Knights and Dames from the Philadelphia Area had the opportunity to attend multiple events for the celebration of the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary this year.

On August 15th, many gathered at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul for the silver anniversary Mass
of Thanksgiving of Mater Ecclesiae Roman Catholic Church. Father Robert Pasley, was the principal celebrant, and Father Carlo Santa Teresa was Deacon, and subdeacon Jason Rooney. Haydn’s Schopfmesse was performed by full orchestra, joined by the Festival Choir, under the direction of Dr. T. McDonnell.

Then on Sunday, the 17th of August, Philadelphia Area Knights and Dames were invited to join the Scranton Area on pilgrimage to the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in Centralia, Pennsylvania. We were blessed to join Metropolitan-Archbishop Borys Gudziak of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Philadelphia, who was the Main Celebrant and Homilist for Hierarchical Divine Liturgy.

The day also included recitation of the Rosary, confessions, procession, Akathist to the Dormition of the Mother of God, and Anointing for the Healing of Body and Soul. This singular event was a noteworthy capstone to a breathtakingly beautiful day for all pilgrims who were in attendance. A special thank you to the Scranton Area’s Knights and Dames who extended such a generous invitation to this event.

You can see below for two recent articles that have been published about the Centralia Pilgrimage.

Centralia’s ‘little church on a rock’ hosts pilgrimage

Metropolitan Borys: The Dormition Calls Us to Be a Mystical People