By Theresita Polzin, Resident
Spirit of Christ, Arvada, CO
THAT was a PILGRIMAGE worth its name, authorized by the “Passport” provided by the Little Sisters of the Poor of Sacred Heart Home, celebrating 95 years of loving service to the Denver area. Providentially overlapping “The Year of Faith” with its special gift of Indulgence! A number of groups will repeat this enriching experience before that blessed time of grace expires.
This one proceeded from Sacred Heart Home to Spirit of Christ Catholic Community Church in Arvada, a suburb of Denver. What a majestic entourage! Led by their white bus, compactly filled to capacity with the handicapped in seats, and their folded wheel-chairs securely stacked next to the driver. It was as if we were aiming for Lourdes or Fatima! We watched through the bus windows. What? Where was the expected line up of cars? Suddenly scattered to reach the same destination by various routes in order not to block the normal traffic! That was thoughtfulness!
A new picture began to emerge as we approached our goal: the cars with numerous pilgrims, encircling a restaurant near our church of pilgrimage, where our Mother Cornelia, remembering our bodies as well as our soul-mission, now fed us all, because we had left without lunch, immediately after our 11 a.m. Mass.
Then before us (LO! And BEHOLD!) stood the object of our goal! Impressive it was! A huge structure, striking in its internal beauty (we soon found) as our first impressions had promised. It had been recently constructed, having required several years, based on research and assembly of rare materials and special workers to provide the best of what could be found according to their knowledge and perspective, for this House of God.
The head of the planning committee had been a member of the parish 25 years, and her mind and heart were boiling over with all she knew about every square inch before us, and in the fervor of her heart she spun on and on with careful descriptions of every detail of every precious religious symbol in one nook and cranny after another. The place was literally loaded, from the distant heights of the ceiling to the floor under our feet, with sacred symbols worthy of historical exploration.
Finally, as if awakened from unearthly space, our Mother Cornelia brought us “home” for our basic purpose in this outing. We prayed our pilgrimage prayers, hopefully gained our indulgences, and explored the enchanting place around us until called together for a photo and the trip home which we had left for this never-to-be-forgotten six hour pilgrimage.
Year of Faith Pilgrimage, April 11, 2013