Faith with no frontiers

An “encounter of faith. An expression of friendship and fraternity”. These are the traits of “the pilgrimage of three Peoples”, held August 23rd and coordinated jointly by the dioceses of Udine (Italy), Lubijana, (Slovenia) and Gurk-Klagenfurt (Austria). For the past 26 years this initiative has brought together thousands of faithful from the three regions. Each year, pilgrims are hosted by one of the dioceses. This year it’s the turn of the archdiocese of Lubijana (Slovenia). The pilgrimage’s destination is the Marian Sanctuary in Brezje, in the region of Gorenjska, not far from Bled. The topic of the initiative is: “Who will separate us from the love of Christ” (Rom 8,35). The “Pilgrimage of the Three Peoples” was established on the initiative of the then archbishop of Udine, Msgr. Alfredo Battisti, as a sign of reconciliation between the Peoples divided by the Iron Curtain. The initiative first took off from the Sanctuary of Lussari (Udine). “The peoples of Friuli, Slovenia and Kärnten – we were told by Udine’s diocese – came together to give new thrust to their common Christian roots, anticipating the end of the Cold War and the fall of borders in united Europe”. This is how the dioceses are preparing for the event of August 23rd. In friendship and fraternity. Preparations in Slovenia are in the offing: at the sanctuary of Brezje, dedicated to Our Lady Help of Christians, pilgrims from the dioceses of Udine, Lubijana and Gurk-Klagenfurt (and not only..) are expected to arrive. To this initiative – explained Msgr. Janez Gril, from the diocese in Lubijana, and chief editor of “Druzina”, Slovenia’s first Catholic weekly – “are invited all the bishops of the bordering Churches; firstly the Church of Udine and Gurk-Klagenfurt, co-organizers of the meeting. We look forward also to the arrival of prelates from Gorizia, Trieste, Koper-Capodistria and Novo Mesto. In this way, the Carniola region (Slovenia), Kärnten (Austria) and Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy) will be equally represented”. The Days’ programme, added Msgr. Gril, will be strictly spiritual. “This is the Pauline Year”, thus the figure of “the great Apostle” will be at the centre of this year’s pilgrimage. Hence, the choice of the topic: “Who will separate us from the love of Christ?”. “He is the role model in the context of today’s new evangelisation who set the example of courage. The testimony of three neighbouring Peoples, who will pray, sing together and share their experiences, is important to look at the future with a joyful outlook. Who will separate us from the love of Christ and from the love that keeps us together? No one will!”. Pilgrimage preparations “are in full progress. The priests have been telling the faithful about the meaning of this path, encouraging them to participate.”. As relates to the Day’s programme, Msgr. Grill explained, the metropolitan archbishop of Lubijana, Msgr. Alojz Uran, will preside the celebration of the Eucharist. After the Mass, “we scheduled a concert to entertain the pilgrims and give them the opportunity to come together in a spirit of friendship and fraternity”. A sign of fraternity. “The pilgrimage of the three Peoples – states the website of the diocese of Gurk-Klagenfurt (www.kath-kirche-kaernten.at) – represents a sign of fraternity that stems from faith and unites the faithful across the borders. The pilgrims will thus receive greater strength and encouragement for themselves and for others”. The diocese’ website also provides some practical hints: “as in the past years, it is possible to attend the pilgrimage on bicycle. The 62-km itinerary starts from the Dome of Klagenfurt and reaches Brezje through the Loibl and Trzic passes. The even route enables also amateur cyclists to cross the narrow paths within the natural wonders of the Karawanken mountain range”.On the footsteps of Saint Paul. This year – wrote the archbishop of Udine, Pietro Brollo, in his message – “we will devote our worship to the image of Our Lady Help of Christians, retracing the path undertaken by the numerous pilgrims following the wake of John Paul II, who stopped there to pray on May 17 1996, on the occasion of his first visit to Slovenia”. The theme “brings us back to the generous witness of the apostle Paul, since the Church this year celebrates the bimillennary of his birth. The Apostle who managed to combat a society marked by rigid presumption and unwilling to relinquish the path of sin to embrace Christ in its place, well-represents current widespread disquiet and the quest for Truth”. Hence, the archbishop appealed “to pray that our Church be the very one proclaimed by Paul: the Church of every human person, open and receptive, faithful to God and sensitive to mankind. That it may reconcile humanity across the borders (fortunate are we who have overcome and torn down the barriers of old!) while, in the midst of world divisions, may it convey God’s peace to the whole of humanity. In unity with our sister Churches, let us be prepared for this event of faith, expression of friendship and fraternity”.