Day 54

Arriving in Chicoutimi, the Portageurs are still walking with courgage, whether in sun or in rain, praying for all intentions that were put in the Ark since the beggining of the pilgrimage.  You can see us now by taking a look at the Ark of the New Covenant Pictures.

We also invite you to send your pictures to arche@cei2008.ca or on CD at Quebec Diocese, 1073 boulevard René-Lévesque, Québec, G1S 4R5.

United in Jesus, peace be with you!

By Kris Dmytrenko, Salt + Light Television

As I join the Ark pilgrimage from Toronto, you might ask what place I have to muse on such a sensitive issue. You see, last night, I slept in the house belonging to the aunt and uncle of Sylvain Cossette, Quebecois rock star. The previous morning at a parish rectory, I was treated to a lovely breakfast that included cretons, a traditional toast spread made of pork butt.

I present these two occurrences as evidence that Quebec, indeed, is a distinct society. Is there another place where a household name in his own province could be relatively unknown in the rest of the country? And you've probably never heard of the aforementioned cretons, the answer to questions no one asked about breakfast and creamy pork.

More importantly, though, these incidents also highlight the distinct hospitality of the region. As we entered Champlain, we found ourselves without a place to eat: Monday mid-day, each little restaurant was closed. Greeting us from her lawn, however, was a kind lady who offered her patio. So we grabbed some groceries at l'épicerie and enjoyed lunch with yet another new friend.

Already, this pilgrimage has proven an antidote to concerns that we've lost our sense of family of God. This understanding is alive and well wherever we've traveled in Quebec.

Salt + Light Television follows the portageurs with 64 Days with the Ark, airing Fridays at 8 PM with repeat presentations Saturdays at 12:30 PM, Sundays at 6:00 PM and Tuesdays at 5:30 PM (ET). Episodes 1, 2 and 3 are now streaming online at the Salt + Light Website.

Who is Norman Mitchelle; how does he see himself and what is he going through?

 Hello. I'm the chauffer... since Chute à Blondeau in Ontario. It is there that I joined the team of Portageurs for a few days... and it may be the case that I won't be able to leave them. In joining the group, I have, as a  fluke, saved the moustache in shaving my head. Funny enough, that is how my adventure began, and at the age of 67!  Like many of us, I have known more difficult times from both a moral and physical point of view (heart surgery). In the region of Quebec, I was very involved in my Christian community but due to conflicts I have since distanced myself.

 My father was an anglo-Anglican but because my mother was catholic, he ended up marrying the two: my mother and Catholicism. I have a capuchin brother and a religious sister... As for myself, I got married.  Recently, a deacon challenged me to lend a hand to the Pilgrims. It was divine intervention because, after a few weeks, I found the joy of my faith. I have become once again happy and playful.

 To drive a winebago is one thing, it's actually not too difficult, but to drive one with a long trailer is another! In the end, I'm managing well and am happy to be able to provide this service, especially since it is the Ark of the Covenant that I am protecting and transporting with the Portageurs.

 The Ark represents the Word, the message from God... The pilgrimage wants to wake up, involve, and invite people on its journey to celebrate their Faith. What I find extraordinary, and this is what I've been told by those in charge of welcoming us, is that they are surprised to see the mystification of those who have come to pray during the Ark's passage. They say that they expected 15 people but as people are invited to sign the Golden book, one notes that there are names on three pages. It is like this in every place that we visit.

 Moreover, there are groups who join to walk part of the way both before and after the meeting points. One feels an awakening of Faith; it may have been dormant but definitely not dead.  A homily really touched me. The presider said: "Brothers and sisters, let us adore the Face of Christ. Brothers and Sisters, we are the body and the blood of Christ. Let us share this. " This is why our hosts welcome us. We are their Brothers and their sisters. They treat us like kings. There is even a Portageur who gained weight... they offer new beds for us to rest... Portageurs are filled with joy, even during the less favourable temperatures they are in the mood to sing... to pray... We are with and for the Lord at all times.

