Dear Friends,
Thanks for following our pilgrimage. Above all, we thank God for all the graces of the pilgrimage. A pilgrimage is many things. Part retreat and part marathon. Part swirling activity and part, still dark church. The graces come when we can receive the day, and the visit, and the travel (and the meal) as gifts from the Lord.
Like the liturgy itself, a pilgrimage expresses and gathers up in a clearer view what is going on in everyday life. In a more condensed, dramatic way, we get to see how God who worked in Palestine is working in Pleasant Ridge, Port Huron and the other places that are more familiar to us.
The seminarians had days when the blessings of the places seemed showered down and other days when nothing seemed to be going on and they responded as men of faith. It was an honor to accompany them as they continue their formation. Many of them will, in July, spend 30 days praying over the life of Jesus in silence as part of the Ignatian exercises. This has been designed so that they can more deeply hear the call of God, to hear more clearly the call of God to celibate priesthood or to where ever the Lord, in His love, is leading them.
Thanks for your prayers and your support. We thought of you, talked about you and prayed for you.
Please keep us in your prayers,
– Father Trapp and the Sacred Heart pilgrims
Dear Seminarians, just a note to let you know what an impact your postcards had on our children (Kids4Jesus) who helped raise money for your trip.
Each child gave the postcard an “Oh, Wow!” and “I would like to go to the Holy Land someday.” The value of a personal communication was expressed by their asking, “Is this for me? Can I keep this card?”
God’s blessings on your concern and attention to the needs of these youngsters. They will keep you in prayer as you continue your journey of discernment.
Mrs. Marie Czelusniak