Father Damian Ference, diocesan vicar for evangelization, invites faithful from across the eight-county diocese to participate in two upcoming Jubilee Year pilgrimages.
The first will take place on July 19, beginning with 4 p.m. Mass in St. John Bosco Church in Parma Heights. Father Ference will preside and preach at the liturgy. Although all are invited, the event is geared toward young adults.
After Mass, pilgrims are encouraged to walk a short distance on Pearl Road to Queen of the Holy Rosary Shrine, located on the grounds of Incarnate Word Academy. Vespers will be prayed at the shrine, which is operated by the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament.
The Knights of Columbus from St. Bridget of Kildare Parish in Parma and Mary Queen of the Apostles Parish in Brook Park will prepare and serve dinner. Tom Evanchuk will provide live music on the grounds and the two Jubilee Year ice cream flavors will be served. The two flavors – Pilgrim Tracks and Jubilee Indulgence – were crafted by Country Parlour Ice Cream Co., North Royalton, with input from Father Ference.
The final pilgrimage, an intergenerational event, will take place the following week, July 26. It will begin with 4:30 p.m. Mass in St. Paschal Baylon Church in Highland Heights. After Mass, the faithful will process on the parish grounds to St. Ann Shrine for prayers, followed by an ice cream social featuring the two flavors of Jubilee Year ice cream.
Both of the shrines that are hosting the pilgrimages are among the sacred sites designated by Bishop Edward Malesic for the Jubilee Year of Hope. Another pilgrimage took place in June at Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine in Euclid. That event, which included an outdoor Mass and a cookout, focused on young people.