VIII Pilgrimage to the Blessed Martha Wiecka
The Vincentian Family organizes a pilgrimage to the tomb of the Blessed Martha Wiecka in Sniatyn the eighth year consecutively. More than 1000 pilgrims came on May 27-28 to pray and ask for the grace with the patronage of the Blessed.The number of pilgrims increases yearly. Information on the Blessed Martha Wiecka and her life is spread around Ukraine and abroad. The National pilgrimage of the relics of the Blessed Martha Wieckaalsocontributed to the growing number of pilgrims. It wasorganized by Fathers Missionaries of the Congregation of Mission and Congregation of Daughters of Charity of S. Vincent de Paul with blessing of the Conference of Roman Catholic Bishops and the Synod of the Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine and lasted for 2 years (2015-2017). During the pilgrimage the relics of the blessed Martha Wiecka visited many towns and villages in Ukraine, 475 Roman and Greek Catholic parishes from the east of Ukraine to Sniatyn. “Martha visited” all those who cannot for some reason come to Sniatyn to pray at her tomb. While visiting parishes and communities people prayed together for peace, unity and mercy.
The two-year pilgrimage of the relics of the blessed Martha was devoted to celebration of the 400thanniversary of Vincentian Charism, which started in 1617 when the heart of St. Vincent de Paul started burning with the flame of love to neighbors, when he became a “mystic of charity”, a father of the poor, a father of the poorest of the world.
These days a lot of guests from all over Ukraine and other parts of the world: Italy, France, Slovakia, Slovenia, Poland, Croatia, Macedonia and other countries came to Sniatyn.Among other guests, we welcomed visitors from the General Curia of the Congregation of Mission, Superior General of the Congregation of Mission Fr. Tomaž Mavrič CM, his assistant Fr. Miles Heinen CM, and General Mother of the Daughters of Charity Sr. Kathleen Appler DC. Father Tomažcelebrated the solemn Mass on May 27. A solemn procession moved through the streets of the town from the church to the tomb. Faithful prayed together to the blessed Martha Wieckaand glorified God.
May 28 the Archbishop Metropolitan of Lviv of the Roman Catholic Church MieczyslawMokshytsky headed a Mass. Bishop of Mukachevo Greek-Catholic Eparchy Milan Shashik CM and coordinator of VincentianFamily at the world Fr. Joe Agostino CM co-celebrated with him.
Representatives of Vincentian Family branches (there are 10 of them in Ukraine) had the opportunity to meet for breakfast with Fr. Joe Agostino CM. Representatives of different branches talked about ways they serve people in need, actual problems and cooperation in our common cause of promotion of Vincentian Charism. Father Joe promised to come to Ukraine again to have more time to work together.
At the end Superior of Vice Province Fr. Yan Trzop CM thanked all the guests, organizers and all people of good will who helped to organize the celebration, all those who prayed all the time for the pilgrims and organizers. We are grateful to Parish priests who hosted a group of pilgrims during all-Ukrainian pilgrimage of the relics of the blessed Martha Wiecka. We are grateful also to Christian “Radio Maria”, staff and volunteers who helped to cover event, inform the audience on the pilgrimage, and broadcast Liturgies of pilgrimage in Sniatyn.
