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Our Lady of Bethlehem Pilgrimage
Day 1: Friday, May 25, 2012
Dad and I were convicted that the entire family would participate in this year’s pilgrimage, the Second Annual Pentecost Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Bethlehem. We prepared for this pilgrimage for almost a year. The entire family was ready to walk for Our Lord, with the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
We carried many private intentions on pilgrimage but we all shared the intention of strengthening our family virtue.
Alongside what the Church says, the testimony and commitment of the Christian family – your concrete testimony – is very important, especially when you affirm the inviolability of human life from conception until natural death, the singular and irreplaceable value of the family founded upon matrimony and the need for legislation which supports families in the task of giving birth to children and education them. Dear families, be courageous!
~Pope Benedict XVI, National day of Croation Catholic Families (June 5, 2011)
Once again, we united our pilgrimage with the Chartes Pentecost pilgrimage. My family adopted the Chartes theme.
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St. Joseph was our patron for the first day. A day that started at 3am with an early wake-up call to prep breakfast for the pilgrims and hit the road for a 2.5 hr drive.
The day started with Mass at the mission prior to the 15 mile walk from Mission San Juan Bautista to Salinas.
Mass was celebrated by a newly ordained priest, Dad’s friend. He and Fr. M traveled over 2.5 hours. The chorister members in attendance sung for the Mass under Fr. M’s direction.
We embarked on the first leg of the pilgrimage at 10:30AM.
Fr. M and Fr. M joined us for the first 7 miles, along with newly ordained Fr. M’s visiting family.
There were about 34 pilgrims (including kids) on the first day.
The youngest pilgrim was Dragonfly, at 2 years old.
The first half of the first day’s walk was a grueling hike in the hills.
prayer and song
fun
snacks
confession
7 miles. break for fellowship and food.
family
It is customary for those who attend the priest’s Ordination and/or first Mass to kiss the palms of his hands which have been consecrated by holy oils.
Dad continued on with the three girls for the additional 8 miles. I took the boys back to camp to give them a break while I helped with dinner and setting up camp.
+++All for the Sacred and Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, all through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, all in union with St. Joseph.+++
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Our Lady of Bethlehem, pray for us now, pray for us in every need, and be Thou with us at the hour of our death. Amen.
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