By Jennifer Passerino, Salesian Family
(Stony Point, N.Y. – August 12) – It was a busy weekend filled with blessings and grace at the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians!
On Saturday, August 8, we held our annual Rise Up! Festival in celebration of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We started the day with an outdoor barbeque lunch and games on the field. The afternoon continued at the beautiful outdoor altar with live praise and worship music, Adoration, confession, and an inspirational Mass with Most Reverend Pedro Bismarck Chau, D.D., Titular Bishop of Catrum and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Newark. Mass was concelebrated by Fr. Manny Gallo, director, Fr. Pat Angelucci, and newly ordained Fr. Tom Junis, SDBs. Those in attendance were invited to receive a blessing by Fr. Tom.
On Sunday, August 9, we celebrated the veneration of the relic of San Jose Sanchez del Rio, a 14-year-old who was put to death in 1928 because he would not renounce his Catholic faith.
The shrine first received the relic in October, a piece of his collarbone, as it was petitioned from the bishop in Sahuayo, a town in the state of Michoacán, Mexico, where del Rio was from. We held a Rosary procession with mariachis, Mass in Spanish, and a social for the over 250 people in attendance. Many came from Port Chester, Mt. Vernon, Staten Island, and Yonkers, N.Y., as well as New Jersey.
“What a great way to grow spiritually with Jesus this weekend at the National Shrine,” Fr. Manny exclaimed. “These acts of faith of adoration, Mass, and veneration bring us closer to God and each other. We are looking forward to more events like these in the future.”
Photo credit: Jennifer Passerino, Salesian Family
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