92nd Annual Pilgrimage honoring the Mother of God in Fox Chase, PA
The Jesus, Lover of Humanity Province of the Sisters of the Order of Saint Basil the Great hosted the 92nd Annual Pilgrimage honoring the Mother of God on Sunday, October 1, 2023 on the grounds of their Motherhouse in Jenkintown, PA. The theme of this year's Pilgrimage was "Our Lady, Our Protectress and Refuge." Over 500 pilgrims attended the pilgrimage.
The day began with the Mystery of Reconciliation starting at 9:0oam, followed by a Divine Liturgy at 11:00am celebrated by Metropolitan Archbishop Borys Gudziak and clergy of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia. The homilist for the Divine Liturgy and the afternoon Moleben was Father Taras Lonchyna, Pastor of St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Church in Trenton, NJ.
Sermon at the Liturgy
“Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Savior, save us!” Let us look a bit closer at this prayer in the Liturgy. We ask God to save and rescue us, through the intercession of the Mother of God. Mary prays for us!
I’m standing here in front of you as a witness of the fact that through the prayers of the Mother of God, my life was saved. When I was born, I was in danger of death. I was born with “Pyloric stenosis”, which means that the pyloric muscle was too big and blocked food in the stomach from getting into the small intestine. As a result, I had projectile vomiting and since I could not hold any food down, I was dying of hunger. So the doctors operated, but were not successful! So they had to operate again and, imagine this: the nurse handed me over to my mother and said: “Here, hold him a bit longer, because this may be the last time”. - Image the pain that Mary suffered under the cross or the pain of mothers and fathers for the wounded or dead now during the war in Ukraine – it is an unbearable pain! - As the second operation was underway, my mother and father went into the chapel and pleaded with the Blessed
Mother for help! So Mary interceded before the Lord and I survived! Now I am standing before you praising God and thanking the Virgin Mary for her rescue.
Today, at this Pilgrimage, I am sure that you have many personal petitions to lift up to God through the intercession of our Heavenly Mother. So let us lift up and pray for all the special needs and pleadings of everyone here today: “Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Savior, save us!”
Now, not only our families, but Ukraine especially needs a powerful Intercessor and Rescuer for our people. We pray in the Akathist to the Protection of the Mother of God: “You are a bright beacon of light, O Mother of God, for our Nation, and at all times you show your Motherly care, as all over Ukraine your miraculous icons call our people to unity…”
Rejoice, (o glorious Mother) greatly honored all over Ukraine,
Rejoice in the cities of Kyiv, Lviv and Halych,
Rejoice in Zarvanytsia, Odesa and Chernihiv,
Rejoice in Univ, Sambir and Krystonopolis,
Rejoice O Pochaiv, amazingly glorified,
Rejoice Hoshiv with unusual strength,
Rejoice Protectress of Irzhavets and Krekhiv,
Rejoice, miracle of Zhydachev and Hrushiv,
Rejoice O Protectress and Intercessor…”
The Mother of God interceded many times for the Ukrainian people in the past, as witnessed by so many miraculous icons. So today, we again beg her for a miracle in Ukraine!“ Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Savior, save us!” My favorite miraculous icon is that of the Mother of God of Korsun. It comes from a city in Crimea once called Khersoness, then Korsun. Today it is called Sevastopol. St. Volodymyr the Great was baptized in Korsun. What I love about this icon is how Jesus and Mary touch cheek to cheek: Jesus loves his Mother and Mary loves Jesus. St. Mother Teresa once said: “Love Jesus as Mary loved Him”! The icon really brings out this loving relationship! You know what I miss most about my deceased mother - to press against her soft face and soak in her warmth and great love. But, when I think of those moments, I feel her closeness. So today let us run and embrace our Heavenly Mother, as she brings us to Jesus, so that we feel the tremendous love that flows into our hearts and fills us with joy! Rejoice O Protectress and Intercessor! “Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Savior, save us!” Amen.