 Despite all the joy that we see, we are still grounded, and the organization must see to many things like adapting quickly to the unexpected situations.Congradulations Jerry, Annie Claude... and all those working in the background...

 What inspires me now is the joy of my faith. The team, though diversified, is homogeneous. Each person with his charisma brings good spirits, provides service... we are a family. We are like a small Church on foot.

 People that we come across on our journey are puzzled.  A cyclist will stick up his middle finger indicating to us that we are crazy... a motorist will say so clearly. Yes, we are sick, crazy... God's crazies!

 Partageurs endure all weather conditions. They amusingly get dressed... several layers of clothing and during the day, they take off a layer, then another... In  Quebec, we still are very well protected by the Quebec police force. They have gone out of their way to help us not to disrupt the flow of traffic. There is one patrol car in front and one behind. Thank you.

 We are testimony of extraordinary things. Faith, Hope and Charity are present everywhere we go. People welcome us wonderfully. It could be said that all this was organized by the will of God. We are simply His tools.

 

Day 26 Jerry is happy to be in Quebec!

Day 24 Video Portageurs are now in Québec!

 

Day 19 After sickness Jerry Grzadka, coordinator of Pilgrimage of the Arc is back!

By Deborah Gyapong, Canadian Catholic News

On April 8th, I covered a story that made me burst with joy. I caught up with the pilgrims who are taking the Ark of the New Covenant to Quebec City by foot via five national shrines honoring Canada's Christian martyrs and saints. The Ark is a work of art, a symbolic object created to raise awareness of the 2008 International Eucharistic Congress in Quebec City June 15-22.

I interviewed some of these folks Tuesday evening, when they stopped for supper at a French-language parish--St. Remi's--in the Pinecrest area of Ottawa. What lovely, hope-filled, inspiring people they are. Things they told me have lingered and quicken my soul. I hope I can soon post a link to the story I wrote. What they say will lighten your heart and refresh you.

Then yesterday, the pilgrims brought the Ark into downtown Ottawa. I took pictures as they passed the Supreme Court of Canada, the Parliament Buildings, and then turned onto Sussex Drive, and past the U.S. Embassy towards Notre Dame Cathedral. A police car led the way, driving slowly, while the pilgrims pushed the Ark on its special "Ark-mobile" on bicycle wheels. The little parade attracted scant attention. There was no group of MPs waiting to receive it. No crowds lining the street. No mainstream media cameras or microphones. Just a group of mostly francophone kids singing and praying, their faces sunburned, their feet blistered, pilgrims who have been on the road since Easter, others who are doing a two week journey with them. One is on his way to become a priest. He'll be among 12 or 13 young men ordained at the Congress in June. The young woman charged with leadership is on her way to becoming a nun in the Augustinian Sisters, whose charism is to serve the poor and the sick, showing the mercy of Jesus Christ.

They started their journey at the Canadian Martyrs Shrine in Midlands, Ontario. They reached Peterborough a week later on Divine Mercy Sunday. They reached Stittsvillle, on the outskirts of Ottawa last Sunday.

I ran alongside, trying to get just ahead enough to get some photos. As we passed the embassy and were within a couple of blocks of Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica, the bells began to peal. The joyful ring of those bells, these young pilgrims, even now in remembering it, I am moved to tears. Msgr. Pat Powers, the cathedral rector, was waiting on the steps, the door wide open behind him. The pilgrims removed the Ark from the carrier and hoisted it on their shoulders to bring it into the hauntingly beautiful basilica that is a replica of heaven inside.

The Church is alive in Canada. Jesus Christ is risen. He has not forgotten us. Last night, people from all over the diocese came to celebrate mass at the cathedral. Archbishop Terrence Prendergast celebrated. At the end of the mass, everyone knelt in adoration, by candle light, in adoration of Jesus Christ.

This little hidden, obscure passage of these pilgrims by the institutions of Canada--the National Archives, the Supreme Court, the Parliament Buildings, the National Art Gallery, is a sign to me. Something very profound, beautiful and life-giving is growing in Canada among her young people. It is fragrant with self-giving love and the imitation of Christ. Doesn't that make your heart sing?

