"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 and afternoon masses.

“We are a pilgrim people, not seekers”, Father O’Reilly told The Renfrew Mercury prior to Sunday’s morning service.

“Seekers don’t know the way,” he said. On the other hand, people who attend the pilgrimage know the way, but are sometimes distracted in there journey. The pilgrimage helps believers to rediscover and revitalize their faith.

During his homilies at the Sunday 11 a.m. service and the afternoon healing mass, Father O’Reilly focused on God’s compassion and the precious gift of forgiveness.

He noted the portion of The Lord’s Prayer that says, “forgive us our trespasses,” expressing concern that people often forget the second part of the prayer, “as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

Father O’Reilly’s visit to the St. Ann Pilgrimage was his third, the last being three years earlier.

The true strength of the pilgrimage lies in the faith of Renfrew County folk and the hard work of the parishioners of St. Ann Parish.

Many visitors also travel great distances to honour St. Ann, the grandmother of Jesus, and seek her intercession as healer of the sick and helper of the poor. About 4,000 people attended Sunday’s pilgrimage.

The St. Ann congregation will celebrate a special pilgrimage in 2008 as the religious event marks its 70th year.