAKER_02: And it's also easy to come up with excuses.
• 30:02
  SPEAKER_02: We know we're busy, and uh, but uh even more so, maybe that's the why you need it, because it's it's hard and you're busy, and uh if you can make that decision and sacrifice that time and give that time, that day to the Lord, uh surely you'll be blessed uh by by the experience.
• 30:20
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I find ripping myself away from the busyness and even attending daily mass is right, there's benefits and uh from that.
• 30:28
  SPEAKER_01: Um well great.
• 30:29
  SPEAKER_01: Uh thank you so much for joining us and telling us about the pilgrimage and and we're gonna have all kinds of uh links in the show notes for how you can sign up and get more information and the video that we referenced, I'll have a link to that.
• 30:41
  SPEAKER_01: Um So yeah, thanks for being on.
• 30:44
  SPEAKER_03: Is there any No, I just I just again I invite people if they do have a question, reach out to me, Patter uh pilgrimage at pattersondicey.org.
• 30:52
  SPEAKER_03: Uh I'll be more than glad uh to be able to help them.
• 30:55
  SPEAKER_03: Uh and you know, if they have any questions, again, uh there's no stupid questions, there's nothing to be fearful of.
• 31:01
  SPEAKER_03: Just to be able to go ahead and to think, how can I get closer to God?
• 31:05
  SPEAKER_03: Is this my avenue?
• 31:06
  SPEAKER_03: Is this my way?
• 31:07
  SPEAKER_03: Yes, it is.
• 31:08
  SPEAKER_03: I really truly do believe it.
• 31:09
  SPEAKER_03: Pilgrimage is the way to do it.
• 31:11
  SPEAKER_03: And I really do believe it'll be a wonderful day praying as a parish family and having the celebration of our bishop leading us in mass at the end.
• 31:18
  SPEAKER_02: And uh as we thank Father Michael, we also thank your parishioners, the St.
• 31:22
  SPEAKER_02: Jude's, right?
• 31:22
  SPEAKER_02: Uh who uh I know are aware that you're working, you're they're sharing you with us a little bit as you give time to and it is a lot of time and uh energy and uh preparation, but uh so we thank uh your parishioners for their support that they give you and and for uh sharing you with us a little bit, especially.
• 31:39
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, yes, yes, yes.
• 31:41
  SPEAKER_02: Please do, please do.
• 31:43
  SPEAKER_01: Well, good, Bishop, before we wind down the episode, is there anything else you'd like to comment on as far as pilgrimages or anything else that's upcoming in the diocese?
• 31:51
  SPEAKER_02: Aaron Powell I think I mentioned last week that uh I had the opportunity to celebrate uh with some of our religious communities uh on um uh the Feast of the Assumption uh with the um uh si uh Franciscan Sisters of St.
• 32:08
  SPEAKER_02: Elizabeth as two of their sisters made uh solemn profession.
• 32:12
  SPEAKER_02: Then this past Saturday, I believe, I was with the um um Philippines, the sisters, uh for as uh one of their um sisters made her uh uh solemn profession.
• 32:23
  SPEAKER_02: And um we're looking forward to this coming Tuesday uh when we'll have a gathering of our young religious and seminarians, uh which uh had been done in the diocese over the years and uh was a casualty of COVID, uh, but now is back.
• 32:39
  SPEAKER_02: And Sister Teresa Lee, our chancellor and delegate for religious, has been organizing that with the help of others.
• 32:44
  SPEAKER_02: And so I'm looking forward to maybe uh playing some volleyball and I think a barbecue and a few other things on on Tuesday evening uh with the our younger uh um religious sisters and brothers and seminarians.
• 32:56
  SPEAKER_01: Oh, that's great.
• 32:57
  SPEAKER_01: And of course, we'll have photos in the beacon and online on social media.
• 33:02
  SPEAKER_01: Um well, good.
• 33:04
  SPEAKER_01: Well, thank you both for your time and we're gonna Thank you, Jay.
• 33:08
  SPEAKER_01: Say goodbye.
• 33:09
  SPEAKER_01: So um, yeah, thank you all for spending time with us.
• 33:13
  SPEAKER_01: Join us again for the next episode of Beyond the Beacon.
• 33:16
  SPEAKER_01: Please subscribe to this podcast wherever you're listening.
• 33:19
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• 33:29
  SPEAKER_01: Email questions and podcast topic ideas for the bishop to beyond at pattersondioces.org.
• 33:36
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you for listening to Beyond the Beacon.
• 33:38
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you very much.
• 33:39
  SPEAKER_01: God bless you.
• 33:40
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you.