Pilgrimage of families during the Year of Faith
Monday, October 28, 2013
In response to an invitation from Pope Francis, families from approximately 80 countries participated in the Pilgrimage of Families in Rome, October 26- 27, 2013. The Pilgrimage is part of the celebrations to mark the Year of Faith. Based on the theme “Family, Live the Joy of Faith!”, the gathering followed a meeting of the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Council for the Family. Among those participating in the weekend celebration were a married couple from the Archdiocese of Québec, Mme Guylaine Morin et Mr. André Belzile, both members of the Pontifical Council, who proclaimed the Scripture readings in the liturgy for the gathering on Saturday and at the closing Mass on Sunday in St. Peter Square.
The Year of Faith was solemnly opened by Pope Benedict XVI on October 11, 2012, the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, and will conclude this coming November 24, the Solemnity of Christ the King. It marks not only the anniversary of Vatican II, but also the 20th anniversary of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and coincided with the Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith.