On March 14, the Oratory of Saint Joseph, the largest shrine in the world dedicated to the father of Jesus, was the pilgrimage destination of twenty young adults gathered at the Shalom Evangelization Center in Toronto.
After six hours of prayer, conversation, laughter, and snacks, the group arrived in Montreal and was accommodated at Notre Dame de Neiges Parish. As with the World Youth Days, it was an actual adventure.
The next day, on Saturday the group visited the holy place in Mount Royal where the huge basilica is located. It’s a wonderful story to learn about how the Oratory’s founder, Br. Andre Besset, a humble lay brother of the Congregation of Holy Cross, was able to fulfill his dream of building a Church dedicated to the saint who was his greatest friend throughout his life.
Brother Andre Besset’s testimony of faith and confidence in God through St. Joseph inspired the group to do the same. Then, in the small original Chapel, everyone consecrated their lives to the guidance and protection of St Joseph’s. There was also a prayer for renewing the experience of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
It was an outpouring of graces, God provided confession, holy Mass, and personal moments of silence prayer in front of the heart of Br. Andre. The next day, the group visited Notre Dame Basilica, one of the most beautiful churches in the world.
“This pilgrimage was a blessed experience. There’s no better way to spend the weekend than worshiping God with my friends from Shalom in a holy place such as St. Joseph’s Oratory! My God is an AWESOME God!!!”
Thiago Ferreira
“My experience of the pilgrimage can be summed up in one word, “love”. Shalom is a loving group of people who do their best to live their faith and it shows.” Maria
This is my key takeaway from the pilgrimage:
“Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalms 46:10). This pilgrimage was a true reminder that God’s love is omnipresent in the most minor of pleasures and greatest inconveniences. All it takes to recognize it is to “be still,” trusting that He always provides — especially when it’s hard to believe. Anonymous
