?The Peregrination of the Icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Defense of Life? will be visiting the Diocese of Cleveland. On Saturday, November 2nd and Sunday, November 3rd, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Lorain will host the icon.
Having traveled over 40,000 miles around much of the world beginning in the city of Vladivostok, Russia, the icon has traversed Asia and Europe and is now on the shores of North America.
The history of this ?Ocean to Ocean? pilgrimage began in Summer of 2012 when a group of Catholic and Orthodox faithful began a global campaign in support of life and family under the patronage of Our Lady of Czestochowa. This event has gained the support of both Orthodox and Catholic Church officials around the world, its goal that of enkindling a sustainable movement to build a ?culture of life?.
The icon already arrived at the Shrine Church of St. Stanislaus in Cleveland at 6 p.m. on the evening of October 22nd and was greeted by the faithful. It was enthroned in the sanctuary there with hymns and prayers, most notably the rosary, followed by the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at 7 p.m. Following the Mass the faithful then venerated the icon which remained in the church for prayerful vigils throughout the night. On the morning of October 23rd, following two morning Masses and a rosary led by the school children of St. Stanislaus Elementary School the icon will then continued its journey. For further information regarding these events, please contact the Shrine Church of St. Stanislaus at 216-341-9091 or look at the parish website: www.ststanislaus.org.
On Saturday, November 2nd and Sunday, November 3rd, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Lorain will host the icon. At 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 2nd, a welcoming ceremony at Nativity will be led by members of the SS Peter and Paul Orthodox Church with a Holy Hour with Eucharistic Adoration to follow from 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. The rosary will be recited at 3:30 p.m. and the Vigil-Mass will take place at 3 p.m. On Sunday, November 3rd Mass will be held at 8:30 a.m. along with a procession at 10:30 a.m. Festivities will conclude with a Farewell service at 3 p.m. from the Mausoleum at Calvary Cemetery in Lorain. Click HERE to download a flier about the parish visit.
Further information regarding the icon may be viewed by googling ?ocean to ocean pilgrimage?, or the website that of the group: Human Life International, www.hli.org