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North American Martyrs Pilgrimage
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As you might know, I am a founding member of the Companions of Christ here in the Diocese of Joliet. We are a group of diocesan priests who strive to live holiness of life through a common life. We pray together, we hold each other accountable, and we strive for holiness in an intentional way. This way of life began in the Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis in 1992 and spread to the Archdiocese of Denver in 2007. The Companions in the Diocese of Joliet is the third community in the country. A few other places are in the process of establishing Companions of Christ communities in their dioceses.
Every year the Companions of Christ engage in what we call a Summer Conference. The conference provides the opportunity for us to take time away from our apostolates to re-engage our charism of being diocesan priests committed to living a common life. The week typically consists of prayer, common meals, opportunities for recreation, and times for intentionally reviewing the Rule of Life. The past few years the Joliet Companions have flown out to Colorado to join the Companions of Christ in Denver for their Summer Conference. This time, however, we were able to participate in something totally new.
To commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Companions of Christ in Denver, we joined them for a 64-mile pilgrimage ending at the Shrine of the North American Martyrs in Auriesville, NY. The North American Martyrs were six Jesuit priests and two laymen who were commissioned to spread the Gospel in the new world in the mid-17th century. They settled in modern day Quebec and labored strenuously to evangelize the native American peoples there, canoeing up to 100 miles a day and walking for innumerable miles on foot despite the unforgiving elements. Due to inherent distrust, superstitious fears, and inter-tribal feuds, these holy men were eventually all tortured and killed by some of the native peoples. They would become the first martyrs in the Americas, known for their heroic fortitude, perseverance, and charity.
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As we made our way to the shrine, we stopped for snacks, lunch, and conferences led by Fr. Brady Wagner, one of the Denver Companions. To experience a little solidarity with what conditions the missionaries would have had to endure, we spent the nights in tents sleeping on the ground. We prayed, recited the rosary, sang hymns, engaged in great conversations, and took in the beautiful scenery as we made our way across the countryside.
Finally, upon arriving at the shrine, we celebrated Mass and collectively renewed our promises to living out the Companions of Christ for the next year. It was a fitting witness for us to renew our promises before the relics of these saints who gave their lives both out of care for their brother missionaries and in service to the Gospel.
The following day, we visited the Shrine of St. Kateri Tekakwitha. St. Kateri was born seven years after the martyrdom in the exact location of the North American Martyrs. It is a testimony that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of faith.
After the hike, we were blessed to spend a few extra days relaxing and mending our blisters at Finger Lakes in central NY.
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Start of the Pilgrimage
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Lunch Break with Joliet Priests
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Campsite Dinner - MREs
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Annual Promises as Companions
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End of the Pilgrimage
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Mass at St. Kateri's Shrine
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Ravine where St. Rene was Killed
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Entrance to Shrine with Crosses
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Visit to Niagara Falls
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