Full text on Deborah's blog

 

OTTAWA - The pilgrims carrying the Ark of the New Covenant have faced snow and rain and shine.  They have become experts in caring for blisters. Some of them have sunburns on their faces

Catholic Register article written by Deborah Gyapong,

 

Deborah Waters Gyapong’s journalism career spans more than 20 years in television, print and radio, including 12 years as a producer for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s television news and current affairs programming. Deborah now covers religion and politics primarily for Roman Catholic and Evangelical newspapers. In 2005, the manuscript for her suspense novel The Defilers won the Best New Canadian Christian Fiction Award. The prize included publication. The Defilers was released in May 2006.

 

Check video:

Day 17 They are in Ottawa

Day 18 Passing Ottawa

 

Sharon DeCecco from HMWN, Radio Maria, Toronto keeps us up to date with information on the Eucharistic Congress and Pilgrimage of the Ark of the New Covenant as well. You can tune in every Thursday at 2:00 p.m.or check on line.

To hear episodes of ``Bread for the Journey`` (including interview with Jerry Grzadka, from March 6th )

Maybe some of you already know that we have a proud pilgrim from Gaspe among the portageurs.  His name is Merven Lucas.  Merven was a part the committee for the Gaspésian Pilgrimage Earth and Ocean which organises each year, in the beginning of June for trips in different regions of the Gaspe diocese.  The pilgrims of Earth and Ocean chose a symbol of a humble little cross, which is rich with meaning.  It was fabricated very simply out of driftwood that was left on the shore.

 

Like the disciples who placed all in community sharing and lived of one same heart, when Merven arrived amidst the portageurs, he put his heart in the middle and presented that little cross which he carries so proudly.  He told us of his history; a beautiful history!  Like maybe one of the only people of Gaspe who knows how to recount a story…

 

However saying, when Merven proposed of fabricating a cross for each of the portageurs of the model of Earth and Ocean, using instead the wood of the forests where the Huron people lived and the Holy Canadian Martyrs, we recognized there an awesome symbol that could accompany each one of us in this great walk towards Quebec.  Dominique Vézina, another one of the portageurs, proposed to Merven his help and together, they prepared a little bundle of crosses for the portageurs from the start of the walk and also for those who join us on the course of the route.

 

These are the crosses that Monsignor Fournier and Monsignor Hundt blessed when we handed them over for the celebration at the Holy Canadian Martyrs Shrine.

By Lori from Guardian Angels Church, Orilla, ON

My experience was touching to me because I got to see the excitement in the parishioners who were daily involved in the preparations for receiving the Ark of the Covenant and the pilgrims.
 
The day they were scheduled to arrive was Tuesday, 25 March 2008. It turned out to be one of our worst snow storms (we are known for these in Orillia and area!). Despite the weather conditions parishioners were still excited about the evening celebration. Despite the weather conditions we also received several calls from a young girl who was part of the team coming with the Ark of the Covenant, she called to update us on how they were doing. She told me at one point that no matter how bad the storm got the team persisted even harder and their spirits were still high.
It was even suggested that the OPP may have to help them finish if the weather worsened and if darkness set in early.
 
My personal experience:
I was excited and sad at the same time because my husband was out of town and he had mentioned to me if the weather was bad to go straight home. We live in the country and driving in snow storms is difficult.
 
When I left work it was around 5:15pm. The snow was still coming down heavy and as I was heading home I said a prayer to the Lord telling how I wished I could be present for the Mass and continued to pray for the safety of the pilgrims because they had not arrived yet.  As I was heading past the city I could see flashing lights way ahead of me and I knew it was the Ark of the Covenant. Many tears came down my cheeks as I got to witness this beautiful event. Even in the storm many looked up and smiled. I remember thinking how many people of every faith or no faith must of been touched by this scene.
 
I am grateful for my small experience
 
Blessings,
Lori

By Annie-Claude Comtois.

