Around 500 pilgrims will participate in the pilgrimage of immigrants’ families from Sambir to Zarvanytsia

“We want to organize the pilgrimage from Sambir to Zarvanytsia to communicate more with people from abroad, to listen to them, and we have for those 10 days.” These were the words spoken about the idea of the International foot pilgrimage of immigrants’ families by Rev. Vasyl Potochniak, the executive secretary of the Pastoral-Missionary Office of the UGCC, which is the main organizer of the pilgrimage. This year it will be the sixth pilgrimage, and it will take place from 5 to 14 August 2011. Fr. Vasyl explicates the aim of the pilgrimage as his personal testimony. “Other people observing a walk of a few hundred pilgrims ask us: ‘Who are you and how are you?’ Often they envy us in a good way that we can afford 10 days of vacation and dedicate them to issues of the soul” – says the priest-organizer, underlining a good tradition of pilgrimages.  “These are pilgrimages in which a person has an opportunity and possibility to pray, to listening to spiritual talks, and to discover oneself in a community of others as well as to serve the others with ones gifts and talents.”

On their way the pilgrims will cross three regions of Ukraine (Lvivska, Ivano-Frankivska and Ternopilska) covering the distance of 240 km. Every person, who wants to discover themselves better through physical challenge, and grow spiritually through prayers and Sacraments, can participate in the pilgrimage, even though he/she may not be from immigrants’ family. The pilgrimage will begin with a Divine Liturgy on 5 August at 7.00 am. in the church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Sambir. Thus, at 9.30 the walk will begin and it will finish at noon time on 13 August in Zarvanytsia. This year’s pilgrimage expects around 500 pilgrims. For more detailed information and the rout of the pilgrimage visit: http://palomnyk.at.ua/

 

UGCC Information Department