Pilgramage seems like such an old fashioned word, it make me think of midevil Europe, though I know many people who make pilgrimages to Fatima, Isreal, Guadelupe.... Here is Bolivia one place of pilgrimage is Copacabana. Which is located in the altiplano, a plain at an altitude of roughly 12,000ft, located in the Andes. Copacabana is located on Lake Titicaca on a peninsula that juts out of Peru but is still part of Bolivia.
The pilgramage was organized by the parish of San Carlos, which is the parish for which I work. Over 80 parishioners went in two bus loads, ages 3 to 70 something. Included were families, couples, young adults, retirees, people from various economic backgrounds. Some people had not even traveled as far as La Paz, which we passed in transit.
Fr Edwin ofm, our pastor guided the trip. He prayed on each bus for both legs of the trip. Food was brought along and cooked to help keep costs down. We went to mass each day with Padre Edwin celebrating.
The Stations of the Cross were set on a hill on the outskirts of town on the shore of Lake Titicaca. Our first day after settling in, we headed out in group to pray the Stations of the Cross. It was a steep climb, that was hard on the elders of the group, but each station gave an opportunity to rest, as Padre Edwin led us in prayer and song. He prayed for the intenions of everyone in the parish. Each station we prayed for a different group, the sick, the children, the young adults, the aged.... We returned on Sunday at 4:30 AM. I went to the 7:00 PM mass that day, and Padre Edwin let everyone know that we had been praying for them on the pilgrimage, even though all could not go.
I have photos ready for 3 other posts for this trip. I hope to weekly write the entries.
At the top of the Stations of the Cross were mini shrines to Mary. We prayed at each one.
Resting at the top of the hill after the stations, various parishioners. Padre Edwin is to my left with a cowboy hat! It made it very easy to keep track of him.
View back into Copacabana from the Stations of the Cross.
Catherine, I am so glad you went on this pilgrimage. It sounds like it was a wonderful journey. I remember well the Stations on that hillside-and sitting on the cliffs overlooking that beautiful body of water. Breathtaking. Blessings on your life's pilgrimage.
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