Over 1000 participants attended Rama's 77th annual pilgrimage at the Shrine of Our Lady in Rama over the course of the two-day event on August 14 and 15. Among those in attendance were pilgrims who arrived on a charter bus from Saskatoon and a mini-bus from Humboldt.
Seventeen priests from the Dioceses of Saskatoon, Prince Albert and Regina assisted with confessions and concelebrated at the evening Mass on August 14 with Rev. Andrew Sowa OMI from Melville as the main celebrant. Among the priests was Rev. Gutierrez Mauro from Saskatoon, who celebrated his 61st anniversary of religious vows on August 15 with his first trip to Rama on the Feast Day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Visiting from Toronto and assisting the other priests was Rev. Rudy Nowakowski OMI. Prior to mass all enjoyed the hymns of praise to Mary sung by the Filipino choir of Yorkton.
Following the mass, the international living rosary was prayed and a candlelight procession followed. The entire Shrine flickered with candles that were placed on the many rock areas and burned throughout the night. In the silence of the night was heard the music of a flute played Carol Anne Langram of Regina.
August 15 began in the church with prayers to Mary in spoken in Polish and Mass in Polish with Rev. Michal Pajak OMI. Rev. Joakim Rac of Canora celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Byzantine Rite along with concelebrants Rev. Warren Dungen of Kamsack, Rev. Basil Maloney of Regina and Rev. Methodious Kushko of Yorkton, who has attended almost every pilgrimage to Rama.
Stations of the Cross and the Anointing of the Sick followed.
Bishop Mark Hagemoen of Saskatoon, main celebrant, celebrated the final Mass. He also extended A Blessing for a Plenary Indulgence.
A barbecue lunch followed in the Parish Hall.
