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UNIONTOWN, Pa. — The 85th Annual Pilgrimage in honor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help will be held at Mount St. Macrina, Aug. 31-Sept. 1. This year’s theme is “Mary, Cause of Our Joy.”
The pilgrimage holds the distinction of being the oldest and the largest Byzantine Catholic pilgrimage in the country.
“As we approach the 85th pilgrimage, we invite everyone to become a true pilgrim,” said Sister Ruth Plante, provincial of the Sisters of St. Basil the Great. “Come open to discover the God who longs to fill your every true need.”
Those who plan on attending can choose from various accommodations: camping on the racetrack, pilgrim houses, hotels, motels or bed and breakfasts. For information on camping and other accommodations, go to: www.sistersofstbasil.org.
In addition to the pilgrimage program, evening liturgical prayers will be held Aug. 30, and a morning Divine Liturgy will be celebrated Sept. 2. A light menu will be available beginning Friday evening. An abbreviated schedule follows:
Aug. 30
7 p.m.: Office of Small Compline at shrine altar
Aug. 31
8 a.m.: Matins at shrine altar
9:45 a.m.: Procession with icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
10 a.m.: Divine Liturgy, procession to Lourdes Grotto
Welcome by Sister Ruth Plante, OSBM
1 p.m.: Moleben at shrine altar
2 p.m.: Children’s pilgrimage/Teens orientation/Adult enrichment
session/Mystery of Anointing at shrine altar/Festal icon shrine walk
3 p.m.: Teen pilgrimage
4 p.m.: Vespers, Divine Liturgy at shrine altar
6 p.m.: Enrichment session
7:15 p.m.: Procession to Mount Macrina Cemetery
11:30 p.m.: Compline
Sept. 1
7 a.m.: Matins at shrine altar
7 a.m.: Divine Liturgy
8:30 a.m.: Divine Liturgy (Slavonic)
10:30 a.m.: Divine Liturgy
1 p.m.: Children’s procession with special blessing for youth
2 p.m.: Children’s pilgrimage/Enrichment session/Teen pilgrimage/
Mystery of Anointing
3:45 p.m.: Procession from House of Prayer to Mother of God Shrine
4 p.m.: Divine Liturgy, with homily by Bishop Gregory Mansour,
Eparchy of St. Maron, Brooklyn, NY
Words of gratitude: Sister Ruth Plante, OSBM
7:15 p.m.: Procession from House of Prayer to Mother of God Shrine
7:30 p.m.: Candlelight procession/Conclusion of pilgrimage, followed
by teen and young adult socials
11:30 p.m.: Compline
Sept. 2
9:30 a.m.: Divine Liturgy
As published in Horizons, Aug. 4, 2019.
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