Friday, September 14, 2018

Pilgrimage


Great things happening in Kimbe Diocese.  Fr. Yarek and pilgrims are walking, carrying and sometimes riding from place to place across the Kimbe diocese.  Not sure of all the places they have traveled.  They are carrying Our Lady of Fatima and The Shroud.  I was blessed to assist them this past week.   Friday I was returning from Ponini School and the group was walking towards Ponini.  I stopped ahead of them and walked to meet them and walk with them.  Fr. Yarek asked if I would transport their gear and some of the pilgrims not feeling well to Ponini for their rest stop; the day was very hot adding to the difficulty of the walk.

Father Yarek invited me to join the group in Valoka for Sunday Mass and to assist their transport on Sunday.  I arrived at 6a.m. for 6:30 Mass.  Fr's. Joseph, Pastor and Fr. Yarek concelebrated the Mass.  At end of Mass Fr. Yarek presented an introduction to Our Lady of Fatima and Shroud presentation.   Fr. Joseph invited all to remain after Mass for Father Yarek's full presentation and prayer; nearly all remained.   

After lunch prepared by Fr. Joseph, I went to the church for prayer and observed many parishioners in line praying at the statue of Our Lady of Fatima and the Shroud placing a hand on the Shroud as they prayed.   There was a young lady sitting close by and when the last in line left she proceeded to the display and began to pray.  Something was definitely heavy on her heart as she began to sob which lasted for some time.  She finally found some peace and settled down.  Beautiful!  Seemed as if grace was given her.  This is only one of the powerful experiences encountered with those on pilgrimage and visiting the Shroud and Our Lady of Fatima.

I transported some of the group to their next stop.  Others followed on trucks.  They made a stop on the way for a short presentation at an outpost.  They were to process and make presentation at the Anglican Church in Kimbe on Sunday evening.  They are scheduled to visit more Anglican parishes and other protestant churches in a follow up pilgrimage in October.  

Fr. Gregory, Policy Pastor at Bitokara, stopped by our residence on Monday.  During our conversation we discussed the pilgrimage.  He shared that on a previous pilgrimage, a father of three children who are unable to hear of speak and one with a foot injury, walked with the group to pray for his children.  The story goes that upon the fathers return home the children were healed.  Our Lady of Fatima continues Her work her in Kimbe Diocese, PNG. 

What a blessing for this family and all of us living in Kimbe diocese.

- Ron