April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.

Grafton pilgrims deepened faith


By MAUREEN MCGUINNESS- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

Parishioners of St. John Francis Regis in Grafton and Sacred Heart in Berlin can attest that a Holy Year pilgrimage is an unforgettable, faith-enriching experience.

A group of 28 pilgrims from the two parishes recently spent eight days in Rome, Florence and Assisi observing the Holy Year.

"It's given me a deeper appreciation of my faith and Church," said Mike Crandall, music minister at the two parishes.

First-timer

The trip marked the first time he had ever left the country or been on an airplane. He calmed his anxiety over flying by clutching his Rosary during the flight. He was pleased he made the journey.

"I always wanted to see Rome," he said. "St. Peter's blew me away with its size. It's majestic and breath-taking."

Mass in the catacombs, celebrated by Rev. Ken Gregory, spiritual leader for the trip, was a highlight for Mr. Crandall. "I really felt in touch with the early Christians," he said.

Other pilgrims agreed. Bea Peterson, a parishioner of Sacred Heart, said that "Mass in the catacombs was the most incredible experience. You could feel the spirit of the early Christians. There was not a dry eye in the place."

Following Francis

The travelers also reported that their trip to Assisi was spiritually moving. For Father Gregory, "going to La Verna, the place where St. Francis received the stigmata, was a highlight. It was quiet and reflective."

Mr. Crandall agreed. After the crowds of Rome, he said, La Verna was "quiet, crisp and clean. It's off the beaten path. I know a lot more about St. Francis now. I knelt and prayed where he prayed."

This was a highlight for his wife Sharon, as well. "Seeing the tomb where St. Francis prayed was quite an experience."

'Holy place'

Kathryn Carson, a St. John Francis Regis parishioner, was also moved by the Assisi trip. "I have a devotion to St. Francis," she said. "Assisi is really a holy place. I felt St. Francis was there."

Mrs. Peterson enjoyed Assisi as well. "We sang the Song of St. Francis in his church," she said, describing it as a small chapel made of pink stone, with a rustic altar that sits atop a tree trunk.

She was impressed seeing these ancient sites. "To be in Rome with 21st-century traffic going by as your standing at the Colosseum was very impressive," she said.

Music along the way

An important part of the pilgrimage for Mrs. Peterson and other pilgrims was the presence of Mr. Crandall. "We had our own musician and that made it more special," she said.

Father Gregory said having Mr. Crandall there to lead the music helped the group of pilgrims develop a "beautiful sense of unity."

Said Mr. Crandall, "I couldn't imagine going on a pilgrimage without my guitar."

Renewed

Many of the pilgrims reported that the experience enriched their faith. Helen Thomas, a parishioner at Sacred Heart, called it "a renewal of my faith. It reaffirmed and deepened it. It made it more lasting."

One of the highlights for her was going to the crypt at St. Peter's "where the popes are buried. Seeing the list of popes from St. Peter on was impressive."

Mrs. Peterson said Father Gregory's presence allowed their group to see things that were not on the traditional tourist path. "We had Mass in the Lithuanian chapel," she said. "It was a little chapel, but it was very impressive."

Urging others

With nine months left in the Jubilee Year, this group of pilgrims encourages other Catholics in the Diocese to consider making a pilgrimage.

"You really should go over and experience it," Mrs. Crandall said. "I didn't want to come back."

Father Gregory returned with a new mindset. "I feel so refreshed," he said. "It was spiritually uplifting."

But it was also physically challenging. "There's a lot of walking," Mr. Crandall said. "If you go, bring good walking shoes. This is not a trip for anyone who is frail. I'm 40, and my feet and legs were sore."

Despite the physical challenges involved, Father Gregory said the Holy Year is a good time to visit Rome since much of the city, including the major basilicas, has been restored. "I found the city more beautiful this time," he noted.

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