Orillia- March 26th - Everywhere the Ark of the New Covenant goes, people recognize in it a great symbol of our church and of the Eucharist. As Christ said, when two or three are gathered in my name, I am there, present and living with them.  Everywhere we go, everyone does agree the Ark is creating this Eucharistic movement by inviting people to gather around Christ during mass, adoration, prayer, meal or simple discussions shared together.

The greatest testimony of the presence of Christ living through us is to me, the story of a young man we crossed on our way to Orillia, during the snow storm.  We were, as you have already seen on the video blog, in this huge snow storm, still 10 or 15 km away from our goal...walking in the snow and praying the rosary.  Half of the team had been driven for a coffee, since we were walking in the snow for 4 hours without any break.  Thus, there were only few of us walking on this small, but how beautiful and quaint, country road.  And this young man walking ahead of us by himself...

Quietly followed by a police car with its flashers on, in this white landscape, I guess he was wondering what was going on. When we reached him, we asked him : "Would you help us carry this cart?"   His first answer was no.  Probably thinking to himself :  Why will I do this ?   Talking with him for a few minutes, we explained him we where on our way to Quebec City for the International Eucharistic Congress in June.  I don't know if this young man was Christian or not, but in the context of the storm and 15km away from the closest town, it was a surrealistic conversation and I believe he thought : Those guys are crazy!  Going to Quebec City today ?!

But, then when he saw us climbing a hill in 20 cm of snow, something changed in his heart ...  He ran, joined us and gave us a hand until the top of the hill.      

To me, this is the Presence of the Risen Christ shining through us, through each of the portageurs, through the pilgrimage of the Ark of the New Covenant.  Someone is passing by, someone is knocking on our door.  Will we hear His Voice ? Will we recognize his Presence, as the pilgrims of Emmaus did ?

 

We worked hard to bring you the English version of ECDQ.tv to help you follow the Ark on its final pilgrimage. Here it is!

 And here are the links to the videos that have been realized for the first days of the pilgrimage:

> Day 2

> Day 3

> Day 4

> Day 5

> Day 7

 

For the first leg at least, a send-off before THE send-off. On Holy Wednesday, in the latest of the wave of snowstorms that has marked this exceptional winter, the team of the Ark of the New Covenant has left Quebec City for Midland, ON. The Martyrs’ Shrine in Midland will be witness, on Easter Sunday, to the departure of the final walking pilgrimage via five national shrines.

We have been preparing this pilgrimage for months now. Recruiting the Portageurs (pilgrims), outlining the itinerary, finalising it with host dioceses and parishes, communicating with cities and police services, finding a vehicle and drivers, training in first aid, establishing a communications plan, preparing spiritual direction, filling suitcases (with warm coats and good socks!)… and so many more details.

After months of hard work, the team leaving from Quebec City is full of enthusiasm. This core group numbers six: Jerry, coordinator; Annie-Claude, assistant-coordinator; Fr. Frédéric, spiritual director; Mathieu, cameraman and reporter for ecdq.tv; Charles and Dominique. They will meet up with other Portageurs in Midland… and with the Ark of the New Covenant wrapping up its time in Toronto.

The Ark itself has been preparing for this pilgrimage for two years now. It has visited some sixty Canadian dioceses, stopping in churches, schools and religious congregations. It has gathered the faithful around the Eucharist and prepared countless hearts for the International Eucharistic Congress 2008. And that remains its objectives during this final journey over 64 days and 1600 km (of which 1000 on foot).

           

We invite you to follow the Ark of the New Covenant and the Portageurs on their pilgrimage. This blog will be written by the Portageurs themselves, starting Sunday March 23, when they hit the road following their preparatory retreat which starts tomorrow. Come read their eyewitness accounts, see photos and videos, and pray with them!

Today, we invite you to watch the newly released video

    > Interview with Sarah McDonald

    > Interview with Jerry Grzadka (the responsible for the pilgrimage)


Have a safe journey… and a blessed Easter Triduum!

Debra Violette
Witness to the journey of the Ark of the New Covenant