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Online Pilgrimage Program for Catholics during COVID-19

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It’s never too late to join the online community such as the Pentecost Pilgrimage PHOTO: CNS

In the midst of a global pandemic, the seeds of hope are stirring for innovations in the living of the faith.  For Brisbane Catholic Martin Brennan, who was inspired by Pope Francis’ Easter message, this has manifested in the ‘Pentecost Pilgrimage’ – an online pilgrimage of prayer resources open to faithful across the world via Zoom.

The pilgrimage is a way of circumventing the effects of COVID-19 on the faithful’s access to the sacramental life so crucial to the tangible Catholic faith.

In a time where many faithful cannot physically commune in the tangilbe Catholic sacramental life, we are trying to come up with creative alternatives to supplement this loss such as this photo on Palm Sunday at a Catholic parish PHOTO: CNS

“On Palm Sunday I prayed and felt really strongly that God wanted to break through our isolation, that it was time for a world-wide fight-back, time for something full of hope and joy and connectedness during this time of separation from each other and the sacraments,” said Mr Brennan.

God wanted to break through our isolation

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Mr Brennan and a team of committed catholics in Brisbane have worked vigorously, utilising their local, national, and international Catholic networks, to organise the program in less than a month.

COVID-19 and faithful prayer groups on ZOOM – a halllmark of the COVID-19 era PHOTO: TCW

The Pentecost Pilgrimage was partly inspired by the Virtual Catholic Conference in early April that gathered over 65, 000 Catholics internationally for 26 hours.

Over the course of six weeks beginning on the weekend of Sunday 26th April until Sunday 31 May – Pentecost, pilgrims will enjoy over 20 talks, which run for 20 minutes, released every Wednesday and Sunday from internationally acclaimed speakers including Dr Ralph Martin and Dr Mary Healy.  Australian speakers include Archbishop Julian Porteous of Hobart and Robert Falzon of menALIVE.

Archbishop Julian Porteous of Hobart will be one of the speakers at the International Zoom Pentecost Pilgrimage PHOTO: The Catholic Weekly

“Like the Apostles locked in the upper room awaiting the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, we too are locked up in our homes, and Jesus is saying to us “Do not be afraid”, Jesus is calling us to trust in Him,” said Mr Brennan.

Jesus is calling us to trust in Him

Pilgrims who register their participation will have free access to all talks and pilgrims will be afforded the opportunity to speak online with some of the speakers. It is not too late to join. Register now at pentecostpilgrimage.com

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Pope writes new post-rosary prayers

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