Full of Grace

For the second year in a row, my sister and I will join young adults throughout the Archdiocese in a 5-6 mile pilgrimage immediately after the Mass of the Lord's Supper at St. James Cathedral.

In the second annual Holy Thursday pilgrimage, this large group, which last year included a few of my classmates from Holy Names Academy, will visit five Churches in the Seattle area, and at each Church, we will pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament, sing hymns, listen to scripture readings, and Archbishop Sartain will offer a reflection.

Last year, Immaculate Conception Church was not finished with their Mass of the Lord's Supper when the group arrived, so we improvised. Archbishop Sartain gave a great reflection about the importance of a Church and how many make the sign of the cross when walking past a Church because it is a holy place. Therefore, since the Blessed Sacrament was inside this holy place (Immaculate Conception Church) we all were invited to take a moment of silent reflection to pray outside the Church.

Also last year, as we concluded the pilgrimage where it began, on the steps of St. James Cathedral, a discussion came up on where to eat since it was minutes away from the beginning of Good Friday, a day of fasting and abstinence in the Catholic Church. Dicks on Broadway was the place that many were heading to.

I'm looking forward to seeing what this year's Holy Thursday pilgrimage and Paschal Triduum celebrations will bring. Not like these experiences I mention above (although these experiences do add to the joy of the Triduum celebrations) but more over the grace that God brings during this holy time of prayer. These moments are the experiences that cannot be put into words. These moments are the experiences that deeply touch the heart.

My prayer during this week is that in the midst of the pilgrimage (and preparations and celebrations of the rest of the Triduum at St. Paul's) I may remember to keep my focus on what's most important...not on where to eat after the pilgrimage, but on the reason why this is Holy Week: the passion and resurrection of Jesus Christ! Today's gospel reading touches on Judas who betrays Jesus and Simon Peter who denies Jesus...may I not betray or deny the Lord but rather, be open to the graces of these liturgical celebrations.

Where ever, how ever you are celebrating Holy Week, may your celebrations be a grace-filled one!