Photos

Polish Catholics make annual 33-mile pilgrimage in honor of Mary

Thousands of Chicago-area pilgrims fill the Our Lady of Czestochowa Shrine at the Salvatorian Fathers Monastery in Merrillville, Indiana, for the closing Mass of their 33-mile pilgrimage Aug. 11, 2019. The pilgrims, largely of Polish descent, began the walking pilgrimage the day before from St. Michael Church in South Shore. The pilgrimage is in honor of the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, which is celebrated Aug. 15. It is similar to the annual pilgrimage in Poland to the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, at the Monastery of Jasna Gora in Czestochowa. (Cynthia Flores-Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)
The closing Mass takes place at the outdoor shrine. (Cynthia Flores-Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)
Youth sing in the choir. (Cynthia Flores-Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)
Pilgrims fill the grounds for Mass. (Cynthia Flores-Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)
A pilgrim moves in prayer during Mass. (Cynthia Flores-Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)
Pilgrims bring up gifts during the offertory. (Cynthia Flores-Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)
(Cynthia Flores-Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)
Deacon Irek Mocarski from St. Francis Borgia Parish incenses the congregation. (Cynthia Flores-Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)
Father Marek Smolek from Holy Name Cathedral distributes Communion. (Cynthia Flores-Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)
The priests pray over the image of Mary. (Cynthia Flores-Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)

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