About 80 pilgrims participated in the Diocese of Paterson’s final Jubilee pilgrimage Aug. 17 with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish in the Mount Hope neighborhood of Rockaway Township. The day’s events, which included the walk, Mass, and a barbecue, were a true blessing for the parish, said the paster, Father Edward Rama.
The pilgrimage began in the morning at Mount Hope Pond, and the faithful prayed the Rosary and sang hymns while making their way to St. Bernard’s Church for Mass. Bishop Sweeney was the main celebrant of the Mass, where the church was filled, and a 50-person overflow crowd was seated at the outdoor stone grotto near the church.
“We truly are pilgrims of hope,” Bishop Sweeney said, adding that the prayers offered during the walk are a sacrifice unto the Lord that unite us with Pope Leo and the whole Church in this great Jubilee year.
There was also a large crowd for the barbecue afterwards, which included plenty of food and fellowship under a tent or the comfort of shaded trees, said Brian Honsberger.
“This was a beautiful, well-planned day,” he added. Honsberger is executive director of St. Paul Inside the Walls and director of Mission and Technology Integration for the diocese. He has been coordinating the Diocese of Paterson’s Jubilee Year of Hope 2025 observances along with Sister Theresa Lee, F.M.A., and seven committees. Sister Lee is the Chancellor and Delegate for Religious for the diocese.
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Sister Lee, who also participated in the day’s activities, said it was an amazing day.
In his write-up in the parish bulletin, Father Rama gave thanks to many different parishioners, volunteers, and family members who helped organize the events of the day.
“We are most grateful that Bishop Sweeney selected our parish as a holy site and celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for us on Sunday,” Father Rama said. “We thank God for these blessings, and especially for the greatest gift, the gift of His Son, Jesus, in the Holy Eucharist.”
Although this was the final local Jubilee pilgrimage for the Diocese of Paterson, there are still several important Jubilee observances happening this year, including a pilgrimage to Rome with Bishop Sweeney, Jubilee of Catechists, Jubilee of Young Adults, and others. Visit the diocesan website for more.
Previous one-day pilgrimages with Bishop Sweeney were held at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., the Shrine of St. Joseph in the Stirling neighborhood of Long Hill Township, N.J., St. Luke Parish in the Long Valley neighborhood of Washington Township, N.J., and St. James the Greater Parish in Montague, N.J.
These holy sites are available throughout the holy year for visits by the faithful, who can attend their services during the week.
Michael Wojcik and Joe Gigli contributed to this article.
