Cormac Pilgrimage 2010
It could not have been a more favourable day for the 72nd annual Pilgrimage to
the Shrine of St. Ann in Cormac Ontario. With an occasional cloud providing
relief from a glorious sun-lit sky, the procession of representatives from the
Shrine of St. Ann led the clergy down the long grassy path to the Shrine. The
procession included a generous group of priests from Madonna House as well as
the Parish Priest, Fr. John Lacey, Most Reverend Bishop Michael Mulhall, Bishop
of Pembroke, and Most Reverend Bishop Matthew Ustrzycki, Auxiliary Bishop
Emeritus of Hamilton.
The crowd seemed larger this year, no doubt in part
to the almost perfect weather conditions. The Principal Celebrant for the
11:00 am mass was Bishop Mulhall with Bishop Ustrzycki Concelebrating along
with the visiting clergy. Bishop Mulhall drew from themes presented in last
year’s homily, provided an insightful teaching on the question asked by the
disciple to Jesus: “Lord Teach us to pray as John taught his disciples.”
The prayer which resulted, the Lord’s Prayer (Our Father), is one which we
all know well. Bishop Mulhall placed emphasis that we learn from this what
Jesus wants from his disciples. He wants people who pray. We can do much
activity and accomplish much good in the world, but unless it is rooted in
and sustained by prayer, it is a purely human undertaking. United with the
person and mission of Jesus, our work and activity can be so much more.
After a break for lunch and a time of offering the Sacrament of Confession
to the many pilgrims who sought the Lord’s healing in
their lives, Bishop Matthew Ustrzycki Celebrated the 2:00 mass, which
has as a central theme, the healing power of God. Accompanied by
Bishop Mulhall and 8 priests (6 from the local Diocese and 2 from other
Dioceses) Bishop Ustrzycki Celebrated a mass that was powerful in its
message of embracing the cross. As an excellent story-teller, Bishop
Ustrzycki shared his recollection of the former Holy Father, Pope John
Paul II who, in his latter years suffered great physical weakness and
limitation. During one of his last celebrations of Good Friday, the Holy
Father knelt to reverence the Cross, an action so well known to Catholics.
“It was more of a thud, as he landed on his poor knee”, observed the Bishop.
While everyone thought the Holy Father was gazing prayerfully at the cross,
in actual fact he was unable to stand from his kneeling position. With no
one close by to give him aid, the Holy Father embraced the cross with his hands
and used it to help himself up. Bishop Ustrzycki observed how it is by
embracing the crosses in our personal lives that we best imitate Christ who
from the Cross had the power to grant forgiveness, even to the people who had
caused him such incredible suffering.
“It was a wonderful experience, listening to two men of holiness and insight
proclaim God’s Word and help us understand its significance for our lives”,
observed Fr. John Lacey, Parish Priest of the Shrine of St. Ann. “God gave
us a beautiful day to celebrate out faith, and it is edifying to have seen so
many people come to the Shrine and celebrate the Faith in Jesus Christ that
makes us one”.
For the vast majority of the faithful who attended the Sunday celebration,
who numbered well in excess of 2,000 people, the Sunday Masses were the
Pilgrimage event. But for those who attended the Triduum on Thursday,
Friday and Saturday evening in the Shrine Church, they were gifted with a
special treat as Bishop Ustrzycki gave a mini-mission of sorts to the faithful.
After the initial introduction, the Bishop was greeted with a warm round of
welcoming applause. Bishop Ustrzycki quipped, “You are applauding me, and I
haven’t done anything yet!” He was, however, soon to delight. On Thursday
evening, the Bishop spoke of the various voices that call for our attention
and focus. Not bad of themselves, but even technology can distract us from
our focus on Jesus.
“To Whom Shall We Go” is a question that a believer asks
only when the believer is aware that the path on which they are heading is
one that is not leading them to Jesus. Thus the need to be honest with
oneself as regards our actions and intentions. At the conclusion of the Mass,
the Bishop invited the people in attendance to bring a friend to the Friday celebration.
This people seemed to do as the number in attendance all but filled
the country church. If the theme for Thursday was ‘To Whom Shall We Go”,
then the theme for Friday could easily have been “Do As He Tells You”.
The Bishop drew images from the Scripture account of the “Wedding at Cana”
and spoke powerfully of the life and role of Mary, the Mother of Jesus.
“We find in Mary the heart of the perfect disciple, one who has as her central
role, leading us to her Son, Jesus”.
Most powerful was the Saturday celebration as the Bishop spoke of forgiveness.
Bishop Ustrzycki quoted a line from the movie Seabiscuit which takes place after
the horse is injured in a race. One of the trainers figures the horse’s racing days
are over, but the jockey won’t give up on the horse, saying: “You don’t throw
something away just because it is broken”. The Bishop said it was a powerful
phrase, one that is reflective of God’s relationship with us. God loves us so
much and never gives up on us, though we can be prone to give up on self and
others. God never does and loves us constantly. “If you ever find yourself
doubting the willingness of God to forgive you, just look at the Cross and
see what God’s Son did for you”.
For all, the memory of this Pilgrimage is one that will remain in our hearts for many years to come.
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News| Thousands attend annual celebration of faith |  Someone was smiling down on the Shrine to St. Ann Sunday morning as the rain held off and the sun shone brightly on the faithful who turned out for the morning mass of the annual pilgrimage.
Follow the link for the complete article
[Read More] |
| Bob Tryon of Pembroke |  Bob Tyron of Pembroke, a member of the Fourth Degree of the Knights of Columbus Bishop Smith Assembly, was among the honour guard leading the procession to the Shrine of St. Ann in Cormac on Sunday for the 71st annual pilgrimage. Despite the inclement weather that has been prevalent this summer, sunshine greeted thousands of people who attended...
[Read More] |
| "We are a pilgrim people" |  By Lucy Hass
The Renfrew Mecury
Faith continues to draw people to the Shrine of St. Ann at Cormac, 69 years after the first pilgrimage was held.
Although there was no Bishop to lead the traditional Sunday service under the majestic pines of Cormac, Father Eugene O’Reilly of Toronto brought messages of compassion and forgiveness to the morning...
[Read More] |
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