Pilgrimage to OLB 2012

Pure Joy

June 29, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Beach, GFG, Joy, Our Lady of Bethlehem, Pilgrimage, Pilgrimage to OLB 2012, Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Bethlehem, Summer

Our Lady of Bethlehem (Post) Pilgrimage

Day 3: Sunday, May 27, 2012 – Pebble Beach

Father gave a beautiful homily to the pilgrims on Pentecost Sunday. He spoke about how our recent pilgrimage served several purposes. He emphasized a pilgrimage’s primary purpose—to better equip us for our true pilgrimage, our journey to our heavenly home.

Our post pilgrimage gathering was a beautiful glimpse into the beauty that awaits if we are graced to make it home—pure JOY.

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Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way which he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

~Hebrews 10:19-25

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{pretty, happy, funny, real}

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~
Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!

In His JOY,

Missionary Family

June 14, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Our Lady of Bethlehem, Pilgrimage, Pilgrimage to OLB 2012, Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Bethlehem, St. Joan of Arc

You have before you the witness of so many families who point out the paths for growing in love: by maintaining a constant relationship with God and participating in the life of the Church, by cultivating dialogue, respecting the other’s point of view, by being ready for service and patient with the failings of others, by being able to forgive and to seek forgiveness, by overcoming with intelligence and humility any conflicts that may arise, by agreeing on principles of upbringing, and by being open to other families, attentive towards the poor, and responsible within civil society. These are all elements that build up the family. Live them with courage, and be sure that, insofar as you live your love for each other and for all with the help of God’s grace, you become a living Gospel, a true domestic Church (cf. Familiaris Consortio, 49).

~Pope Benedict XVI, 7th World Meeting of Families

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Our Lady of Bethlehem Pilgrimage

Day 3: Sunday, May 27, 2012 – Marina to Carmel

St. Joan of Arc was our patron for Sunday, in keeping with the theme of Chartes. It was only fitting since St. Joan of Arc is Dad’s patron saint for the 2012 year.

The walk started on the busy city streets.

It was a bit nippy.

Papi was always finding treasure on the pilgrimage.

We walked along the beach.

And let me add a word to the children here: be sure that you always maintain a relationship of deep affection and attentive care for your parents, and see that your relationships with your brothers and sisters are opportunities to grow in love.

~Pope Benedict XVI, 7th World Meeting of Families

Beach break.

Arrived at the Mission around 4:00 PM.

We entered the mission grounds singing traditional hymns.

Veneration of Our Lady of Bethlehem.

E

We took a brief moment to explore the mission grounds…

have photo opps, and work on the pilgrimage workbooks before having to depart for Mass.

We were blessed to have Fr. L travel to celebrate Mass for us at a private residence in Pebble Beach.

Dear married couples, by means of a special gift of the Holy Spirit, Christ gives you a share in his spousal love, making you a sign of his faithful and all-embracing love for the Church. If you can receive this gift, renewing your “yes” each day by faith, with the strength that comes from the grace of the sacrament, then your family will grow in God’s love according to the model of the Holy Family of Nazareth. Dear families, pray often for the help of the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph, that they may teach you to receive God’s love as they did. Your vocation is not easy to live, especially today, but the vocation to love is a wonderful thing, it is the only force that can truly transform the cosmos, the world.

~Pope Benedict XVI, 7th World Meeting of Families

~~~

{pretty, happy, funny, real}

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~
Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!

A Way of Holiness

June 8, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Bl. Luigi and Maria Beltrami Quattrocchi, Pilgrimage, Pilgrimage to OLB 2012, Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Bethlehem

They made their family an authentic domestic Church, open to life, prayer, witness of the Gospel, the social apostolate, solidarity with the poor, and friendship. ~ Cardinal Jose Martins

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Our Lady of Bethlehem Pilgrimage

Day 2: Saturday, May 26, 2012

Bl. Luigi & Maria are among the few examples of beatification of a married couple in the history of the Church.

Blessed Luigi and Maria Beltrami Quattrocchi were our patrons for Saturday, in keeping with the theme of Chartes.

Day two started with an early rise. The weather was overcast and sprinkling. Papi was bundled up in the stroller and Dragonfly was packed nicely on Dad’s back.

Papi didn’t opted to walk once he spotted a nice walking stick.

Dad, Sparkles, and Dragonfly

Rose carried the pilgrimage banner for the first stretch of Day 2.

Sparkles needed to get warm more than she needed to rest her feet. It was a blessing to have such charitable youth on our journey.

The pilgrims making it to their first break point. Day 2 consisted mostly of back roads, surrounded by agriculture.

“Fulfilling their conjugal and family role by virtue of this sacrament, spouses are penetrated with the spirit of Christ and their whole life is permeated by faith, hope, and charity; thus they increasingly further their own perfection and their mutual sanctification, and together they render glory to God”

~Gaudium et spes, n. 48

Dad and Papi enjoying some down time.

Mom and Dragonfly staying warm in the pilgrim van. I was put on driving duty for the day.

The pilgrims continued their journey, after lunch. I took back 2 of my littles and others who needed to reprieve from the terrain.

Dad, Rose, and Dragonfly continued for eight miles. Dragonfly took his nap on CD’s head shoulders and had to be transferred back to his bed stroller.

The pilgrims returned to camp where moms were tending to little ones and prepping dinner.

We took an impromptu visit to the beach.

Papi had a wonderful time playing dodge the wave. He became so drenched and cold that he began to turn blue. I had to strip his clothes and cover him in my jacket.

The family is the first and the most important.

~Letter to Families, n. 2

Dad was back at camp. Rose, dripping wet and all, helped him set up our tent.

Help was enlisted.

Papi pleaded for a hot bath but settled for a warm shower.

Prayer, song, warmth, snacks, and fellowship.

Good night!

The boys had our tent to themselves before we managed to squeeze seven bodies in a four person tent. The physical closeness that we experienced was a beautiful reminder of our desire to remain spiritually close with one another and Our Lord.

~~~

{pretty, happy, funny, real}

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~
Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!

Be Courageous!

June 2, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Our Lady of Bethlehem, Pilgrimage, Pilgrimage to OLB 2012, Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Bethlehem, Prayer, Prayer for Families

We might journey in a spirit of penance, fasting and giving alms along the way. We might do so joyously, in thanksgiving for blessings received, or in a spirit of supplication for blessings desired. Or we might do so simply to be blessed by being in the presence of holy relics or by walking on ground hallowed by Our Lord or the Saints.

~~~

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

first blessings

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.

~~~

{pretty, happy, funny, real}

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~
Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!

E

We were blessed to have Fr. L travel to celebrate Mass for us at a private residence in Pebble Beach.

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