14 AUGUST 25, 2013 FAITH OUR SUNDAY VISITOR OPENING THE WORD | CARL OLSON TRAVEL Life-giving communion Divine work of unifying humanity has always been difficult; we must do our part by doing God’s will divine work of unifying fallen humanity has always been a dif- ficult one. As God has pursued a merciful mission of unity and reunion, mankind has pursued a course of disunion and rebel- lion. Like children intent upon hrist is the Light of na- holding fast to toys and games, tions.” That statement we seek security in the passing is“C the opening sentence of Lu- pleasures and distractions of men Gentium (“Light of the this world. There are even more Nations”), the Second Vatican subtle distractions, as indicated Council’s Dogmatic Constitu- by the question found in today’s tion on the Church. The coun- Gospel: “Lord, will only a few cil, the document explains, people be saved?” Pilgrims process during a pilgrimage honoring Our Lady of Perpetual Help at Mount St. Mac- desired to proclaim the Gos- And it seems to be a fair rina in Uniontown, Pa. Courtesy of Mount St. Macrina pel to “all men, a light brightly question. Who hasn’t won- visible on the countenance of dered, “Who will make it? Will the Church” (No. he? What about 1). The Church, AUG. 25, 2013 her?” But Jesus it continued, “is would have none Physical connections 21ST SUNDAY IN in Christ like a of it, for the ques- ORDINARY TIME sacrament or as a tion distracts from sign and instru- IS 66:18-21 the responsibility ment both of a PS 117:1,2 we each have when to the divine very closely knit HEB 12:5-7, 11-13 it comes to our sal- union with God LK 13:22-30 vation. Yes, we are Shrines and grottoes throughout the United States and of the unity saved by grace, but afford pilgrims a spiritual experience of the whole hu- we must actively man race...” These themes of and constantly cooperate with By Maryann Gogniat Eidemiller communion with God and the gift of grace. “Strive to enter The liturgical year of the the union of mankind by the through the narrow gate,” Jesus Byzantine Catholic Church grace of God are emphasized said, “for many, I tell you, will begins Sept. 1 and, in Union- throughout the document. attempt to enter but will not be town, Pa., the Sisters of St. In a closely related manner, strong enough” (Lk 13: 24). Re- Basil the Great celebrate with the Catechism of the Catho- maining in communion with a Labor Day weekend pilgrim- lic Church points out that the God requires effort, fidelity and age honoring Our Lady of Per- early Christians said, “The sacrifice. Being born into the petual Help. world was created for the sake family of God does not exempt The event at Mount St. Ma- of the Church” (No. 760). That us from striving to be a true son crina has been held since 1934, refers to the fact that God cre- and daughter of God. when they celebrated the bless- ated the world out of his love As Lumen Gentium warns, ing of their new monastery. and goodness so mankind can “He is not saved, however, who, The theme was set in 1935 after share in his divine life. Since though part of the body of the Pope Pius XI gave the sisters an Thousands of pilgrims visit El Santuario de Chimayo in New communion with God’s divine Church, does not persevere in icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Mexico on Good Friday. Photo by Father Julio Gonzalez, S.F. life is realized in the Church, charity. He remains indeed in Help and requested that they this means “the Church is the the bosom of the Church, but, spread devotion to the Mother prayers, anointing, children’s Chimayo has been called the goal of all things ...” (ibid). This as it were, only in a ‘bodily’ of God under that title. programs and opportunities “Lourdes of North America” work of unity is alluded to in manner and not ‘in his heart’” It’s now the oldest and larg- to visit shrines, chapels and and one of the most important today’s reading from Isaiah. “I (No. 14). Those sobering words est Byzantine Catholic pil- places for prayer. pilgrimage sites in the world. come to gather nations of every compliment the Epistle’s warn- grimage in the United States Pilgrimages such as this Here in the high desert of language; they shall come and ing that God sometimes has to and attracts up to 8,000 people one are rooted in Christian northern New Mexico, 40,000 see my glory.” Israel was cho- discipline the wayward child. from all over. The monastery tradition from the Middle Christians come on Easter sen to be a light for the nations, The journey to