As has become tradition, on the second Sunday of July, our parishioners made a pilgrimage to the Monastery of the Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the city of Olympia. This pilgrimage coincides in time with the pilgrimage of Ukrainians to Zarvanytsia, in honor of which our parish is named. The Divine Liturgy in the monastery chapel was led by Fr. Andrii Oliinyk, priest of our parish of Our Lady of Zarvanycia in Seattle.
"There are three steps of faith that we must take in our life when we pray for something and want to receive something from the Lord God. First: we must be very persistent in prayer; second: we must follow the Lord God in trust and with love; third: we must witness God through His touches, for He touches us in one way or another," Fr. Andrii emphasized during his sermon, and added: "Our soul will produce beautiful melodies, will truly blossom and come alive when the Lord touches us. But for Him to touch us, we must want it and see it."
During the sermon, parishioners also tried to find an answer to the question: how does the Lord touch us? Among the answers: through other people, through the various situations and circumstances of our life, through the Gospel, the Word of God, the Holy Sacraments, and also through nature. "Moreover, God can touch other people through us. Therefore, let us be especially attentive to how we communicate with our loved ones — parents with children, children with parents, friends with one another, we in church, with those under our care — and let us also learn to touch others beautifully through our words," Fr. Andrii summarized.
Afterwards, all who wished had the opportunity to confess and receive Holy Communion. A picnic also took place, during which the pilgrims enjoyed refreshments and fellowship, and had the opportunity to visit the monastery shop and pray in the monastery church. In addition, the catechists held fun games for the children.
After the picnic, the pilgrims gathered again by the chapel for prayer — an akathist to the Most Holy Mother of God. To conclude, all who wished could stay for private prayer and stroll around the monastery grounds. Father Andrii thanked everyone who helped make this spiritual journey possible, and especially the monastic sisters for their hospitality.
