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Annual Three Day Pilgrimage of Traditional Catholics...by Kathleen Rock

The air resonated with reverent song across the seven mile span that stretched between the Shrine to Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha to Auriesville, the shrine of the eight North American martyrs. September twenty ninth saw the conclusion the annual three day pilgrimage of Traditional Catholics that this year ended on the anniversary of one of the more prolific of the martyrs, Saint Rene Gupiel. The seventy mile pilgrimage began at Lake George and the participants included students from Saint Gregory's Academy and Cornell University, as well as religious from The Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Still River Massachusettes, The Institute of Christ the King and the Fraternity of Saint Peter.

The pilgrimage maintained a prayerful and reverent spirit for the duration of the trip. Pilgrims had the opportunity to go to confession along the way and the climax of the event was a Solemn High Traditional Mass celebrated by a priest from the Institute of Christ the King. The walk takes place every fall around the time of the feast day of the North American martyrs. The pilgrimage, sometimes termed a mini Chartes pilgrimage is truly inspiring as you cross the river that carried Saint Isaac Jogues to the tribal sight where he was to suffer so heroically for the Faith that he knew was worth dying for. With so many youth prayerfully making their way one could not but help silently petition, through the intercession of the eight great saints that these youth, who have been given so much, may follow God's call for them with the same zeal and devotion that the eight Martyrs had.