authentic unity and shrines also attract visi- Ages, when the faithful took weekend alone, some walking the firstborn son who would and life-giving communion is tors year-round. long and dangerous journeys long distances, carrying cross- draw all peoples to the one, true difficult; arriving at the final “They come because they’re to holy places. Contemporary es and waiting for hours to get God. Those Gentiles, Isaiah ex- destination of beatitude is not able to connect with this holy Catholics have many more op- into the church. plained, were “brothers and sis- a given. place and with one another,” portunities, and in the United On the last Sunday in Au- ters from all the nations”; they “All the Church’s children said Sister of St. Basil the Great States there are shrines and gust, Vietnamese communi- also desired to bring an offer- should remember that their Barbara Jean Mihalchick, grottoes in nearly every state. ties from around the country ing to the Lord and his “holy exalted status is to be attribut- monastery vocational director. In addition to Mount St. Ma- come for their own celebra- mountain.” After all, Psalm ed not to their own merits but The pilgrimage opens with crina, the following three sites tion. Three years ago one com- 117 states, “Praise the Lord, all to the special grace of Christ” Matins Aug. 31 and closes are worth checking out. munity donated a statue of you nations! Extol him, all you (ibid). with a candlelight procession Our Lady of La Vang. peoples!” Sept. 1. Both days have full El Santuario de Chimayo “It’s been an historical pil- Alas, those exhortations went Carl E. Olson is the editor of schedules of liturgies, recon- With nearly 500,000 an- grimage site for nearly 200 largely ignored. The fact is, the Catholic World Report. ciliation, processions, vespers, nual visitors, El Santuario de years,” said Joanne DuPont OUR SUNDAY VISITOR FAITH AUGUST 25, 2013 15 HOLY PLACES PASTORAL ANSWERS | MSGR. CHARLES POPE Our Lady of Perpetual Help Shrine: 500 W. Main St., Uniontown, Closing parish doors Pa.; (412) 438-7149; Laypeople — not bishops — ultimately determine sistersofstbasil.org the fate of parishes; it’s up to them to keep the Faith El Santuario de Chi- mayo: 15 Santuario Dr., cal. Decisions have to be made. Chimayo, N.M.; (505) Pastorally, one would hope 351-9961; elsantuario- that long before things go utter- dechimayo.us/Pilgrim ly critical, that bishops, work- St. Bonaventure Cha- ing together with communities Brother Richard Merling anoints a woman at a blessing of the pel: 1820 Mt Elliott St., that are going into crisis, can speak honestly and work for sick in St. Bonaventure Chapel. Courtesy of the Solanus Casey Center Detroit, Mich.; (313) 579- 2100; solanuscasey.org uestion: Our bishop is solutions. But this is not simply closing our parish. My the responsibility of the bishop, Grotto of the Redemp- grandparentsQ were among it is the responsibility of all of tion: 300 N. Broadway those who built and paid for the people of God to have such Ave., West Bend, Iowa; this parish. By what right does honest discussions. Thus, we are (515) 887-2371; the bishop close what is ours? left with a difficult but teachable westbendgrotto.com. —Name withheld moment about what happens Philadelphia, Pa. when the Faith handed down to us is largely set aside by the vast cally ill, prayed to God and the nswer: Canonically, there majority of Catholics. Blessed Mother, and promised likely are some solutions It’s time to evangelize and to build a shrine in her honor thatA permit the lay faithful to make disciples, as Christ com- if he recovered. take possession of a building mands. The promise became the slated for closure, undertake block-long Grotto of the Re- its maintenance and keep them Washing of hands demption near Sts. Peter and open as chapels, etc., under the uestion: Our new priest Grotto of the Redemption. Courtesy of the Grotto of the Redemption Paul Church in West Bend, supervision of the local church. does not wash his hands at Iowa, where Father Dobber- Frankly though, most con- offertoryQ in daily Mass. He says Sandoval, manager of the site. he didn’t do well in seminary stein was pastor for 57 years. gregations that have reached a without a server it is hard and “People of all faiths and of studies, was not permitted to Beginning in 1912, the priest critical state where closure is the rite no longer has practical no faith come, and many say hear confessions nor preach built nine scenes from the life deemed necessary are not, in use.