Our first day of the Summer Parish Pilgrimage started off so well. Everyone started arriving at 8:00am at our Parish Centre to drop off bags and to get things sorted. We began with the Celebration of Mass in our Parish Church at 8:30 a.m. attended by all 36 who were going on the pilgrimage and about another dozen parishioners. It was a wonderful way to begin. Father Freitas spoke on the difference between a Trip and a Pilgrimage and reminded us that while during trips we go to see, on Pilgrimages we actually go to discover. He invited us to reflect upon seeking to discover the Grace God wants to give us during this time together.
Then with the help of our two trusty "cabin attendants" (pictured here)
who helped load the luggage on the bus, we were off for the 7 hour bus ride with our trusty driver Bill. The ride was filled with laughter and with a couple stops along the way for stretching and some food. At 3:00 p.m. we prayed the Litany of the Divine Mercy.Our hotel was our first destination as we arrived in Montreal at 4:30pm (inspite of some heavy traffic). We all settled in and agreed we had a great place to spend the night. Then at 6:30 p.m. we were treated to a wonderful Visual and Audio presentation on the history Notre Dame Basilica. It was entitled "And then there was Light", it gave a wonderful history of the Basilica as a place of worship, and also a focual point of the City of Montreal. It was breathtaking when the projection screen, which had been covering the Altar area of the basilica, was dropped and revealed the breathtaking sanctuary in all its glory. Some time to look around and take pictures and then we headed back to our hotel for a quite evening by 8:30 p.m. Many of us then toured the city on our own, or took advantage of the pool or facilities at the hotel.
Day One was great - tomorrow promises even to be better as we make our way to St Joseph Oratory.