St. Mary's named a pilgrimage site during Jubilee Year

TICONDEROGA | There is a national Renaissance happening within the Catholic Church, and St. Mary's Catholic Church is on the map- literally. The historic church on Father Jocques Place has been designated a Jubilee 2025 Pilgrimage Site in the Diocese of Ogdensburg. "This is the first time St. Mary's has been chosen as a pilgrimage site," Father Medenel Angrand acknowledged. "We are one of the parishes in the corner of the diocese. Ticonderoga is a historical place, and the church is also historical; it is old and has had a lot of things happen within it. I think it is for these reasons I think St. Mary's was chosen. When people come for pilgrimage, they can also visit our historical place in town." A Jubilee Year is celebrated every 25 years in the Catholic Church. Also known as the Holy Year, it is 365 days for forgiveness and reconciliation, allowing people to come back into a right relationship with God, with each other, and with all of creation. Pope Francis began the celebration on Dec. 24, 2024, and the event will conclude this coming Jan. 6, offering those of faith nearly another five months to travel to different designated churches, cathedrals, and shrines. In Ticonderoga, this means St. Mary's doors will be wide open to all morning and evening, allowing for new faces of all ages to experience what the 1892 stone structure has to offer and experience St. Mary's parish's hospitality first-hand. Sister Sharon Dalton has already become used to new faces lately. "We have a great number of people who come in the summer, and right now the church is full," Dalton remarked. "Many are coming for the first time, and many are returning from previous years. Father has been very welcoming, we also just had a deacon who is going to be a priest next year with us for a few months. It has been a great summer to welcome not only Father but them as well. Everyone has been very friendly and very interested in everything we are doing." In a world where Christianity is struggling and many churches are seeing suffering congregations losing members to age and no young blood coming in, St. Mary's seems to be enjoying a resurgence and a renewal in their faith and their parish. One of the secret (or not-so-secret) ingredients to that is catering to families and young children, who are the future of the church. "We are trying to get the families back to church," said Angrand. "Seeing kids singing, seeing moms and dads and kids together at mass is what we are trying to build together now. That is where the hope is." And with combined manpower of faithful and God-worshiping individuals, luck is on the church's side to indeed continue a growth spurt. In the summer of 2024, St. Mary's in Ticonderoga, Our Lady of Lourdes in Schroon Lake, and Sacred Heart of Jesus in Crown Point decided to join forces, forming the Southern Adirondack Catholic Community (SACC). The three parishes are planning a pilgrimage of their own on Thursday, Aug. 21. "We wanted to do something together to show that we are a family," Angrand explained. The pilgrimage will entail a bus trip to St. Bartholomew's in Old Forge and St. Alphonsus in Tupper Lake. Limited to 50 and a cost of $50 per pilgrim, the pilgrimage will also offer its voyagers a trip to Tony Harper's Pizza in Old Forge, as well as time following their religious experiences to enjoy some shopping in the historic downtown. "I'm excited about going to these different places," said Dalton. "I have never been to the Old Forge church, and it's been many, many years since I was inside the Tupper Lake church." If someone is a curious seeker and would like to attend, they are also welcome aboard the pilgrimage bus. To register for the pilgrimage, stop by or call the church offices. St. Mary's may be reached at 518-585-7144. Our Lady of Lourdes may be reached at 518-532-7100. Please visit southernadirondackcatholics.org for more upcoming events, service times, and opportunities to get involved. For more information on SACC, contact Pam Arzberber, St. Mary's parish secretary, at ticonderogasec@rcdony.org.

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St. Mary's named a pilgrimage site during Jubilee Year

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