One hundred people in Częstochowa

On Saturday at five in the morning two coaches set off from in front of the church. One hundred people from our parish went on the annual pilgrimage to Częstochowa — the oldest pilgrim is eighty-seven and was going for the nineteenth time.

We celebrated Holy Mass in the Chapel of the Miraculous Image at eleven o'clock. Before the image, the intentions from the parish book were read out — one hundred and sixty-one requests had been written in it, more than in previous years. After Mass we prayed the Stations of the Cross on the ramparts.

The afternoon was free. Some of the group went to the treasury and the exhibition of votive offerings, while others stayed in the basilica for personal prayer. At six o'clock we gathered by the coaches; we got home at about ten in the evening.

We thank the ladies from Caritas for the sandwiches for the journey home, the drivers for a safe journey, and all the pilgrims for their calm and punctuality — both groups assembled to the minute.

Registration for next year's pilgrimage will open after Easter. This year the list filled up in four weeks, so it is worth signing up early.