PILGRIMAGE FOR PEACE: A WALK WITH BISHOP MARK

Bishop Mark leads walk from Auriesville Shrine to Fonda Shrine, praying for peace in the world

(Courtesy photo of CINDY SCHULTZ)

The songs and prayers for peace could be heard through the trees which basked in shadows and light along the Erie Canalway Trail in Fultonville. 

They could be heard in the Village of Fultonville, and along the bridge in Fonda that spans the Mohawk River under a brilliant, blue cloudless sky. 

This is what Bishop Mark O’Connell likely had envisioned when he announced on Instagram — in front of his favorite painting of Mother Teresa in the beginning of August — that he was “going on a walk for peace. I think the world needs peace more than anything else right now.” 

And that is what the world and the Diocese of Albany got on a glorious Saturday morning on Aug. 22 with the “Pilgrimage for Peace: A Walk with Bishop Mark.” 

The day began at the National Shrine of the North American Martyrs in Auriesville with about 50 hearty souls who were bused there from the St. Kateri Tekakwitha National Shrine and Historic Site in Fonda, where the pilgrimage would eventually end about six miles later. Bishop Mark had no idea how many people would join the pilgrimage but he excitedly greeted and talked with each one before the event started. 

Around 10 a.m., the group gathered at the entrance on Noeltner Road and made their way down the hill — singing “They’ll Know We are Christians by Our Love” — and crossed Route 5S with the help of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office to the trail along the Mohawk River. 

Father Tom Fallati then led “The Mysteries of the Rosary” down the Canalway Trail with Bishop Mark, who was wearing an olive green Tilley hat to keep the sun off his head, completing each mystery by saying “Queen of Peace,” and the group responding, “Pray for Us!”

The trail was the longest part of the walk, approximately four miles, and there were recovery vehicles — manned by Bonni Shippee, diocesan Chancellor and COO, and Anne Frame, assistant to Bishop Mark — along the way to provide water and a drive back to Fonda if needed. Once the group got stretched out, it was time for a break in the shade to make sure everyone was together again. It was also a time for another song and words to “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace” were heard among the chirps of birds and a rustle of wind.

As the group continued to make its way along the trail, the only thing to look out for was the occasional bicycle or two. Volunteers with yellow vests manned the front and the back of the line and yelled “Bicycle!” to alert people to move to the side of the trail. As another cyclist streamed by, Father Bob Longobucco, Vicar General, quipped, “As they said on the road to Calvary, bicycle!” 

Between the songs and the rosary, there was time for fellowship and exchanging of stories, perhaps a hello to a new friend or a goodbye if someone left the trail. While people may have been motivated by different reasons, they were all there to pray for peace: in our world, country, Church, family.

“I think there are not many opportunities when we as Catholics and people of faith can gather together and really be in solidarity with one another,” said Fred Boehrer, of the Albany Catholic Worker, who also talked about the plight of the many immigrant families in the area who are friends and members of our Catholic community, during the walk. “There’s a great deal of divisiveness in our country and even in our faith communities. Bishop Mark’s invitation for us to gather around the principle of peace, and having peace personally, and bringing that and sharing that with others is such an important message that I think promotes a great deal of unity.” 

Into hour two of the walk, the group had reached Fonda and received a police escort out of town and along the half-mile walk up busy Route 5 to the shrine.

Once there, around 1 p.m., Bishop Mark offered a final blessing at the Native American Peace Grove.

“(This) was meaningful to me and I think it will be meaningful to people who are following the (social media) feed too. Thank you so much!” 

Bishop Mark then led those left in singing “Hail Mary,” “Our Father” and “Glory Be.”

“We pray for peace in the world for an end to war,” he added. “Get rid of that Iran War! Get rid of that Ukraine war! Get rid of the Sudan war! All the various wars in the world. We pray for peace in our families. We pray for peace in our country, in our politics. We pray for peace in our schools, peace in our Church, peace in our hearts.”

After blessing those left in attendance, he raised both of his arms up and said loudly, “Amen!”