From August 9 to 11, the Congregation of the Sisters Servants of the Immaculate Virgin Mary held the 70th Holy Dormition Pilgrimage in Sloatsburg, New York (USA). The theme of this year's event, which brought together more than 3,000 pilgrims, was “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46).
This is stated on the website of the Eparchy of Stamford (UGCC).
The pilgrimage was attended by Bishop Borys Gudziak, Archbishop and Metropolitan of Philadelphia, Bishop Bohdan Danylo, Bishop of the Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma, Bishop Pavlo Khomnytsky of Stamford, and Bishop Ihor Isichenko, Bishop Emeritus of the Kharkiv Exarchate.
At the beginning of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, led by Bishop Borys Gudziak on August 11, the Provincial Superior General of the Servant Sisters, Sr. Eliana Ilnytska, congratulated the pilgrims on their anniversary pilgrimage to the “Marian Mountain.”
“We have gathered here to entrust ourselves to our Blessed Mother, asking her to intercede for us before her Son, Jesus Christ. At this moment, I ask you for a few moments of silence to think about those we carry in our hearts to this holy place and those we wish to entrust to our Blessed Mother, as well as the intentions we want to offer to Mary,” Sr. Eliana addressed the pilgrims.
During the sermon, Bishop Borys Gudziak emphasized the importance of listening with one's ears and heart, just like the Blessed Virgin: “The Lord wishes to dwell in our hearts with His Spirit so that we may have confidence, so that we may not doubt, so that our faith may be victorious, and so that peace and joy may reign in our souls.”
After the Liturgy, the pilgrims took part in a virtual pilgrimage to Lourdes offered by the North American volunteers of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospitality.
The pilgrimage ended with a Prayer Service to the Mother of God, celebrated by Fr. Theodosius Hren, OSBM.