Pilgrims walk ‘Way’ of saint as part of Year of Spiritual Awakening

By Anthony Salamone
Correspondent

ANNANDALE — Tara Paccillo, who is a massage therapist, usually works Saturdays. However, on Sept. 21, she took the day off to join 700 other individuals on a nine-mile walk through parts of Hunterdon County. She was not trying to meet new clients or network but wanted to be part of the diocese’s pilgrimage, “The Way of St. Juan Diego.”
The walk reenacted that of St. Juan Diego, a 16th-century Mexican, who, after being visited by Mary, walked nine miles from his home to his class where he was preparing to become a Catholic. The diocese sponsored the pilgrimage as part of its Year of Spiritual Awakening, which will culminate in the consecration of the diocese to Jesus through Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 12, her feast day.
After completing the walk, a smiling Paccillo, a member of Our Lady of Peace Parish, North Brunswick, said, “It was really quite moving.” She made the pilgrimage with her mother, Mary Paccillo, her sister, Melanie Paccillo, and her sister’s boyfriend, Anthony Valentino,
Tara Paccillo said the event moved her because of “being part of something greater than myself.”
The event could not have been greater weather-wise, with a sun-splashed sky, warm temperature and relatively low humidity. Starting in the morning from Immaculate Conception Parish, participants walked three sets of three miles, stopping for lunch at Lake Solitude around noon, and attending an afternoon adoration service at Union Forge Park, both in the High Bridge area.
The walk included prayers and hymns. Some 23 priests accompanied the walkers at various points, along with a host of religious, according to Father Timothy A. Christy, diocesan vicar general.
The walkers arrived back at Immaculate Conception shortly after 5 p.m. There, Bishop James F. Checchio, who was unable to walk the entire route because of another commitment earlier in the day but joined in the last three miles, greeted walkers as they climbed the hill to Immaculate Conception. The bishop looked “incognito,” as one man said, dressed in sneakers and a New York Giants bucket hat.
“Glad to be here, great turnout.” said the bishop, who had called on parishioners from throughout the diocese to make the pilgrimage as part of the diocese’s Year of Spiritual Awakening.
“The Way of St. Juan Diego” culminated in an outdoor guitar Mass with Bishop Checchio presiding. It was held next to the parish cemetery, with a large, granite crucifix behind the portable altar, and an approximate 10-by-20-foot rendering of Our Lady of Guadalupe to the left of the cross.
In his homily, the bishop spoke of “true discipleship.” He said God, through Jesus’ parable about the man who squandered his master’s wealth (Luke 16:1-13) is not looking for superficial disciples. Rather he desires people who are totally committed.
“If we’re not willing to accept the consequences of discipleship, we should be careful about calling ourselves disciples,” he added.
Motioning with his left arm toward the portable altar, the bishop continued, “We bring so many needs with us and place them right here, where heaven comes to us again through the Eucharist. God comes to be with us, unites heaven and earth. He desires to draw close to us, and Lord, today we open our hearts more widely to you. God bless you.”
Speaking at the Concluding Rite, Father Christy encouraged the crowd, which had swelled to about 1,000, to move forward from the pilgrimage and seek ways to perform acts of discipleship.
“I know that one of the ways we respond is through the young church … because of the Holy Spirit,” Father Christy said. He then called on deacons or young men thinking about joining the priesthood, young women considering the religious life, and young couples about to enter into matrimony to come forth to the center aisle toward the bishop, who bestowed separate blessings upon each group.
Members of St. Bernadette Parish, Parlin, marched with their parish’s banner. Its pastor, Father James W. Hagerman, said some parishioners walked in memory of David Mundy, whose parents and relatives belong to the parish. Mundy, 28, died June 1 of a drug overdose; his birthday fell on Sept. 21.
“My husband and I wanted to do the pilgrimage just for the spiritual guidance and everything that we are appreciative of,” said Karen Gumprecht, Mundy’s aunt. “But it was also fitting that today would have been his [Mundy’s] birthday.”
Other people offered a story about why they participated. A mother of eight children, Mary Margaret Molnar of St. Mary-Stony Hill Parish, Watchung, came because she often asks for Mary’s intercession. Father John M. Rozembajgier, who was installed Feb. 2 as pastor of Mary, Mother of God Parish, Hillsborough, credits the Virgin of Guadalupe for reviving his faith and helping solidify his decision to become a priest.
“Being so connected in purpose gives you a visual of the Body of Christ as the church,” said Valentino, a Hazlet resident and member of St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel. “We were all here walking in one direction and with one motivation and one goal, and I think that’s beautiful.”
Music was performed by members of Immaculate Conception Parish and school, Sisters of Christian Charity in Mendham and a diocesan-wide college outreach group known as Break Ministry.
Father Christy thanked Father Jonathan S. Toborowsky, pastor, Immaculate Conception, as well as its staff, several diocesan employees and clergy for their roles in coordinating the pilgrimage.