‘A Time of Grace’

Divine Mercy pilgrimage brings message of Eucharist to forefront

“The experience of pilgrimage is meant to open our heart to the beauty of God’s love and mercy for us and leave, hopefully, a different and changed person. It is meant to be transformational,” said Msgr. Edward Arnister, pastor of St. Rose Parish, Belmar.

Reflecting on the July 7 pilgrimage to the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Mass., experienced by 53 people of St. Rose, St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Avon, and beyond, Msgr. Arnister said that “everyone was so grateful that we had this trip; it was a grace-filled day!”

The Tonzola family, members of St. Rose Parish, take a photo on the grounds of the Shrine. Courtesy photo

The pilgrimage was one of many efforts planned at St. Rose to embrace the National Eucharistic Revival, now in its second year with a focus on the parish level.

The journey began on the bus trip with a blessing on the pilgrims by Msgr. Arnister, praying the Rosary and viewing a documentary on the Divine Mercy produced by the Knights of Columbus.

“As the trip began, I asked everyone to leave their worries and concerns behind for a few hours, and to open their hearts to the Holy Spirit who wants to speak to them of God’s love and Divine Mercy,” said Msgr. Arnister. “Hopefully they left with the words that the Lord revealed to St. Faustina, ‘Proclaim that mercy is the greatest attribute of God.’ Pilgrimage is a time of grace to grow in our love for the Lord, the Eucharist and our call to holiness.”

Participants had the opportunity at the Shrine to pray the outdoor Stations of the Cross and visit the outdoor Fatima Grotto. The group also took advantage of Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the Shrine Chapel as well as the opportunity for Confessions, followed by the celebration of Mass and praying of the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Pilgrims’ religious articles were also blessed before the cohort departed for dinner.

The connection of the Divine Mercy with the National Eucharistic Revival, Msgr. Arnister explained, has to do with the image itself – with the white and red rays emanating from Jesus’ heart representing the Sacraments of Baptism (water) and Eucharist (blood) – and St. Faustina Kowalska’s experience as she witnessed apparitions of Jesus as the Divine Mercy between 1931 and her death in 1939.

In the diary of her revelations, St. Faustina wrote that “her full name is Sister Faustina of the Blessed Sacrament,” said Msgr. Arnister. “There are many citations in her diary about her passionate and untiring love for Jesus in the Eucharist.

St. Rose parishioner Maryann Neral went on the pilgrimage with her family. “We had prayer, fellowship and a deepening of faith,” she said. “We took it all in as a family. Our family’s faith strengthens each other.”

During the visit, pilgrims happened upon Father Chris Alar, center, of EWTN. From left are Giuseppe Migmano (Father Chris Alar’s cameraman), Susan Fay, Mary Granahan and Joanna Granahan-Smith. Courtesy photo

Cindy Wagner, bus captain and parishioner of St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Bradley Beach, said she felt uplifted ever since the pilgrimage. “[It] convinced me that Sister Faustina’s message of Divine Mercy is the most important revelation of Jesus across time,” she said.

Bus captain and St. Rose parishioner Italia Testa was “overjoyed to see how many families and youth had registered. Parishioners were thirsting for this trip! They were coming for many reasons … For my family, it was to give praise and thanks to Jesus for a favor that was received.”

Msgr. Arnister noted that the Shrine and St. Faustina’s diary “leads us certainly to a deeper appreciation [of the] gift that we are given in the Eucharist… We receive from the merciful heart of Jesus His living Presence so that we too can be transformed by the Eucharist and go out and be icons of mercy to others!”