25th annual Romani pilgrimage to sacred site in Czech Republic attended by hundreds
On Saturday, 17 June the 25th annual Romani pilgrimage to the Basilica in Svatý Kopeček near Olomouc, Czech Republic took place. The annual event is a spiritual gathering of Romani people from Bohemia and Moravia that attracts hundreds of pilgrims.
As many as 400 visitors participated in the jubilee 25th anniversary of the pilgrimage, 130 of whom were children in the Poutníček (Little Pilgrim) program. “We thank You, Lord, that we are able to praise and honor You for all You have given us, for all we have in You. You said: ‘I am the way and the truth and the life,’ and anybody who comes to You finds real life,” said Marek Nový, head of the Christian Aid Society of Bučovice (near Brno), at the beginning of the Holy Mass in the Basilica.
The Romani pilgrimage has become a tradition that many pilgrims repeatedly undertake. One was Alexandra Rajsová of Ostrava, whose family has attended 10 times.
“For me it’s the third Romani pilgrimage, it’s an annual tradition, our family makes a beautiful day trip out of it,” Rajsová revealed. Jiřina Pokutová, another Romani visitor, said: “Each June I look forward to mass and to seeing the beautiful interior of the Basilica of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary once again.”
The Holy Mass this year featured Romani pilgrims testifying as to their decision to turn to God. A singer from a Romani band stood before the congregation and shared his story, describing a difficult period in his life and how his faith in God aided him with finding a new purpose and making a new start.
“Time flows like water, even if one lives to the age of 100. That’s why it’s necessary to make use of our time to do the right thing, to pay attention to our family and our faith,” the singer said.
The theatrical ensemble of the Don Bosco Salesian Recreation Center from Ostrava then performed the story of the girl with the rose who gave her love and friendship to Jesus. Holy Mass was celebrated by the auxiliary bishop of Prague, Václav Malý, together with Father Pavel Ryšavý and other priests, including the evangelical pastor Mikuláš Vymětal of Beroun.
Bishop Malý spoke in his homily of the image of the bride and the garden from the first reading in the book of the Prophet Isaiah. He said God calls those whom he protects “brides” who dress in white and radiate purity.
God also offers all of us a garden as a place to relax and rest, where we can find the fruits of his creation, the auxiliary bishop said. Father Pavel Ryšavý, who is the spiritual pastor of the Romani pilgrims, reminded the faithful at the close of worship that God gives his aid in the form of the 10 Commandments, which assist us with discerning good from evil.
Ryšavý also called on the faithful to open their hearts (in Romanes, “jilo“) through their faith in Christ and by doing good. The Romani pilgrimage is a longstanding tradition in Olomouc and has been organized by Caritas Olomouc since 1998.
