By TAMI QUIGLEY Staff writer
“I have traveled to Europe over 55 times since 1998, but for me this pilgrimage will always be special,” said Diane Cortazzo, who organized a pilgrimage of 41 faithful to Lourdes, Fatima, and other holy sites with Queenship of Mary, Northampton and its pastor, Father Patrick Lamb, Sept. 1-12.
“To travel abroad and still learn about other cultures, eat wonderful food and have fun with my fellow travelers, while concentrating on my spiritual life as a Catholic, was life-changing.”
The pilgrimage, arranged through Cortazzo’s Go Ahead Tours, included Barcelona, Burgos and Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Lourdes, France; and Fatima, Portugal. They flew from Newark to Barcelona, then Lisbon to Newark on TAP Portugal Airlines.
The group walked 6 kilometers of the Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James), a network of pilgrims’ ways or pilgrimages leading to the shrine of the apostle St. James the Great in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where tradition has it that the remains of the saint are buried.
Many follow its routes as a form of spiritual path or retreat for their spiritual growth. It is also popular with hiking and cycling enthusiasts, and organized tour groups.
Highlights of the pilgrimage’s itinerary began with a sightseeing tour of Barcelona and a visit to ninth-century Monastery of Montserrat, including riding a high-flying cable car up the mountain and enjoying the magnificent views of the Llobregat River Valley.
They had a chance to see La Moreneta, Catalonia’s miraculous and beloved statue of the Black Virgin of Montserrat. She is patron saint of Catalonia, an honor she shares with St. George.
In Lourdes the group entered the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes to see the Rosary Basilica and the Grotto of Massabielle, a religious healing site where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared. They also visited the houses of St. Bernadette.
Heading to Burgos, the group stopped in Azpeitia to enter the Basilica of St. Ignatius. Once in Burgos, they visited the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)-recognized Burgos Cathedral. They saw the tombs of El Cid – a Castilian nobleman and military leader in medieval Spain – and his wife, both buried in the cathedral in 1919.
Walking 6 kilometers of the Way of St. James was the highlight of the group’s stop in Santiago de Compostela. They also entered the gothic Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, which marks the end of the Way of St. James.
Crossing the border in Portugal, the group took a guided tour of Fatima and saw the famed Catholic site where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared six times to three shepherd children. They explored the Basilica of Our Lady of Fatima and its grotto, and found out about the three Secrets of Fatima at the Houses of Jacinta.
Cortazzo, a parishioner of Sacred Heart, Bath, grew up at Queenship of Mary – then Our Lady of Hungary – and still has ties to the parish. “I approached Father Lamb about doing a pilgrimage tour with my help one day while I was making pierogis at the church. We both say that pierogie making brought us together to run this pilgrimage.”
Cortazzo began as a German teacher at Parkland High School, Orefield, leading her students on tours abroad. She began with EF Educational Tours in 1998, and then began to also run Go Ahead Tours in 2000. She has been leading student and adult groups for approximately 20 years.
“For me, the highlight was walking just 6 kilometers of the Way of St. James. I realized, as I walked quietly, that pilgrims have walked this same path to St. James the Apostle’s tomb for over six centuries,” Cortazzo said.
“Having a priest like Father Lamb guiding our pilgrimage, concelebrating, giving homilies, stopping in cathedrals to say a prayer as a group, praying the rosary on the bus as we went from shrine to shrine – everything he did stressed the fact that this was a true pilgrimage,” Cortazzo said.
Father Lamb said of the 41 people who made the pilgrimage, 23 were parishioners of Queenship of Mary, eight were parishioners of Notre Dame of Bethlehem – where he was assistant pastor 2010-13 – and the remaining were relatives and friends of Queenship of Mary parishioners.
“We landed in Barcelona, Spain. Barcelona is a beautiful city. We visited inside La Sagrada Família, Gaudí’s famous masterwork-in-progress. Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey is built on the side of a mountain. It is breathtaking. We had to take a cable car to get up there.
Anyone who has been to Lourdes can tell you what a moving experience the evening candlelight service is. The handicapped are led around in the procession. Very beautiful,” Father Lamb said.
“From Lourdes we headed to Burgos, stopping in Azpeitia to enter the Basilica of St. Ignatius. That was one of the many highlights for me. We had the opportunity to have Mass at the chapel of St. Ignatius’ conversion. It was not part of our original itinerary. That was incredible.
“We concelebrated Mass at the Gothic Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, which marks the end of the Way of St. James. We walked a small part of the Camino trail. It is mind blowing to think that pilgrims have been walking this trail since the 11th century. Literally millions of pilgrims have walked it. It was very moving to be a part of that. I know our group loved the experience.”
Father Lamb said he had been to Fatima about 30 years ago, and found it greatly improved, as they put up more buildings and refurbished the whole area for the 100th anniversary last year.
“We offered up many prayers and sacrifices for the people back home. I made it clear before we left that we were on a pilgrimage. I asked the people, ‘Do you know the difference between a vacation and a pilgrimage?’ I told them, ‘On a vacation, when something goes wrong, you complain and bring it to our attention and we try to fix it. On a pilgrimage, when something goes wrong, you “offer it up.” There is no complaining on a pilgrimage!’
“The group really responded to that. Some in our group had some physical challenges. Others in the group stepped up and aided them, whether it was pushing a wheelchair or slowing down for those who couldn’t keep up. The way the members of the group looked after each other was heartwarming. We really formed a Christian community as a result. It was like being on a 10-day retreat.”
Mike Grasso and his wife Kathy, parishioners of Notre Dame of Bethlehem, were among those making the pilgrimage.
“Kathy and I both traveled with Father Lamb on this pilgrimage and had an awesome experience with many spiritual moments. We feel that we were very blessed to have this opportunity and we both thank God every day for all the opportunities that he provides,” said Grasso.
A pilgrimage of 41 faithful visited Lourdes, Fatima, and other holy sites with Queenship of Mary, Northampton and its pastor, Father Patrick Lamb.
Grasso is starting his 44th year at Bethlehem Catholic High School, where he is dean of students, teacher and coach. He and his wife are coordinators for Notre Dame’s adult retreat team.
“We feel blessed that we were able to have this opportunity to join Father Lamb on this pilgrimage. It was such an amazing trip. We received many blessings and graces along the way, especially the witness of others to our faith,” said Mike and Mari Gregoris.
“A pilgrimage of a lifetime … Lourdes and Fatima … and under the spiritual direction of Father Patrick Lamb. We met so many wonderful people and visited so many holy sites. Thank you, Diane,” said Dennis and Karen Campbell.
Anyone interested in having Cortazzo help them run a pilgrimage tour for their parish may contact Cortazzo at 610-216-4619 or [email protected].
She is an ambassador for the company and helps first-time group organizers, so is mentoring the trip coordinator from Holy Trinity, Whitehall. Monsignor Daniel Yenushosky, pastor of Holy Trinity, and 23 of his parishioners made the same pilgrimage Oct. 8-19.
