Assumption Pilgrimage 2019 - Ohio
By Sr. Natalie Sayde Salameh, MSCL
We enjoyed several days of prayer and visiting with friends at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon, North Jackson, Ohio in celebration of the Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God.
The pilgrimage began on Tuesday, August 13, with a Divine Liturgy of the Roman Rite followed by a candlelit procession and blessing with the Icon of Our Lady of Lebanon.
The Maronite Servants had a table in the Cedars Hall where we were able to speak with many people one on one, and see many new (and not so new) faces. It was great to catch up with the people that visit the shrine each year for these solemn days of triduum in honor of Our Lady’s Dormition.
On both Tuesday and Wednesday nights, Sr. Therese Maria and Rosa Calabria spent time in prayer, adoration and fellowship with the MYO, and with their Excellencies, Bishop Elias Zaidan and Bishop Gregory Mansour also in attendance.
On Wednesday evening, August 14, we were blessed to celebrate a Byzantine Divine Liturgy, offered by His Excellency, Archbishop William C. Skurla, of the Metropolitan Archeparchy
of Pittsburgh, PA. Following Divine Liturgy, the Byzantine Tradition has a very beautiful ritual of burying the Mother of God on the vigil of her Dormition, a ritual they call the “Funeral of the Theotokos, the Ever-Virgin Mary”. We processed behind the tomb and shroud of the Virgin Mary, which was later placed in the chapel for all to venerate.
On the day of the Feast of the Assumption, Thursday August 15, we had the great privilege of celebrating two Divine Liturgies. The first at noon, known as the “Healing Mass”, where all the faithful afflicted in mind, body or soul are given the option to be anointed by the Bishops or priests with blessed oil. In the evening, we celebrated the Maronite Pontifical Liturgy outside beside the shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon. The Liturgy was followed by a huge candlelit procession around the entire shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon, with a great number in attendance. The procession concluded with a beautiful display of fireworks above the shrine, and festivities in the Cedars Hall.
We remembered you in our prayers during these holy days of pilgrimage at the Shrine. Our Lady of the Assumption, pray for us.