We also join one personal testimony and a word of encouragement...
My experience of the Diocesan Pilgrimage in Strakonice
On Saturday, October 5, I set off with my wife Majka and our four children: Honzík, Anička, Vašík, and Dorotka by bus together with pilgrims from our parish for the Diocesan pilgrimage to Strakonice. The bus left at 6:30 AM from Masaryk Square, which was a big challenge for our family to get up early, pack snacks and lunch, and be on time at the bus. From Jindřichův Hradec, there were 29 of us, including our canon, with 10 children. Before the bus departed, we prayed together in the bus. I was very happy that Anežka Píchová sat next to me. We talked the whole way to Strakonice, and the two-hour journey flew by. Anežka is 12 years old, she attends modeling classes, plays the guitar, loves to sing, and enjoys playing with her dog. Do you know its name? Ťapina. :-)
When we were past České Budějovice, it started to rain heavily, but upon arrival at 8:30 AM in Strakonice, the rain stopped, and the weather held up all day without rain, even though it was cloudy and cool. We were among the first pilgrims from the diocese to arrive at the second courtyard of the Strakonice Castle, where the entire meeting took place. I like to arrive a little early to look around and prepare. During the rosary prayer at 9:00 AM, I prepared my soul together with the gradually arriving pilgrims for the Holy Mass, which started at 9:30 AM.
The main celebrant of the Holy Mass was the apostolic nuncio Mons. Jude Thaddeus Okolo, who immediately won over all the pilgrims with his smile and directness. The liturgical color was red – the readings and the Mass formulary were dedicated to the Holy Spirit. An excellent choice. The reading was from the letter of St. Apostle Paul to the Corinthians (1 Cor 12, 4-7, 12-13) and the Gospel of St. Apostle John (14, 15-16, 23-26). The apostolic nuncio personally preached in Czech! The children were happy that they understood him. I try to arrive at Holy Mass a little earlier, so, using Indian terminology, the soul has time to catch up with the body. We were early in Strakonice, and it was very good. The words of the sermon cultivated my soul, like a plow cultivates the autumn field during deep tillage. The nuncio preached about the various gifts from the Holy Spirit that each of us has to be useful for the common good. About how we are all connected by the Holy Spirit like limbs to the body of Christ. He reflected on what Christ meant by the term the Holy Spirit as Paraclete. When we find ourselves in a situation where we need someone to defend us against false accusations, or conversely, when we have to admit that we have done something wrong, we have the Holy Spirit, who is our advocate, attorney, intercessor, comforter, helper - Paraclete. At the end of his sermon, he wished everyone that the Holy Spirit - Paraclete would not abandon us, nor leave us alone, but dwell in us and continue to intercede for us. Very encouraging.
Father Bishop Vlastimil thanked at the end of the Holy Mass; among other things, he thanked the priests who came to Strakonice with their entrusted believers. It was encouraging to see many shepherds at the Mass who came to the Diocesan pilgrimage with their flock; I was grateful for our canon who also set off with us on the Diocesan pilgrimage.
After the Holy Mass, there was a choice of one of three lectures for adults; for children, activities and a theatrical performance were prepared by the pastoral center; and at 2:30 PM we received the final blessing from nuncio Judy Thaddeus and Bishop Vlastimil in the parish church of St. Mark.
Before the journey back, we prayed together in the bus, thanked for the pilgrimage, for meeting other believers, thanked for our priests, and requested gifts of the Holy Spirit for the priests and believers. We arrived in Jindřichův Hradec around 5:15 PM. I, along with Majka and Anička, went to the choir rehearsal at 6:00 PM; Honzík, Vašík, and Dorotka stayed home because they were tired from the early rising and the whole day.
I carried our whole parish family in my heart to the pilgrimage, and together with the other pilgrims, I brought you the blessing of Father Bishop Vlastimil and the smiling nuncio Judy Thaddeus. We brought you a joyful message and encouragement that each of us has various gifts from the Holy Spirit, which can contribute to the community - in the Church, where Christ is the body and we are connected to Him as limbs.
Dear brothers and sisters, I encourage you from my experience in Strakonice to arrive at Holy Mass earlier than a few minutes before the start, so that the Spirit can catch up with the body, and ask Him what gifts you have to contribute to Christ in the community. Lighting candles, preparing the Mass books, setting up floral decorations, assisting the priest at the altar, reading during the Holy Mass, singing the psalm, bringing the offerings, accompanying the Holy Mass on the organ or another musical instrument, singing in the choir or church choir, walking through the church with a basket for the Mass collection, helping to tidy up the church... there is so much to do. As Christ teaches: the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. May the Holy Spirit help us all, guide us, and encourage us to work in Christ's vineyard!
Tomáš Petrů
