SHILLONG: Fr. Auggie Khrawlang Warbah, the Assistant Parish Priest of St. Stephen’s Parish, Sawsymper, of Shillong Archdiocese, like Moses leading the Israelites to the promised land, led more than 500 Christian pilgrims from Sawsymper to Marbisu on Wednesday.
The uniqueness of the pilgrimage is that even pre-teens and old persons walked and made it all through from Sawsymper to Marbisu, an over 40 km distance.
The pilgrimage began with a eucharistic adoration at St. Stephen’s Parish Church, at 4 am and a benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
This spiritual journey was undertaken by the Christian faithful in a spirit of prayer and reflection. The intention of the pilgrimage, which is a spiritual venture of St. Monica’s Prayer Group, Sawsymper, of St. Stephen’s Parish, guided by Rev. Fr. Auggie and assisted by Charles Kharraswai, was to prepare the faithful for the forthcoming Christmas festival.
It was also meant to mark the end of the Year of Faith, and the beginning of the year of the Family. One of the most important prayers that the pilgrims offered more often on Wednesday was for ‘peace in our own land.’
The pilgrims, hailing from different villages of the Parish and even from Mawkyrwat parish, from Shillong city and from Nongkrem, started off their voyage at 4.30 am after the benediction. Prior to this pilgrimage, Fr. Auggie organised a one-day adoration service and benediction.
It was attended by members of the families of all village Christian Communities of the parish on December 7.
As part of the remote preparation for the pilgrimage, Rev. Fr. Auggie exhorted the faithful to go on a pilgrimage praying all along the way. The pilgrims spent their time in communion with the Lord, in praying and chanting praises, in reading and reflecting the Bible.
Fr. Pascal Lyngdoh, the parish priest of St. Paul’s Parish, Marbisu, welcomed the pilgrims.
