After 18 months of sitting idle, just dreaming about all the places we wanted to visit and pray, we embarked on a pilgrimage to Marian Shrines in Europe in October 2021. A group of over 40 pilgrims from all over Canada under the spiritual leadership of Fr. Gustavo Campo from St. James Church in Toronto just returned from Europe, reinvigorated in their faith and full of hope that the dark times of the pandemic are over.
"What an unforgettable journey, we enjoyed every moment of it!"
The pilgrims visited Fatima, the sanctuary, and the sites of apparitions of our Lady. They participated in international rosary prayer, some of us leading the prayers in our mother’s tongues: English, Spanish, Tagalog, or others; they stopped in Braga, a historic town in northern Portugal before arriving in Santiago de Compostela to pay homage, to St. James the Apostle in the magnificent cathedral.
The old university town of Salamanca in Spain opened the doors of its baroque cathedral for their Mass. They reflected on the history of the Church and the divine wisdom of St. Teresa in her convent in Avila. The visit to Madrid & Toledo was unforgettable. In Zaragoza, we participated in celebrations dedicated to Our Lady of Pilar, the patroness of all Spanish-speaking countries. Just a hop over breathtaking winding roads of Pyrenees we arrived in Lourdes in France. The processions with Marian songs and candle lights commemorating apparitions of Our Lady to St. Bernadette will forever stay in pilgrims’ memories. After a stop in Carcassonne, a unique town frozen in medieval times, the group arrived in Barcelona. Mass was celebrated in a small chapel backing the blessed statue of Black Madonna of Montserrat. We also visited the extraordinary Basilica of Sagrada Familia, an architectural marvel conceived by Bl. Antonio Gaudi!
We are happy to report that the entire group returned to Canada on time, healthy, and eager to continue on our life paths with faith and hope!
